Webb helps Melbourne top Northside

FORT SMITH — Needing a clutch play in the game’s waning moments, Melbourne senior guard Kiley Webb made two of them.

Webb knocked own a pair of three-pointers on consecutive possessions to put the Lady Bearkatz in control with under two minutes left in a 54-48 victory over Fort Smith Northside on Tuesday at Kaundart Fieldhouse.

The two-time defending Class 2A state champions were playing in consecutive nights in the River Valley after beating Van Buren 51-35 on Monday. Melbourne Coach Eric Teague said the four-hour bus ride back to Izard County would be joyful.

“It was an excellent road trip for us. It has been a lot of fun,” he said. “This was a big confidence builder for our girls. To come out here tonight and perform like this against an excellent team.”

Northside committed 12 turnovers, made just 1 of 10 three-point shots and was 11 of 20 from the free-throw line, including 4 of 8 in the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t shoot it well at all tonight,” Lady Bears Coach Rickey Smith said. “We missed nine free throws. We looked sloppy out there. There are a lot of things we got to get better at.”

The two teams will face off again in Melbourne on Dec. 11.

“That will be a good game for us because we know that Northside will be coming after us,” Teague said.

Northside had pulled within 46-44 with 3:16 left in the game. In fact, the Lady Bears missed four free throws in a two-minute stretch when it could have tied the game or taken the lead.

Webb, who finished with 11 points, then drained a three-pointer to put the Lady Bearkatz up 49-44 with 2:50 left. After a Northside turnover, Melbourne worked the shot clock twice (thanks to a Northside foul resetting it) before Webb drained another three-pointer with 1:29 left for a 52-44 lead.

“She is really unselfish and does not always like to shoot the ball,” Teague said. “Tonight, she stepped up when she had to.”

Smith said Melbourne’s experience was a huge difference in the game. Northside has just two starters back from last season.

“They are a veteran ball club that plays well together,” Smith said. “Give them credit. They have been a part of back-to-back state championships, and this year they are playing a challenging schedule. When they needed it, they hit critical, critical shots just as we were building momentum.”

Kenley McCarn finished with a game-high 20 points for the Lady Bearkatz, which made 10 of 22 three-pointers. Jersey Wolfenbarger scored 18 to pace Northside, and Tracey Bershers added 17.

The 35-second shot clock — which will be instituted in Class 6A conference games and postseason — was used in this nonconference matchup.

“We did not practice for it. I thought we handled it well,” Teague said. “I think we had a couple of [shot-clock] violations, but that didn’t bother me. We wanted to make them work on defense. We do not have to score 70 points to be effective offensively.”

“It was an excellent road trip for us. It has been a lot of fun. This was a big confidence builder for our girls. To come out here tonight and perform like this against an excellent team.” Melbourne Coach Eric Teague after Tuesday’s victory over Fort Smith Northside