Parkers Chapel defeats Bearden
PARKERS CHAPEL – Parkers Chapel took another step closer to winning the 8-2A crown Monday by knocking off Bearden 67-43.
The Lady Trojans made it a sweep by rolling to a 55-34 win in the girls game.
Preston Stivender had 22 points and Terrell Malone had 20 points for the Trojans (15-7, 13-1), who hosted Harmony Grove Tuesday night.
Parkers Chapel pulled away methodically from the Bears (4-16, 3-10), leading 11-10 at the end of the first period and 25-18 at intermission before extending their lead to 49-34 after three periods of play.
“I thought we had been playing really well defensively, we just couldn't knock down some open looks early on,” Parkers Chapel coach Josh Langley said.
“We got things going offensively in the third quarter, but got a little too comfortable late in the quarter, letting them score some easy ones in transition.
“We continued how we played for most of the third in the fourth, as we were able to pull away. I thought the Bearden kids showed a lot of heart. They never gave up.”
Tyler Killingsworth had nine points and Nik Garcia had six points off the bench. The Trojans' reserves came up big, particularly in the first half.
“Nik Garcia pitched in off the bench in relief of (Caleb) Jacobs and Malone, who each got in a little foul trouble,” Langley said.
“(JT) Phelps came in the second and gave us some big minutes when (Evan) Younger went out with foul trouble.
“Lancer Clark may have played his best varsity game for us. Edison Thompson really attacked the rim well tonight also.
“Overall, I feel like we are playing really good defense. We just have to put together four quarters of knocking down shots.”
LADY TROJANS ROLL TO VICTORY
Ali Looney sank four 3-pointers en route to scoring 23 points for the Lady Trojans (13-10, 9-5), who threw a shutout in the first quarter, taking a 14-0 lead.
Parkers Chapel led 30-15 at halftime and 41-28 at the end of the third quarter before outscoring the Lady Bears (10-12, 6-6) 14-6 in the final stanza to pull away.
The win also gives the Lady Trojans a sweep of the series, which could prove to be pivotal for seeding for the district tournament.
Drue Thomas was also in double figures with 12 points and Taylor Fortune finished with nine points for Parkers Chapel.
“I thought that we played very well as a team tonight and ultimately our defense just wore them down,” Parkers Chapel coach Justin Welch said.
“We did a great job forc
ing them to do things that they really didn't want to do. We also shot the ball much better tonight.
“Ali really found her groove from outside the arc and Drue and Taylor both hit outside shots too.
“That always helps extend that zone defense and helps open up lanes to the basket. Overall, I was really happy with our effort.”
BARTON PICKS UP ROAD WIN
SMACKOVER - Barton's seventh-grade girls basketball team came away with a 21-13 win at Smackover on Monday.
Damexia McDaniel had 10 points and Zoe Jackson had seven points for the Lady Wildkittens, who improved their record to 6-6 with the victory.
Barton will finish its season at Texarkana on Feb. 10.