Lady Cardinals Singe Nets

FARMINGTON — Alexis Roach sat most of the first half with foul trouble, yet she had a key impact against Siloam Springs as the Lady Cardinals won 72-61 on Jan. 3.

The court and players were familiar, but Alexis Roach was wearing a different-colored jersey when she competed against her former teammates at Panther Activity Center. These were girls she grew up with and was reluctant to leave. In fact, Alexis Roach completed her sophomore year at Siloam Springs after her father, Jacob Roach, was named Campus Pastor of Northwest Assembly Farmington Campus in December 2016. The family moved to Farmington last spring. Like most teenagers, Alexis Roach preferred her comfort zone.

Alexis Roach was accustomed to competing alongside the Lady Panthers, not against them. Yet for all the friendships she cherished, the competitive spirit within her temporarily superseded those relationships when she took the court at Panther Activity Center as an opponent.

Siloam Springs pulled within 26-24 with Morgan Vaughn hitting a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the third quarter. Farmington sophomore Makenna Vanzant then knocked down three consecutive trifectas from the same spot on the left wing on her way to a season-high 27 points. One of those came on an offensive rebound and kick-out by Alexis Roach. Jessa Taylor’s steal triggered another.

Alexis Roach stole the next two Lady Panther possessions taking one all the way for a transition bucket that has become her calling card at Farmington. Chloe Price’s old-fashioned 3-point play and Jael Harried’s free throw drew the Lady Panthers within 37-29 then Vanzant set up Alexis Roach for backto-back treys from either wing by driving and dishing. Farmington led 43-29 at that juncture and maintained a 10-point lead until Morgan Vaughn’s uncontested 3-pointer sailed through the hoop following a Lady Cardinal turnover.

The shot cut the lead down to 51-44 but Madsyn Pense, who had 20 points for Farmington, answered at the other end by draining a 3-pointer courtesy of Vanzant’s ball distribution. Farmington upped the lead to 15 on Pense’s 3-pointer followed by her layup created by Vanzant’s dribble penetration sandwiched around Hadlee Hollenback’s free throws for Siloam Springs. The cushion reached 68-51 when Alexis Roach rebounded and threw an outlet to Vanzant, who spotted Pense in the right corner for Farmington’s 14th 3-pointer of the contest at the 3:05 mark.

Vanzant made six 3-pointers. Pense had 5, Alexis Roach 2 treys and 10 points, while Journagan had one among her 13 points.

Siloam Springs made 8 treys in the game. Chloe Price (18) and Morgan Vaughn (16) combined for 34 points for the Lady Panthers.