Pea Ridge rolls over Greenland
Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks got off to a quick start and Greenland never recovered in the final game of Tuesday’s action at the Lady Blackhawk Holiday Invitational in Blackhawk Arena.
The Lady Blackhawks (7-6) jumped to a 15-0 lead after a quarter and cruised from there to a 52-11 win. Greenland didn’t score until Matti Cavenaugh’s 3-pointer with 6:26 left in the second quarter to get within 23-3.
Sydney Barton hit Greenland’s next field goal with 1:57 left before halftime and the Lady Blackhawks were in control 33-6 at the intermission. Greenland (3-6) had only nine varsity players dressed out.
Sophia Hankins got a steal and scored Greenland’s only points of the third quarter with 30 seconds left in the quarter. Pea Ridge led 46-9 after three quarters.
Lady Blackhawk junior Leah Telegemeier led Pea Ridge with 9, including 7 in the first quarter. Junior Mia Dayberry also chipped in 9.
Pea Ridge coach Heath Neal gave tons of credit to Greenland coach Alan Barton, who stepped in when Grapeland, Texas, said it would not be able to participate.
“He texted me on the 22nd of December saying they had some unforeseen circumstances come up,” Neal said. “They had a death in the family of one of them, had a couple injuries in that last week of conference play. I got hold of Alan (Barton) on the 24th and we talked about the situation and just being the class person that he is, he stepped in and saved me.
“It just so worked out that they were going to play us because they were replacing Grapeland. I said I didn’t care of we lost a game, but I didn’t want the other teams in the tournament suffer. He said, ‘Coach Neal, if I’m coming I’m coming all three days.’
“It’s Alan Barton at his best. He’s a class act,” Neal said.
Viola held off Mena 5856. Andrea McCandles led the Lady Longhorns with 23 points, but none in the fourth quarter.
Southside tied it at 28 on a late 3-pointer in the waning seconds of the third quarter. Anslee Ballew led Star City with 10 including two 3-pointers. Sophia Neihouse led the Lady Mavericks with 11.
Pea Ridge was to play in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Viola while Star City was to take on Mammoth Spring at 5:30 in the other semifinal. On the consolation side, Greenland was to face Mena at 4, while Fort Smith Southside was to take on Providence Academy at 2:30.
Mammoth Spring 56, Providence Academy 45
Brynn Washam poured in a game-high 22 points to lead the Lady Bears to a double-digit win.
The Lady Bears led 2924 at halftime and pushed the lead to double figures. Kailey Hallmark added 12 on four 3-pointers and Carolina Cannon added 12. Karolina Kiraga led Providence with 16.