’Hawks skin ’Cats
Boys complete sweep
The undefeated Berryville Lady Bobcats, ranked No. 1 in Arkansas by the CBS/MaxPreps Poll, are undefeated no more after the Lady Blackhawks took their measure in a 46-43 victory to climb into a tie for first place in the league. The Blackhawk boys finished the evening’s sweep with a 49-48 come from behind win capped by a winning layup by Brandon Whatley.
The girls’ game was dedicated to freshman cheerleader Kennedy Allison who was rescued at school in dramatic fashion last week when she collapsed in class but was brought back to life by a prepared and efficient high school staff. After spending several days in Little Rock’s Children’s Hospital, Allison was at the game to cheer on the team.
The Lady Bobcats are led by the two tallest players in the league, both over 6’0”, which helped them take control early in the game. Morrell (6’1”) scored twice underneath and added a free throw to spark the guests to a 15-14 first quarter lead. Lady ’Hawk Maria Socha took charge of the Pea Ridge offense early on, hitting three buckets and a pair of free throws. Blakelee Winn hit a goal with Aidan Dayberry ripping a trey and charity toss to keep the ’Hawks close.
Berryville’s 6’0” Hopper scored three times in the paint along with a free throw to help the ‘Cats get a little more space between the district rivals. The Bobcats’ Smith tossed in a pair of 3-pointers to help them widen their lead to 30-25 by intermission. Blakelee Winn scored a pair of free throws and a field goal, with Hollyn Davis connecting on a goal and free throw with Katelyn Swope and Alyssa Short each scoring 2 points to keep Pea Ridge within striking distance.
The third quarter proved to be decisive as the hustling, faster Blackhawks completely shut down the ’Cats’ inside game, limiting the visitors to just a single basket in the period. Meanwhile, Winn stroked three free throws and a bucket, with Davis and Gabby Adams bombing treys, as the ’Hawks outscored Berryville 11-2 in the period to head into the fourth quarter with a 36-32 lead.
The fourth quarter was bedlam with the two big girls scoring 8 points for the ’Cats, helping them run out to a 40-39 lead with two minutes left in the game. Pea Ridge was not be denied as four athletes came up with points in the quarter, three freebies by Winn, a score by Davis and a score and free throw by Adams as the ’Hawks held on to register the upset.
Winn led the scoring with 14 followed by Socha with 10, Davis 8, Adams 6, Dayberry 4, Swope 2 and Short 2.
“We keeping getting better and we beat a very good Berryville team,” head coach Heath Neal said. “They were bigger than us but we were faster and more athletic and that carried the day.”
“We have several girls who could lead the scoring on any given day, and that is because they are all so unselfish,” Neal said. “All our players are very different in their style of play, but they play as a team. Any team who tries to shut one of them down will just see another girl pick up the scoring.”
The girls’ 18-3 start to the season is reported by some to be perhaps the best start in school, certainly the best start in the new millennium. They are tied for
first in the West Division with Farmington with identical 5-1 league records
Blackhawks 49 Bobcats 28
The boys game was another barn burner with the Bobcats having a big 2nd quarter to spurt into a lead they would not relinquish until the fourth quarter. Again, it was tight Blackhawk defense and hustle that led the way to the Blackhawks’ league victory.
Things started well for the ’Hawks as the jumped out to a 13-8 first-quarter lead. Landon Allison and Nick Coble ripped shots from behind the arc, with center Wes Wales hitting two shots in the paint and scoring a free throw. Carson Rhine added a shot to help the ’Hawks maintain a 5-point lead headed into the second quarter.
While the ’Hawks maintained their offensive output in the second period, Berryville took off. The ‘Cats rammed through 20 points in the period to make up the deficit and surge into halftime with a narrow 28-26 lead. Wales came up even bigger in the quarter, scoring three times underneath while adding two free throws. Coble hit another trey and added a field goal with Carson hitting two for two on the charity stripe.
Berryville kept up the pressure in the third quarter as they outscored the ’Hawks again, this time a 15-12 margin to roll into the last quarter with a 4338 edge. Alex Wilkerson, Wales, Coble and Allison all scored to keep the game close enough to be able to mount a comeback.
The fourth quarter was wild and boisterous with the Blackhawks summoning up their best defense, limiting the Bobcats to just 5 points in the final 8 minutes. Meanwhile Coble struck for two buckets, Wilkerson hit a pair of free throws and a field goal with Will Feemster adding a free throw to get the ’Hawks to within a point, trailing 4847 with less than a minute.
Blackhawk head coach Trent Loyd called a timeout and drew up a play for forward Brandon Whatley, who had not scored in the game at the point. The offense was executed perfectly with Whatley driving for a layup with the bucket proving to be the winning score.
Wales led the scoring with 15, followed by Coble 14, Wilkerson 8, Allison 5, Rhine 4 and Feemster 1.