North Little Rock got a big boost from its bench during Saturday's game against 7A/6A-East Conference rival Cabot, but it was a familiar duo that ultimately led the Lady Charging Wildcats to another Heavenly Hoops Invitational title.
Guards Malica Monk and Kyra Collier combined for 33 points and nine steals to help North Little Rock pull away for a 55-44 victory at Mt. St. Mary High School.
Monk, a University of Arkansas signee, finished with 17 points and five steals for North Little Rock (3-0), which beat Star City 67-36 in the tournament's championship game last season. Collier added 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists despite sitting out much of the first half because of foul trouble.
"With as well as Cabot played, with as hard as they played, this was a good way to start the season," North Little Rock Coach Daryl Fimple said. "We knew it'd be a battle all the way through. We didn't do a good job of keeping off the free-throw line, and that kind of kept [Cabot] in the game.
"I thought we did a good job of staying the course. It also helps when you have a kid like Malica Monk on your side, too."
Monk shook off an early leg injury to score 14 first-half points to help North Little Rock grab a 26-24 lead going into halftime. The senior left the game briefly after hurting her left thigh in the first quarter while diving for a loose ball but returned moments later in the midst of a Cabot run. Her free throw at the start of the second quarter gave the Lady Charging Wildcats a 17-14 advantage before the Lady Panthers used a 9-0 rally to regain the lead.
Anna Sullivan's free throws pushed the Lady Panthers' lead to 23-17, but a three-pointer by Monk jumpstarted a 9-0 run to end the half for North Little Rock.
Cabot (2-1) battled back in the third quarter. Coco Calhoun's basket started an 8-0 run that allowed the Lady Panthers to open a 32-27 lead. But a three-pointer by Collier ignited another quarter-ending 9-0 run that put North Little Rock back in control.
"The kids showed some moxy there in the third quarter," Fimple said. "We got in some foul trouble, but we had some bench players step up to get us going. We started getting some contributions from different people and not just offensively.
"Kyra hit a big shot there, but our bench got us back in it."
Reserve guard Nykea McGhee's free throw pushed North Little Rock ahead 36-32 heading into the fourth quarter, where Collier scored eight points and had three assists to help close out the game.
Calhoon scored 11 points to lead Cabot, which made 13 of its 28 shots but turned over the ball 17 times. Sullivan added 10. North Little Rock finished 18 of 48 from the field and had just 6 turnovers.
Sports on 11/23/2014