Freshman Jacie Higgins picked a good time for her breakout game on the varsity level.
Higgins scored 23 to lead Springdale Har-Ber to a 79-77 victory in double overtime against Siloam Springs. Higgins scored 19 of her points in the second half to help keep Har-Ber (17-4, 7-1) in first place in the 7A/6AWest.
The win also gives Har-Ber a boost heading into Tuesday’s home game with Bentonville (13-7, 4-4), which beat the Lady Wildcats 57-55 for their only league loss. Bentonville beat Van Buren57-36 Friday to end a fourgame losing streak.
“Jacie had a phenomenal game,” Har-Ber coach Sandy Wright said. “She’s a bigguard with a nice (shooting) touch and she was able to take it to the rim and fi nish. I’ve been hard on her about getting better because I seeher potential. I think she is going to be much better the second half of conference play.”
The Springdale Har-Ber boys couldn’t overcome a slow start in a 56-52 defeat at Siloam Springs. Har-Ber, which failed to make a fi eld goal in the second quarter, got to within 54-52 after Mason Cline hit consecutive three-pointers. But Cline missed two other 3-point attempts late and Siloam Springs held on for the victory over the Wildcats (11-9, 3-5).
Play Of The Game: Har-Ber did not trail in the second overtime after Jacie Higgins began the extra session with a three-point play. Bailey Schalk followed with a basket to increase the lead to 74-68.
Players Of The Game: Higgins took charge in the second overtime by scoring the first seven points for the Lady Wildcats. She was supporter by Paige Redmond, who finished with 19 points. Mason Cline had 17 points ina losing effort for the Har-Ber boys.
Notable : Springdale Har-Ber benefited by not playing on Tuesday, when all league teams were idle. That gave Bailey Schalk more time to heal and she scored 13 points after hurting her back against Rogers. … Har-Ber’s reserves outscored Siloam Springs’ reserves 30-2. … The Har-Ber boys managed only two points, both on free throws, in the second quarter against the Panthers.
Up Next: Har-Ber returns home to face Bentonville Tuesday at Wildcat Arena. The Bentonville boys (14-3, 8-0) beat Van Buren 56-43 while the Bentonville girls defeated the Lady Pointers 57-36.
AT A GLANCE THAT FIGURES 7ff Jacie - Consecutive Higgins to points begin by second overtime 14ff missed - Consecutive by Har-Ber shots boys for almost two quarters 23ff guard - Points Jacie by Higgins freshman
Sports, Pages 8 on 02/09/2014