Lady Apaches eliminate Lady Lions in first round
WEST FORK — After winning the regular season championship and placing third in the district tournament in Berryville last month, the Gravette Lady Lions advanced to the 4A North regional play-offs Feb. 23 at the Tiger Dome at West Fork, where they ended the 2016-17 season with a loss to the Pottsville Lady Apaches.
Gravette took an early lead on a three-point shot 90 seconds into the first quarter. Pottsville countered with a two pointer on the next possession. For the remainder of the quarter, the lead changed hands 10 times. With 10 seconds left, Pottsville was in the lead when Gravette freshman Gabbi Curtis drove to the top of the key and put up a jumper at the buzzer to retake the lead for the Lady Lions, 28-27.
The second quarter was entirely a defensive contest and neither team was able to score. Gravette went into the halftime break still maintaining its 28-27 lead from the first quarter.
The Lady Lions had the first possession of the third quarter. On that possession, Pottsville fouled Gravette’s Kyrstin Branscum, sending her to the line for two free throws. Branscum missed the first and hit the second, extending the Lady Lions’ lead to two. Gravette maintained a narrow lead over Pottsville until the three minute mark in the third when the Lady Apaches put up a pair of field goals to take over the lead for the first time in the contest. Another field goal by Curtis brought the Lady Lions back to within one. A last-minute field goal and free throw put the Lady Apaches up by four going into the final eight minutes of the contest.
Just after the beginning of the fourth quarter, Pottsville’s Amanda Myer hit a two point field goal to begin a run that expanded the Apaches’ lead to eight with four minutes left. A pair of free throws by freshman Cally Kildow brought the Lady Lions to within six. That was as close as Gravette would come because Pottsville began another run that would extend its lead to 15. A free throw by Teagan Dixon and a free throw and field goal by Branscum cut the Lady Apaches’ lead to 11. Five additional points by the Pottsville girls in the final minute of play gave them the victory, 67-51, ending the Lady Lions’ hopes for a state tournament bid.
The Lady Lions ended the 2016-17 season with a 20-11 overall record and 14-5 in conference play.