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Harding Academy guard Riley Rose found enough gaps in the Lady Ramblers’ zone defense for a game-high 20 points, primarily on driving shots in the lane and free throws, as the Lady Wildcats defeated Rose Bud for the third time this season, this time a 53-45 decision on Friday night in the 2-3A District tournament championship game at Rambler Arena.
Rose Bud, now 22-6 overall, takes the second seed into Thursday’s regional tournament game in Bald Knob, where the Lady Ramblers will look to bounce back against Fountain Lake at 7 p.m.
The Lady Wildcats, who improved to 20-5 overall, play fourth-seeded Mayflower today at 4 p.m.
Harding jumped out to a 5-0 lead as guard Anna Lowery hit a jumper from left baseline, forward Tory Mote made a free throw and Rose added two more from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, Rose Bud struggled to find the basket until guard Kyndl Hardlan canned a three-pointer from left wing in transition with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
After Harding guard Lynley Crowell came up with a steal that led to a free throw by Mote, Rose Bud guard Alexis Jackson made a pair of free throws, trimming the Lady Ramblers’ deficit to one at 6-5 entering the second stanza.
The Lady Ramblers snatched the lead early in the second when Harlan sank an 18-foot jumper from right elbow but Rose turned a steal into a pair of free throws as Harding turned up its defensive pressure with a full-court press.
Harding reserve Shelby Gowen then picked a steal, which led to a free throw from post player Kristen Lester. Gowen added two free throws for an 11-7 lead before Rose Bud jumped back on top with a 5-0 spurt, starting with a turnaround bank shot by post player Lauren Wynne.
Point guard Tori Willborg followed with a three-pointer from top of the key but Rose quickly responded with a drive and pull up jump shot. Wynne countered with a three-pointer up top as Rose Bud reclaimed the lead and built upon it with a pair of free throws from Wynne.
Down 17-13, Harding came back with four in a row as Rose blocked a fast-break layup attempt by Rose Bud and Crowell connected from beyond the arc in transition. Then, Lowery picked a steal, which led to a free throw by Crowell but Rose Bud jumped back on top when guard Tori Lemieux buried a deep three-pointer from left wing, just in front of Harding’s boisterous student section.
Lemieux’s three gave Rose Bud a 20-17 lead and some momentum at halftime but Harding came out of the locker room fired up, outscoring the Lady Ramblers 21-9 in the third quarter.
Harding opened the third quarter with a 6-2 spurt, which included two buckets by Rose before Harlan slithered down left baseline for a layup. Rose fired back with a driving bank shot before Wynne, who scored all but two points for the Lady Ramblers in the third period, recorded a rebound bucket.
Following a pair of Rose free throws, the Lady Ramblers broke Harding’s press as forward Sara Sartin hit Wynne inside for a layup but Rose grabbed a rebound, drove coast-to-coast before finishing with a crossover and layup, giving the Lady Wildcats a 29-28 lead.
Wynne knotted the score with a free throw but Mote tossed in five straight, including a three-pointer from left wing as Harding suddenly took a 34-29 lead.
After Rose made a free throw, Mote came away with a steal and rattled home a three-pointer up top at the buzzer, pushing the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 38-29.
Rose Bud chipped away at its deficit early in the fourth quarter as guard Jessi Mann sank a 19-foot jumper following a steal by Jackson and Wynne recorded a stick back, while Harding managed a free throw from Rose.
Lester snuck inside for a layup off a baseline inbound play but Rose Bud hung tough as Lemieux drained a three-pointer from left corner off an assist from Harlan. After the Lady Ramblers pulled within five, Harding put the game out of reach with six straight for a 47-36 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Following Rose’s game-high 20 points, Mote added 12, Crowell finished with eight, including four free throws in the final minute, and Lester chipped in seven. Wynne paced Rose Bud with 16 points and Harlan added 13, while Willborg and Lemieux each had six.
Harding Academy guard Riley Rose found enough gaps in the Lady Ramblers’ zone defense for a game-high 20 points, primarily on driving shots in the lane and free throws, as the Lady Wildcats defeated Rose Bud for the third time this season, this time a 53-45 decision on Friday night in the 2-3A District tournament championship game at Rambler Arena.
Rose Bud, now 22-6 overall, takes the second seed into Thursday’s regional tournament game in Bald Knob, where the Lady Ramblers will look to bounce back against Fountain Lake at 7 p.m.
The Lady Wildcats, who improved to 20-5 overall, play fourth-seeded Mayflower today at 4 p.m.
Harding jumped out to a 5-0 lead as guard Anna Lowery hit a jumper from left baseline, forward Tory Mote made a free throw and Rose added two more from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, Rose Bud struggled to find the basket until guard Kyndl Hardlan canned a three-pointer from left wing in transition with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
After Harding guard Lynley Crowell came up with a steal that led to a free throw by Mote, Rose Bud guard Alexis Jackson made a pair of free throws, trimming the Lady Ramblers’ deficit to one at 6-5 entering the second stanza.
The Lady Ramblers snatched the lead early in the second when Harlan sank an 18-foot jumper from right elbow but Rose turned a steal into a pair of free throws as Harding turned up its defensive pressure with a full-court press.
Harding reserve Shelby Gowen then picked a steal, which led to a free throw from post player Kristen Lester. Gowen added two free throws for an 11-7 lead before Rose Bud jumped back on top with a 5-0 spurt, starting with a turnaround bank shot by post player Lauren Wynne.
Point guard Tori Willborg followed with a three-pointer from top of the key but Rose quickly responded with a drive and pull up jump shot. Wynne countered with a three-pointer up top as Rose Bud reclaimed the lead and built upon it with a pair of free throws from Wynne.
Down 17-13, Harding came back with four in a row as Rose blocked a fast-break layup attempt by Rose Bud and Crowell connected from beyond the arc in transition. Then, Lowery picked a steal, which led to a free throw by Crowell but Rose Bud jumped back on top when guard Tori Lemieux buried a deep three-pointer from left wing, just in front of Harding’s boisterous student section.
Lemieux’s three gave Rose Bud a 20-17 lead and some momentum at halftime but Harding came out of the locker room fired up, outscoring the Lady Ramblers 21-9 in the third quarter.
Harding opened the third quarter with a 6-2 spurt, which included two buckets by Rose before Harlan slithered down left baseline for a layup. Rose fired back with a driving bank shot before Wynne, who scored all but two points for the Lady Ramblers in the third period, recorded a rebound bucket.
Following a pair of Rose free throws, the Lady Ramblers broke Harding’s press as forward Sara Sartin hit Wynne inside for a layup but Rose grabbed a rebound, drove coast-to-coast before finishing with a crossover and layup, giving the Lady Wildcats a 29-28 lead.
Wynne knotted the score with a free throw but Mote tossed in five straight, including a three-pointer from left wing as Harding suddenly took a 34-29 lead.
After Rose made a free throw, Mote came away with a steal and rattled home a three-pointer up top at the buzzer, pushing the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 38-29.
Rose Bud chipped away at its deficit early in the fourth quarter as guard Jessi Mann sank a 19-foot jumper following a steal by Jackson and Wynne recorded a stick back, while Harding managed a free throw from Rose.
Lester snuck inside for a layup off a baseline inbound play but Rose Bud hung tough as Lemieux drained a three-pointer from left corner off an assist from Harlan. After the Lady Ramblers pulled within five, Harding put the game out of reach with six straight for a 47-36 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Following Rose’s game-high 20 points, Mote added 12, Crowell finished with eight, including four free throws in the final minute, and Lester chipped in seven. Wynne paced Rose Bud with 16 points and Harlan added 13, while Willborg and Lemieux each had six.
