Pense Plays Role Of ‘Strategic-Type Shooter’

FARMINGTON GIRLS GET PAST HARRISON IN SEMIFINAL

HARRISON — Coach Brad Johnson has referred to senior Madisyn Pense as an “strategic-type shooter,” and she lived up to the profile during Farmington’s 57-53 semifinal win over Harrison Thursday.

Pense, who was scoreless in the Lady Cardinals’

55-46 loss at Cardinal Arena on Feb. 8, was no gunner. She picked her spots with quality shot selection plunging daggers into the heart of Harrison’s dreams of advancing to the District 4A-1 girls basketball championship on its home court.

“There’s a lot more to her game than just being an assassin-type shooter,” Brad Johnson said earlier in the season describing Pense’s multi-facted impact that goes beyond scoring.

Pense reached 1,000 points for her high school career in December and regularly is among team leaders in steals. She signed with the University of Central Missouri, the 2018 Division II women’s national champion, on Nov. 14, 2018.

The Lady Goblins came on like gangbusters trying to deliver a knockout blow taking a 22-9 first quarter lead behind 9 points from Caroline Cecil, who finished with a game-high 17.

Then Pense delivered the first of five daggers.

Pense came across the baseline to hit a 3-pointer beginning a 13-6 scoring advantage for Farmington in the second quarter. Teammate Makenna Vanzant had 6 of her 15 points in the second as Farmington closed the gap to 28-22 at halftime.

Harrison maintained a 6-point lead until Farmington ended the third on an 11-7 run with Pense factoring prominently into the Lady Cardinal comeback. Following a Lady Goblin turnover, Farmington in-bounded in the front court and found Pense open in the right corner for three. The trey brought Farmington within 37-36 the closest the Lady Cardinals had been since an early 2-2 tie.

Harrison’s Brylie Parker hit a turnaround jumper at the free throw line and Marion Groberg converted a 3-point play beating Farmington’s press sandwiched around Joelle Tidwell’s free throw for the Lady Cardinals.

Pense would not let Harrison off the hook. Farmington forced a turnover and Pense cashed in with another trifecta this time from the left corner making it a two-point game, 42-40, at the end of the third quarter.

Trinity Johnson tied the game early in the fourth with a reverse layup on a feed from Vanzant. One minute into the fourth, Sydney Shrum buried a 3-pointer for Harrison when a Farmington defender gambled and didn’t get a steal. Tidwell’s foul shots brought Farmington back to 45-44. Harrison missed a 3-pointer and two shots in the key, then botched a third opportunity to extend the lead as Tidwell stole the ball and was off to the races. She found Pense trailing the play, who sailed in for an easy layup giving Farmington its first lead, at 46-45.

Near the three-and-a-half minute mark, Trinity Johnson nailed another trey putting Farmington up 49-45. The Lady Cardinals sank 8-of-8 free throws in the last minute to pull off the victory and gain a berth in Saturday’s district championship against Berryville.

Cecil made a 3-pointer, her only points of the fourth, narrowing Farmington’s lead to 55-53 with 11 seconds to play.

Pense put the final dagger in the coffin by making Farmington’s last two free throws when she was fouled with 2.4 seconds remaining.

FARMINGTON 57, HARRISON 53

Farmington 9 13 18 17 — 57 Harrison 22 6 14 11 — 53 Farmington (21-6): Makenna Vanzant 4 6-6 15, Madisyn Pense 4 2-2 13, Alexis Roach 4 2-2 10, Joelle Tidwell 1 5-7 7, Trinity Johnson 2 0-0 5, Tori Kersey 2 0-0 4, Audrey Culpepper 1 0-0 3. Totals 18 15-17 57. Harrison (21-5): Caroline Cecil 7 0-0 17, Marion Groberg 7 1-1 15, Brylie Parker 3 2-2 8, Sydney Shrum 2 1-2 7, Kenzie Parker 2 0-0 4, Brynn Oleson 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 4-5 53.

3-Point Goals — Farmington 6 (Pense 3, Johnson, Vanzant, Culpepper), Harrison 5 (Cecil 3, Shrum 2). Rebounds — Harrison 28, Farmington 33. Assists — Harrison 14, Farmington 9. Steals — Harrison 3, Farmington 3. Blocks — Harrison 3, Farmington 1.

Pense