Pottsville secures overtime win at Prairie Grove

PRAIRIE GROVE — Pottsville used the inside play of Abby James and outside scoring from Abbie Cain to defeat Prairie Grove in overtime Tuesday.

Cain scored 17 points and James 15 to lead the Lady Apaches to a 45-42 victory at Tiger Arena. Cain made only one of her four 3-pointers in the second half, but it was a big one.

Prairie Grove led 36-34 with 57 second left when the teams scrambled for a loose ball on the Pottsville end. Pottsville finally gained control and threw out to Cain, who was standing all alone and made the clutch 3-pointer.

Larisha Crawford hit a free throw to force overtime, where Pottsville outscored the Lady Tigers 8-5. The big difference was at the free-throw line. Pottsville made 3 of 4 in the extra session and finished 7 of 10 overall. Prairie Grove did not attempt any free throws in overtime and finished just 9 of 20 from the line.

“We’ve shot well this year with our free throws,” said Pottsville coach Drew Siebenmorgen. “We went 18 for 20 one game and 18 for 23 in another game. We did a good job of holding our composure, and we knew the people we needed to get to the free-throw line.”

Emily Grant scored 15 points to lead Prairie Grove (3-1), which entered the game following consecutive wins over Huntsville, Greenland and Siloam Springs. Prairie Grove has only 11 players on its varsity roster, which includes five seniors and six sophomores.

Pottsville (3-2) is in a rebuilding mode after finishing as the state runner-up in 2017 and reaching the state semifinals in Class 4A last spring. Siebenmorgen was promoted to head coach to replace Chance Johnson, who became the full-time athletic director at Pottsville.

“A lot of these girls returning hadn’t been in big games themselves, but they’ve seen what the other girls have done, and that’s improved them a lot,” Siebenmorgen said.

Prairie Grove displayed better ball movement in the second half after making only five baskets during a stagnant first half. Grant made two 3-pointers and Lexie Madewell one to help Prairie Grove to a 26-25 lead in the third quarter. But James, the lone returning starter for Pottsville, made clutch down the stretch and in overtime to secure the road win for the Lady Apaches.

“She’s a good floor leader, and we’ll go a lot as she goes,” Siebenmorgen said.

Pottsville ..................... 7 11 7 12 8 — 45 Prairie Grove ................ 6 7 13 11 5 — 42 Pottsville (3-2): Cain 17, James 15, Reynolds 4, Hampton 3, Braton 2, Lacy 2, Tedder 2.

Prairie Grove (3-1): Grant 15, Crawford 11, Wynos 9, Madewell 5, Sugg 2.