Vanzant Answers Gravette

FARMINGTON — When Gravette’s Shylee Morrison scored 11 quick points to start the second quarter, Makenna Vanzant answered in a big way notching 16 of Farmington’s next 18 points.

Vanzant scored 18 of her 30 points in the second quarter sparking Farmington to a key 76- 58 conference road win at Gravette Friday. Vanzant’s performance offset a 28-point effort from Morrison, who had 13 points in the second quarter for Gravette.

There were five lead changes and two ties early. Joelle Tidwell’s 3- pointer and 5 points from Audrey Culpepper helped Farmington grab a 15-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Gravette (16-8, 7-3) would not go away. Morrison came out firing making 4 field goals including a 3- pointer to start the second quarter trimming Farmington’s lead to 23-21 midway through the period.

Vanzant then went on a tear mixing driving baskets with two 3-pointers and free throws. Gravette couldn’t keep her off the foul line where she went 8-for-8 in the period and Farmington upped its advantage to 41-32 at halftime despite consistent scoring from Morrison. The difference was Gravette got only one other basket in the second, Austyn Russell’s trey, while Tori Kersey and Trinity Johnson added buckets for Farmington with Carson Dillard nailing a 3-pointer and Morgan Brye making a free throw.

The teams combined for 48 points in the second with Vanzant and Morrison accounting for 33 between them.

The Lady Cardinals were on top 41-32 at intermission. Farmington next reeled off nine of the first 10 points scored in the third quarter increasing the scoreboard differential to 50-33 at the 4:35 mark of the third. Vanzant had 5 points in the run and the Lady Cardinals held a 62-45 lead after three quarters.

Gabbi Scott chipped in 11 for the Lady Lions, who had two players exit the contest with 5 fouls. Farmington kept Gravette’s 6-0 center Abigail Beranek, who has a size advantage, from having a scoring impact. Beranek finished with 4 points. The Lady Lions got no closer than 12 in the fourth quarter although they held Vanzant without a point in the period. Farmington got points from six other players including 6 from Kersey, who finished with 13, to keep the Lady Lions at bay.

The 76-58 victory enabled the Lady Cardinals (23-3, 10-0) to wrap up the 4A-1’s West Division title with two games remaining in the regular season. Farmington will meet, Harrison, the team they have been contending with for the top seed in the District 4A-1 tournament beginning Monday at Prairie Grove, in the regular season finale on Valentine’s Day. Like Farmington, Harrison has already wrapped up the East Division. Both teams will receive byes into the district semifinals and by virtue of finishing in the top spot for each division, punched their ticket to the 4A North Regional tournament at Berryville’s Bobcat Arena the first week of March.