SPRINGDALE -- There's no question Little Rock Central's girls would prefer an up-and-down game each time out. But Tuesday, it proved it can play -- and win -- at its opponent's game as well.
The Lady Tigers grinded out a 48-36 win at Springdale Har-Ber, moving to 6-0 on the season. Central girls basketball coach Michael Green was pleased with the win -- his team's third against 7A-West competition -- but there's still growing to do, he said.
7A Basketball
Girls
Little Rock Central 48, Springdale Har-Ber 36
Central^10^15^9^14^–^48
Springdale Har-Ber^8^7^9^12^–^36
Central (6-0): Scott 17, Jackson 10, Barnum 8, Greenwood 6, Hall 4, Allen 3.
Har-Ber (2-1): Collins 10, Juliza Brown 8, Mains 7, Shannon 5, Terry 4, Weber 1, Whaley 1.
Junior varsity girls
Little Rock Central 37, Springdale Har-Ber 30
"I didn't think it was in doubt after we got up," he said. "After halftime they never got it under the lead we had (going in). Even though I have four seniors starting for me, I'm coming off the bench with a junior, a sophomore. We're still young, and we're still learning."
Har-Ber forced Central to play its game early on and the Lady Tigers led just 10-8 after one quarter and 17-15 late in the second. But an 8-0 Central run sparked by back-to-back 3-pointers from Bre'Amber Scott and Jordan Greenwood put Central up 25-15 at the half and for good.
Central's defense limited quality shots for the Lady Wildcats throughout. Aside from Maci Mains' 3-pointer and layup, Har-Ber was 0-for-5 from the floor in the first quarter. Savanna Collins came off the bench and provided a boost with a 3-pointer in the second, but lapses offensively allowed for the Lady Tigers' decisive run.
"It was huge," Har-Ber coach Jaime Green said of Central's run. "It was from rushed shots, forced shots and contested shots. ... I thought we did a good job of (controlling tempo) in spurts. In the spurts when we regressed from that the points added up quick. You can't get in a footrace with an athletic team that wants to play at that pace."
Michael Green said the slower pace favored his team once the Lady Tigers grabbed control of the game.
"It was either expend a lot of energy on our part and speed them up, or show them we can play the same game with them," he said. "We like to run and play uptempo, but, hey, we can play slow-down with you, too."
Scott finished with a game-high 17 points, nine coming in the first half on a trio of threes. She then capped her night with a seven-point fourth quarter. Abigayle Jackson, one of two Central players to foul out, added 10. Collins scored a team-high 10 for Har-Ber and Juliza Brown added eight, six in the fourth quarter.
"Third game of the year, it was good exposure for our kids to see where they're at," Jaime Green said. "I'm excited about the future of this team. I'm really pleased with the diving on the floor, those 50-50 balls -- those are big. We've got to be ready to go on Thursday."
Har-Ber travels to northeast Arkansas Thursday for the Focus Bank Knockout Classic, where it will face host Greene County Tech on its homefloor. Central will return to Northwest Arkansas a third time Dec. 8-10 for the Fayetteville Lady Bulldog Classic.
Sports on 11/30/2016