PG Gaining Confidence

KEY CONFERENCE WINS OVER PEA RIDGE, SHILOH

PEA RIDGE — An outstanding defensive effort highlighted by several trips with Pea Ridge held to one shot during an 8-0 third quarter run empowered Prairie Grove to a 34-24 road win.

The Jan. 10 victory lifted Prairie Grove’s spirits with a conference win in the 3A/4A District 1.

“We needed that, it’s a good confidence builder for us,” said Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud. “We played excellent defense, we had excellent rebounding. We did what we had to do to win.”

The Lady Tigers held a slim, 15-14, halftime lead and Pea Ridge slipped ahead briefly with Jennifer Anthony’s layup triggered by Avery Dayberry’s steal. That was the first of three lead changes and one tie over the first 2:28 of the third quarter. Emily Grant got an open look from Camree Bartholomew’s pass and drained a 3-pointer from the left wing. Dayberry then twice got her own rebound and scored to tie the game at 18-18.

Parker Lopez began the Lady Tiger 8- 0 run by making a pair of foul shots after hitting the offensive glass and getting off a shot on a rebound. Grant did likewise crashing the boards, scoring off a rebound and adding a free throw for an old-fashioned 3-point play. A minute later she drove from the left-wing, snapping a jumper from 10-feet. Lexi Madewell’s free throw capped the run and Prairie Grove led 26-18.

Jordan Sugg’s tight man-to-man defense forced a five-second violation exemplifying the type of effort Prairie Grove gave in limiting Pea Ridge to a single field goal on Anthony’s steal during the last 5:53 of the third. Grant had five of her game-high 15 points during the quarter, which turned the game in Prairie Grove’s favor.

Prairie Grove led 26-20 at the end of the third quarter and went into their classic ball-control offense during the fourth. Froud noted the free-throw shooting was critical in a low-scoring game.

“We made 12 of 15 free throws which is good,” Froud said. “Our sophomores did pretty good.”

Anthony led with 8 points.

Froud said the Lady Tigers hadn’t had their entire roster available until the new year.

“January 4 was the first time we had all 16 players healthy and able to dress out,” Froud said.

That day, Prairie Pea Ridge Grove defeated Shiloh Christian, 45- 35, with Bartholomew (13) and sophomores Larisha Crawford (12) and Grant (10) combining for 35 points. Crawford had four 3-pointers, two of which came when Prairie Grove used a 9-0 run to take a 28-16 third quarter lead. But after making three in- a- row the Lady Tigers kept firing from distance, allowing Shiloh Christian to get back in the game with a 12-2 run that pulled the Saints within, 30-28, after three periods of play.

Shiloh Christian tied the game early in the fourth, but the Lady Tigers regained their composure, outscoring Shiloh Christian by a 15-7 margin in the fourth quarter. Crawford and Bartholomew hit clutch 3-point shots and the Lady Tigers made 7 of 8 free throws to seal the 45-35 win.

Sophomore Idalia Enos scored 21 points for Shiloh Christian, but she had to work hard. Prairie Grove’s Madewell dogged her with teammates helping as the Saints tried to free Enos up by using screens. Madewell had 9 rebounds and Bartholomew stole the ball six times.