Stuttgart could have thrown a wrench in Heber Springs’ plans of placing first or second in the 2-4A Conference with an upset Wednesday night. But the Lady Panthers put that idea to rest early as they opened up a 38-18 lead by halftime and cruised to a 75-38 victory.
Stuttgart took the game’s first lead shortly after the opening tipoff but Jena Kelley rattled home a 3-pointer up top and Katie Dixon added a trey from left wing before Kelley drove left baseline and dropped a floater over two defenders, giving Heber an 8-4 lead, which only lasted a couple of minutes as the Lady Ricebirds tied it back up at 8-all.
Elizabeth Krug scored the next five as she made a jumper from left elbow, plus the foul and completed the 3-point play then Krug picked a steal and scored in the open floor. After Stuttgart notched a free throw, Dixon drilled a 3-pointer from left wing but Stuttgart turned a steal into two points, leaving Heber with a 16-11 lead going into the second quarter.
Stuttgart’s Quita Piggie popped a 3-pointer up top as the Lady Ricebirds pulled within two early in the second before Heber retaliated with a 22-4 run to close the first half. Tara Stevenson got Heber started with a bank shot in the lane then Hali Tuy got a putback in transition, plus the foul. Tury completed the 3-point play then Stevenson got a stick back before Tury swiped a steal and scored.
Heber’s onslaught continued as Brook Blankenship made a short jumper from left baseline but Stuttgart made two from the line before Dixon buried a 3-pointer up top off an assist from Blankenship.
Blankenship and Krug each hit two from the line as Heber’s lead ballooned to 34-6 before Piggie sliced down right side of lane for a layup. Stevenson responded with a jumper in the lane off an assist from Tury then Krug grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a short bank shot at the buzzer, giving the Lady Panthers a 38-18 lead at hafltime.
Stuttgart used a 10-2 run to pull within 12 midway through the third quarter but the Lady Ricebirds lost control of their emotions when Heber hit them with seven quick points, starting with a putback by Tury.
After making two free throws, Kelley completed an old-fashioned 3-point play then she picked another steal and the Lady Ricebirds were whistled for a shooting foul and technical foul as they began to loose their cool, even with their head coach.
Kelley made all four free throws then she nailed a deep 3-pointer from left wing as the Stuttgart players began begging to come out of the game, trailing 54-28.
Kelly added two free throws and Dixon ripped a 3-pointer from right wing off an assist from Krug but the two squads traded baskets in the closing minutes, leaving Heber with a 63-31 lead entering the fourth quarter.
With the clock running continuously due to the mercy rule, Heber outscored Stuttgart 12-7 in the final eight minutes of play. Kelley scored six points to begin the quarter and Rhylie Gachot and Magen LaRosa later added buckets. Taylor Hinton and LaRosa each added free throws down the stretch, setting the final at 75-38.
Kynsha Geans led Stuttgart (13-7, 6-4) with 10 points and Piggie followed with seven. Kelley scored a game-high 29 points, including 18 in the third quarter alone for Heber, while Dixon added 12, Krug followed with 11 and Tury chipped in seven.
Heber Springs, Ark. —
