CLASS 2A GIRLS
Young Melbourne looking toward 2021 prize
Melbourne won its second consecutive state title with a 47-28 victory over Quitman.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
MELBOURNE 47, QUITMAN 28
HOT SPRINGS — Melbourne won its second consecutive Class 2A girls state basketball championship Tuesday night with a 47-28 victory over Quitman at Bank OZK Arena, and the Lady Bearkatz may not be done filling the trophy case.
“They’re really good,” said Quitman Coach Timothy Hooten, whose Lady Bulldogs (30-4) won a state title in 2017. “They might run off four in a row.”
Melbourne (34-2) outscored Quitman 26-9 in the second quarter to build a 32-14 halftime lead, and the Lady Bearkatz led 44-21 after three quarters before cruising in the final eight minutes.
Sophomore Kenley McCarn, the tournament MVP, finished with 8 points and 10 rebounds, and 6-2 freshman Jenna Lawrence scored 11 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and blocked 7 shots to highlight a present and future that have the Lady Bearkatz looking for a return trip to Hot Springs next season.
“We don’t know what’s in store exactly,” said junior forward Josie Roark, who contributed 5 points and 5 rebounds, “but all I know is we want to come right back here. We want to make it a three peat. We want to come right back here where we are right now. Some teams regress, but we’re not looking to do that. We’re only going to get better.”
That Melbourne was able to repeat as champion was a testament to the progress the Lady Bearkatz made after losing three seniors from last season’s squad and their sophomore point guard who moved to Missouri with her family.
“We had a lot of stuff to sort out,” Coach Eric Teague said. “This isn’t the same group. By the end of the year, we were really clicking.”
McCarn contributed to last season’s championship after getting called up to the varsity in January, but Lawrence was in junior high, while Webb and Roark played lesser roles.
Still, the team was expected to do well, just like big things will be expected next season.
“This year, we felt there was a target on our back,” Teague said. “We got everybody’s best shot, and we faced some adversity. But we kept getting better and better.”
One of the key’s to Melbourne’s rise was the development of Lawrence, who admitted to being nervous during her team’s five-point first quarter. She missed her first five shots, but finally got things going after spending a few minutes on the bench at the end of the opening eight minutes.
“My teammates told me to calm down,” Lawrence said. “Kenley said, ‘Look for the ball.’ ”
Lawrence looked for the ball on both ends, blocking six shots in the first half, and altering many other shots from Quitman, which finished 10 of 43 from the field, including 2 of 18 on three-pointers.
“Their size definitely affected us, because when you go up to shoot there’s a hand in your face,” Hooten said.
It was not just Lawrence, but 6-1 junior Kylee Humphries, who was the starting center for last season’s team.
“When you have a 6-1 post who started last year and now comes off the bench, you know you’re loaded,” Hooten said. “They’re a great team.”
Lucie Holland led Quitman with a game-high 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds.