Lady Pioneers top Lady Lions, Lady Hawks

GENTRY — The Lady Pioneers, second in the conference with a 9-1 record (19-6 overall), added two more wins last week over conference rivals from Gravette and Pea Ridge.

Hosting Gravette (6-4 and 12-9 overall) on Friday, the Gentry girls pulled ahead by 10 in the opening quarter, 18-8, behind the shooting of senior Alyssa McCarty with two 3-pointers and two 2-pointers. Shelby Still and Kaitlyn Caswell also swished 3-pointers, and Brynn Cordeiro added two.

Gravette’s opening quarter points came on two field goals and a free throw by Keeley Elsea and free throws by Alexa Parker and Dalacie Wishon.

McCarty, Reese Hester and Destiny Reinhardt sunk threes in the second quarter, with Caswell adding a basket and McCarty a free throw for 12 points to Gravette’s 10, giving the Lady Pioneers a 30-18 lead at the halftime break.

Gentry widened that gap even more with a 20-point third quarter, to Gravette’s 11, with threes dropping in from McCarty (2), Caswell (2), Emma Tevebaugh (1) and Hester (1). Caswell also added a 2-pointer to the mix.

Up 50-29 at the start of the fourth, the Lady Pioneers added 10 in the final quarter while allowing the Lady Lions their best quarter of the night with 14 — a 3-pointer by Brooke Handle, 2-pointers by Elsea and Kassi Bird and seven free throws by Brynn Romine, Elsea, and Gabbi Bates.

The final score was Gentry 60, Gravette 43.

McCarty led the Gentry girls on the scoreboards with 24. She was followed by Caswell with 13, Still with 7, and Hester with 6.

Leaders for Gravette included Elsea with 12, Parker with 11 and Handle and Romine with six apiece.

GENTRY 72, PEA RIDGE 62

During play at Gentry on Monday, Jan. 23, the Lady Pioneers pulled out a 72-62 win over the visiting Lady Hawks from Pea Ridge in the third overtime.

Finishing regulation play in a 44 tie, it took the Lady Pioneers three overtimes to finally finish the job and outscore the Lady Hawks by 10 points for the win.

Alyssa McCarty again led her teammates in scoring with 37 points. She was followed by Reese Hester with 14 and Brynn Cordeiro with 10.

GRAVETTE 59 SHILOH CHRISTIANS 29

The Lady Lions traveled to Springdale on Saturday to play the Lady Saints of Shiloh Christian and brought home a big 59-29 win.

The Lady Lions led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter, 35-17 at the half, and 45-25 after three. The Lady Lions dominated the final quarter as well, outscoring the Lady Saints 14-4.

Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Gentry senior Alyssa McCarty puts up a shot under the basket while guarded by Gravette’s Brooke Handle during Friday night’s game at Gentry High School.

Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Gravette’s Alexa Parker goes up for a shot over Gentry’s Brynn Cordeiro during Friday’s game between the two Highway 59 rivals at Gentry High School.

Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Gravette junior Brynn Romine looks to put up a shot while guarded by Gentry junior Kaitlyn Caswell on Friday at Gentry High School.