Gooden, Northside cruise by Heritage

6A-WEST GIRLS FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 61, ROGERS HERITAGE 45

FORT SMITH — Sophomore guard Erikka Gooden’s smile was just as big Tuesday whether she was earning an assist or making a shot herself for her Fort Smith Northside teammates.

That’s just the unselfishness in her game, and it was on full display.

Gooden finished with six points and a game-high eight assists, while the Lady Bears assisted on 19 of their 25 field goals made. That team-first approach allowed Northside to pull away with a 61-45 victory against Rogers Heritage in a 6A-West matchup.

“It doesn’t matter to me if I score at all,” Gooden said. “If my teammate scores, I feel just as proud. It’s just a team thing for me. It’s not just about me and it’s about everyone.”

Fort Smith Northside Coach Rickey Smith has enjoyed watching the improved passing abilities of his Lady Bears down the stretch of the regular season. Smith said he felt they took it to a whole new level Tuesday night.

“Sharing the basketball has been a trend that is getting better,” Smith said. “This was very much so one of our best passing nights if not our best. We were making really good passes.”

The Lady Bears (21-4, 122) were guided by big nights from Cherish Blackmon (20 points with 18 in the second half) and Erianna Gooden (15 points).

It was a team effort on the boards with Erianna Gooden, Blackmon, Erikka Gooden, Anniyah Brewer and Isabella Kindrick all finishing with four or more.

Rogers Heritage (18-8 7-6) was led by Carlee Casteel (20 points) and Sophie Sarratt (14 points).