Heber Springs led Bald Knob from opening tip to the final horn, beating the Lady Bulldogs 61-37 Tuesday night in 2-4A Conference play at the Panther Den. Going into Wednesday and Friday’s home games against Stuttgart and DeWitt, Heber held a 17-6 overall record, including 8-2 in league play, which is good for second place.
The Lady Panthers started the game with three straight as Brooke Blankenship turned an offensive rebound into a free throw and Elizabeth Krug scored from left block off an assist from Jena Kelley but Desiree White responded with a fade away jumper from right baseline.
Heber used a 6-0 spurt to take command as Kelley converted a Blankenship steal into points with a jumper from charity stripe then Kelley picked a steal and hit Krug for a layup. Kelley came up with another steal and hit Hali Tury for two as Bald Knob called timeout with 3:03 left in first quarter, already trailing 9-2.
Following the break in action, Bald Knob’s Alicia Smithson turned an offensive rebound into two free throws and White drove right side for a layup as the Lady Bulldogs pulled within three before Kelley drove the lane and dished to Blankenship for a bucket.
Kelley split Bald Knob’s defense and finished with a finger roll and she later added a free throw, extending the Lady Panthers’ lead to 14-6 going into the second quarter.
After Macy Edge drove the left side for a layup to begin the second, Heber scored six straight as Kelley found Tara Stevenson streaking ahead of the pack for a layup then Tury got a stick back before Blankenship hit a turnaround jumper in the lane, pushing the Lady Panthers’ lead to 21-8.
Makenzie Cox powered up for two from right block before Kelley hit a pull up jumper from right elbow but Edge nailed a 3-pointer from right wing and later added two free throws, pulling the Lady Bulldogs within eight.
With time winding down in the first half, Kelley drove into heavy traffic and flipped an amazing shot off the glass while drawing a foul. She completed the 3-point play, giving Heber a 26-15 lead at halftime.
The Lady Panthers opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run as Tury grabbed a defensive rebound and drove coast-to-coast for a layup then Katie Dixon lobbed to Blankenship for a bucket before Cox drove the middle of the lane for a layup.
Krug swiped a steal and scored and Tury converted an offensive rebound into a pair of free throws as Heber’s lead grew to 34-17 before Shannon Coates drained a 3-pointer from right elbow.
In the next couple of minutes, Heber traded baskets with Bald Knob as Krug made a short jumper in the lane but Smithson fired back with a leaner before Blankenship notched a stick back.
After White hit a pull up jumper in the lane, Krug swiped another steal and scored but Edge bombed a 3-pointer from left wing before Krug made a free throw and Tury hit a scoop shot off an assist from Dixon, giving Heber a 43-27 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Heber continued to dominate in the final eight minutes as Stevenson made a bank shot then she turned an offensive rebound into a pair from the stripe before Kelley made a smooth spin move in the lane and dropped a floater.
White made two free throws before Heber scored five more as Stevenson sank a bank shot from left side off an assist from Kelley and Krug turned a steal by Chrissy Willen into a free throw then Krug made a short jumper in transition off an assist from Dixon, extending the Lady Panthers’ lead to 54-29.
Edge countered with a 3-pointer from top of the key before Willen drove the right side and finished with a shot high off the glass and Magen LaRosa made a free throw. White kept battling as she completed an old-fashioned 3-point play before LaRosa came away with a steal and hit Savannah Thomas for a layup.
After Lauren Davidson got a putback for Bald Knob, Morgan Fires followed her own miss for two, setting the final at 61-37.
Edge paced Bald Knob with 13 points and White added 11. Krug scored a game-high 14 points for Heber while Kelley added 12 and Tury followed with 10. Blankenship and Stevenson each scored nine for the Lady Panthers.
Heber hosts DeWitt tonight for Senior Night.
Heber Springs, Ark. —
