HOT SPRINGS — Things can get interesting when there are two bridesmaids fighting for one bouquet.
Shiloh Christian and Lonoke played like two teams that had been within striking distance of the girls state basketball the past three seasons.
Shiloh Christian defeated Lonoke 51-45 Thursday at Summit Arena to claim the school's first state title in girls basketball. The Lady Saints (34-1) were in their second trip to the state finals in the past three years.
"It feels good especially after what happened two years ago," Shiloh Christian Coach Vic Rimmer said.
Lonoke (26-8), meanwhile, is still looking for its first girls title since 1977 after losing three consecutive championship games to Central Arkansas Christian (2007), Huntsville (2008) and Shiloh Christian.
"It doesn't get any easier," Lonoke Coach Nathan Morris said. "It doesn't get any easier to look in those girls' eyes and tell them their dreams are over."
They nearly weren't.
After trailing since the 2:06 mark in the first quarter, Lonoke went on an 11-3 run midway through the fourth quarter and took a 37-36 lead on a layup by Ashleigh Himstedt with 3:48 left to play.
Shiloh Christian forward Megan Herbert made 1 of 2 free throws on the ensuing possession for a 37-37 tie.
Lonoke's Michaela Brown then missed two free throws and Jessie Parks hit a jumper from the left side to put Shiloh Christian up 39-37 with 2:48 left.
The Lady Saints led the rest of way.
"We got out of sync offensively," Morris said. "We had things that we wanted to get done offensively, and for whatever reason, we weren't able to get those things done."
Herbert led all players with 26 points and 11 rebounds, despite going scoreless in the third quarter.
"She's tough," Morris said. "About the only positive thing was that she missed three free throws. She normally doesn't do that."
Shiloh Christian's inside presence was nullified early by the speed of Lonoke.
Herbert was getting her shots for the Lady Saints - scoring seven points in the first quarter - but Lonoke was moving the ball back down the court quickly.
Lonoke led early, scoring the game's first three points before watching the Lady Saints push the ball in to Herbert.
When the 5-11 Herbert wasn't scoring, she was kicking the ball out to teammates who were driving to the basket.
The Lady Saints led 18-8 with 4:45 left to play in the first half when Herbert completed a threepoint play after being fouled by Lonoke's Emily Shoemaker.
Shiloh Christian didn't hold the big lead for long, however, as the Lady Jackrabbits went on a 7-2 run to cut the Lady Saints lead to 20-15 with about a minute left until halftime.
Shiloh Christian led 22-16 at the half, with Herbert's 12 points nearly matching Lonoke.
The Lady Jackrabbits were outsized and the Lady Saints were a step slower than Lonoke, but this was no size-vs.-speed matchup. Although Lonoke had four firsthalf steals, so did Shiloh Christian. And the Lady Saints' 17 first-half rebounds were nearly matched by the Lady Jackrabbits' 13.
Sports, Pages 25 on 03/13/2009