The Little Rock Central Lady Tigers have left quite an impression on Mountain Home Coach Dell Leonard in two meetings this season.
The Lady Tigers (20-2, 9-1) disposed of the Lady Bombers (8-12, 3-7) for the second time this season in a 7A/6A Central game -- 45-27 Friday night at Central after winning at Mountain Home 39-32 earlier.
"They have about 10 players who will play at the next level more than likely,'' Leonard said. "They've got depth at every position. A lot of teams will have depth at the guard spot, but I have never seen a team that is as deep as Central is at the guard spot and at the post."
Leonard said Central Coach Mike Green deserves credit for putting together a team that can win from the inside or out.
"They are really good at turning you over and scoring the ball off turnovers," Leonard said. "Even when you have people back they are still really good at getting back in transition and they are really good at rebounding in transition."
Central forced 20 turnovers.
Mountain Home stayed with Central in the first quarter thanks to 3 three-pointers. But Central's Jada Perry's three-pointer right before the buzzer to give the Tigers a 15-9 lead after the first quarter.
Central led 22-11 at the half as Mountain Home was 1 of 5 from the field with 5 turnovers in the second quarter. Mountain Home went 7:24 without scoring during a stretch spanning the end of the second quarter and the first part of the third quarter and Central led 27-13 with 5:25 left in the third quarter.
It was 31-16 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bombers closed to 36-25 with 4:30 to play as Breelyn Arms hit two three-pointers and Madison Hershberger added another. Central answered with three consecutive baskets in a little more than a minute.
"It was a pretty good defensive effort,'' Green said, noting that Arms got loose a few times.
Arms led Mountain Home with 11.
Sophomore BreAmber Scott, Sydni Williams and Kamry Orr had 9 each for the Tigers. Kiara Williams scored 6.
Sports on 02/14/2015