Lady Lions fall to Lady Blackhawks

GRAVETTE — Two longtime rivals in the 4A Region 1 conference clashed on the basketball court at Lion Arena in Gravette on Jan. 5 for a classic battle between the Lady Lions and the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks. A run late in the final eight minutes elevated the Lady Blackhawks into the winners’ circle by 14 points.

The first 90 seconds of the opening quarter was all defense and neither team was able to get the ball through the net. It was a three-point field goal from the right side by Lady Blackhawk Isabella Cates that landed the first points of the contest. Thirty seconds later, a three-pointer by Shylee Morrison put the Lady Lions on the scoreboard and tied the game at three-all. One more threepointer and a field goal by Morrison put Gravette just one point behind Pea Ridge at the end of the first quarter.

A pair of three-pointers by Morrison, coupled with one three-pointer by Reese Hamilton, put the Lady Lions in the driver’s seat as Gravette took an early lead during the first few minutes of the second quarter. By the halftime break, the Lady Lions were in firm control of the contest, leading the Lady Blackhawks, 22-16.

Fortune favored the Lady Blackhawks in the third quarter. Pea Ridge went on a 17-2 run that propelled them into a sizable lead. Kaylan Chilton was the only Lady Lion to score a field goal for the only two Gravette points in the third quarter. By the start of the final eight minutes of the contest, the Lady Blackhawks had established a nine-point lead.

Gravette tried for a comeback in the fourth quarter but the deficit from the previous period cost the Lady Lions the conference win as the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks claimed the victory, 55-41.

Only one Lady Lion was in double figures for the night. Shylee Morrison led the way with 16 points, followed by Lizzy Ellis with nine, Hamilton with six, Chilton with five, Dalacie Wishon with three and Rachel Deihl with two.

The Lady Blackhawks had a trio of players in double figures. Leading the way for Pea Ridge were Cates and Blakelee Winn, each with 13, followed by Aidan Dayberry with 10. Rounding out the scoring efforts were Ravin Cawthon with five, Sydney Spears with four, and Hayley West with three.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Lion Kaylan Chilton (center) fights her way through a flock of Lady Blackhawks on her way to the basket during the third quarter of the Gravette-Pea Ridge varsity contest at Lion Arena in Gravette Jan. 5. The Lady Blackhawks took the conference win, 55-41, over the Lady Lions.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Shylee Morrison (left) screams past a pair of Lady Blackhawk defenders on her way to the net for a layup during the fourth quarter.