Kiss Off Backboard Rouses Prairie Grove

GENTRY — A kiss off the backboard roused Prairie Grove while spelling doom for Ozark as Justyne Huber converted a 3-point play when the Lady Tigers needed separation.

Shaking off the lethargic effects of a sleeping beauty potion that U. S. 62 rival, Lincoln, also experienced in a loss to Gentry the day before, Prairie Grove survived a 9-for-27 shooting game as Huber flashed in the paint and scored with a quick move while being fouled.

The score gave Prairie Grove (22-4) some breathing room with a 31-23 lead at the 5:45 mark of the fourth quarter and moved the Lady Tigers a step closer to repeating as the 4A-1 district tournament champions with a 40-28 defeat of Ozark in the semifinal on Feb. 15.

Prairie Grove was in foul trouble early and coach Kevin Froud didn’t hesitate to go to his bench, bringing in freshmen twins, Mattie and Taylor Hartin, with the exhortation, “Look to penetrate.”

In a battle of wills, Macie Kultgen took a blow to the midsection but stepped up and hit a free throw, then came back with a pull-up jumper in the lane to help the Lady Tigers edge ahead, 11-8, after the first period.

The Lady Tigers had trouble scoring in the second quarter, managing only 3 points and found themselves in a 14-14 tie with Ozark at intermission.

“At the start of the game we got some early fouls cause we didn’t rebound. We corrected it in the second half,” Froud said. “They [Ozark} had played here and had some games recently. It showed early.”

Senior Justyne Huber took a long outlet pass and slashed in from the right corner to catch the Hillbillies off guard and score a layup, but Ozark went ahead, 17-16, on Abby Melton’s 3-pointer with a minute elapsed in the third.

Prairie Grove responded with an 8-2 run to seize the lead capped off by Whitnee Fitts flinging a perfectly aimed lob downcourt to Huber on the low block where she was fouled and made both free throws for a 26-19 advantage with 1:20 left in the third frame.

Abby Melton

canned another trifecta to trim the margin to 4 points at the end of the quarter but Prairie Grove used an 10-3 run over the first 6:18 of the final frame to jump out to a 3425 lead and secured a 40-28 victory.

Despite the offensive struggles endured by the Lady Tigers, Froud was pleased with the end result.

“This time of year, it’s win and advance.”

RANDY MOLL NWA NEWSPAPERS Justyne Huber, of Prairie Grove, scores over a trio of Ozark defenders. Prairie Grove beat Ozark, 40-28, on Feb. 15 in the district tournament semifinal at Gentry.