Lady Warriors sweep season series facing rivals' Lady Panthers
Rowton surpasses career 1,500 points mark
DONALDSON — For the second meeting of their non-conference duel in senior high girls hoops, the Ouachita Lady Warriors prevailed in a 61-32 victory hosting rivals' Magnet Cove Lady Panthers Friday on the Ouachita High School All-Care Pharmacy Court At OHS Gymnasium.
The first meeting December 7, 2020 at Magnet Cove Gymnasium, the Lady Warriors and Lady Panthers displayed a triple-overtime battle with Ouachita securing the victory. History was made for the Lady Warriors' star hoopster Lizzy Rowton, who scored a career-high 32 points. History repeated itself again Friday during this Hot Spring County rivalry, as Rowton surpassed the 1,500 points mark to lead Ouachita in victory against the Lady Panthers. Rowton scored her 1,500th point in the second quarter at the 4:40 mark—which she had 11 points for the game with Ouachita leading Magnet Cove.
Rowton dropped 15 points and knocked down a triple from downtown in double-figures for Ouachita. Inside player Gabby Buras led all scorers with a dominant inside presence with 20 points for double-digits.
Ouachita opened the first quarter on a 9-0 run down to the 5:58 mark to lead Magnet Cove. But the Lady Panthers' Emily Cook stopped the run to score Magnet Cove's first bucket in their press offense at the 5:19 mark, trailing Ouachita 9-2.
Later in the quarter, Rowton nailed her trifecta from behind the arc with Emma Williams and Linsey Sirratt all contributing baskets from the field to spark the offensive play for Ouachita. Magnet Cove's Zoee Redour and freshman Marleigh McCutcheon each provided buckets during first period play. Ouachita held a 22-6 lead with under a minute remaining, but Maddie Lawrence swished a pair of free-throws at the foul line for the final points scored for Magnet Cove in the first quarter. After the first quarter action, Ouachita led Magnet Cove, 22-8.
In the second, the Lady Warriors outscored Magnet Cove 1611. At the break, the Lady Warriors maintained a 19-point lead against Magnet Cove, 38-19.
In the third, the Lady Panthers continued to have a tough time, but Karsen Davis opened the period knocking down consecutive jumpers—one beyond the arc and from the field to cut Magnet Cove's deficit 38-24 with 6:14 remaining the third. Ouachita kept their spark progressing with Buras and Rowton connecting on buckets around the paint area, then Sirratt draining a triple. At the end of three quarters, Ouachita led Magnet Cove, 51-26.
In the fourth, the Lady Warriors finished with 10 points scored while the Lady Panthers added six points.
From the official scorebook for the game, Ouachita's Sirratt had nine points with a trey, Tessa Kuykendall dropped five points with a trey, Alieen Ables, Emma Kyzer each drilled a trey apiece for three points, Williams, G. Baker and Delaney Daniell each contributed two points apiece.
For Magnet Cove, Davis and Brianna Ramthun led the Lady Panthers with seven points apiece and both swished a triple from downtown. Harville finished with six points, Rednour and McCutcheon followed with four points apiece and Cook added two points.