Conway Christian rides freshman’s 29
CONWAY CHRISTIAN 48, DANVILLE 42
QUITMAN — Danville came into Wednesday’s Class 2A girls state tournament game with a good idea of how to slow down Conway Christian guard Josie Williams.
“Our game plan was not to let her go to her right, and we let her go right,” Danville Coach RJ Smith said. “And when she goes right, she’ll kill you.”
Williams, a freshman, scored 20 of her game-high 29 points in the first half of Conway Christian’s 48-42 victory over Danville at Quitman High School.
Conway Christian (17-15) won its first state tournament game since its championship season in 2010.
Williams and her white headband flashed all over the court in the first half, driving for layups off steals, pulling up to hit short jumpers in the lane, as well hitting 3 three-pointers.
That effort allowed Conway Christian to build a 32-16 halftime lead.
Danville (24-7) rallied in the second half and pulled within 41-37 with less than two minutes to play.
“They turned up the defensive pressure, making her have to hand the ball off,” Conway Christian Coach Trey Lynch said. “We started pressing a little bit there. But we were able to finish it up there at the end.”
Danville’s rally came, in part, because it clamped down on Williams throughout most of the second half.
Two free throws by Williams with 1:43 to play made it 43-37, followed by a steal and a layup to make it 45-37 with 1:23 left.
Two more free throws by Williams with 53.4 seconds left to play gave Conway Christian all the points it needed.
“I knew she was good.” Smith said. “I thought we’d be able to contain her a little bit.
Big players play on big stages, and she definitely did.”
Danville not only had trouble slowing down Williams, but the Lady Little Johns never could get the ball into the basket on a regular basis.
Sophomore forward Lydia Stanley led Danville with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but she finished 5 of 20 from the floor and had more than a half-dozen attempts roll off the rim after rebounds and on drives to the basket.
“It was one of those days,” Smith said. “We were tight when it started. Sometimes they just don’t fall.”
Williams was held without a second-half basket until 18.7 seconds remained in the third quarter, but she was able to regain her momentum when her team needed it the most in the game’s final two minutes.
Lynch said it was a pretty typical game for Williams, who has been everything he thought she would be after dominating in junior high.
“We knew she could play,” Lynch said. “Sometimes you’re not sure how it’s going to transition from junior high to senior high, But she didn’t miss a beat. She does a great job of elevating her teammates.”
BIGELOW 53,
EUREKA SPRINGS 41
Bhloe Buie scored 14 points to lead the Lady Panthers (28-3) past the Lady Highlanders (18-15).
Bigelow advances to today’s 7 p.m. matchup with defending state champion Melbourne (31-2).
Jill Nutt and Aubry Evans scored 9 each for Bigelow and Madison Starks added 8.
Shelby Little scored 20 to lead Eureka Springs, which rallied from a 20-4 first-quarter deficit to get within 30-25 at halftime.
Bigelow outscored Eureka Springs 11-6 in the third quarter and was not threatened again.
DES ARC 49, FLIPPIN 38
Caroline Harris scored 16 points and Tristan Richards added 11 to lift Des Arc (21-8) over Flippin (20-17).
Des Arc advances to Friday’s 1 p.m. quarterfinal against Riverside (25-11).
Des Arc led 13-9 after one quarter, and the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Bobcats 19-1 in the second quarter to take a 32-10 halftime lead.
Allie Downs (18) and Emily Davenport (13) combined to score all but seven of Flippin’s points.