HARRISON -- Will Pittman would like nothing more than to start the new year with a healthier Gravette girls basketball team.
Until that time, the Lady Lions will have to make do with a bunch of younger players, and they're doing quite well during the Lendel Thomas Classic.
GRAVETTE 78, EARLE 69
Earle^26^43^—^69
Gravette^41^37^—^78
Earle (8-1): Scott 38, Maples 19, Moore 6, Brown 4, Mathis 2.
Gravette (8-5): Morrison 32, Bookout 17, Chilton 9, Beranek 8, McKenzie 7, Scott 5.
At A Glance
LENDAL THOMAS CLASSIC
Girls
Friday
Ashdown 46, Bentonville West 44
Bauxite 64, Hampton 42
Gravette 78, Earle 69
West Memphis 61, Harrison 59
Today
Seventh place: Bentonville West vs. Hampton, 10 a.m.*
Fifth place: Bauxite vs. Ashdown, 10 a.m.
Third place: Earle vs. Harrison, 12:30 p.m.*
Championship: Gravette vs. West Memphis, 12:30 p.m.
BOYS
Friday
Bauxite 49, Watson Chapel 43
Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest 61, NWA Hornets 34
Forrest City 65, Earle 58
Harrison 49, Ashdown 48
Today’s Games
Seventh place — Watson Chapel vs. NWA Hornets, 11:15 a.m.*
Fifth place — Springfield Hillcrest vs. Bauxite, 11:15 a.m.
Third place — Earle vs. Ashdown, 1:45 p.m.*
Championship game — Forrest City vs. Harrison, 1:45 p.m.
*— games will be played at “LT’s Place,” or the auxiliary gym.
Sophomore Shylee Morrison had 14 points during a 27-6 outburst to close out the first half, and Gravette went on to post a 78-69 semifinal victory Friday over defending Class 2A state champion Earle in a rematch of last year's championship game.
"Injuries are tough, and they happen," Pittman said. "But what I've been pleased about with this group is the next kid comes up and plays. We've had some young kids get some really good minutes.
"Abigail Beranek, who started inside, played really well, then Kasandra Tajchman and Kaylan Chilton have stepped up and played for us. Then there's Shylee, who is our point guard, has played extremely well. I told her she had to shoot when they started spreading out, and she did."
Morrison finished the game with a season-high 32 points, but she was scoreless when Elaijha Brown's bucket gave Earle (8-1) a 20-14 lead with 5 minutes, 40 seconds before halftime. Morrison then hit a pair of 3-pointers and tied the score at 20, and her third 3-pointer came during a 12-0 Gravette run for a 32-22 lead at the 2:09 mark.
Morrison then added another 3-pointer with 28 seconds in the first half, and Chilton beat the buzzer with another 3 to give the Lady Lions a 41-26 halftime cushion.
"We just worked as a team," Morrison said. "It helps when you have a good team that gets you open. Good shots also help. I just hit that first 3, and it kept going from there, I guess. I didn't imagine this kind of performance."
Morrison opened the second half with a free throw to give Gravette its biggest lead before Earle started a comeback. The Lady Bulldogs quickly ran off eight straight points to pull within single digits, then pulled within 70-67 after back-to-back buckets by Roshala Scott, who led all scorers with 38 points.
Morrison, however, responded with a 3-point play, then hit five of six free throws to secure the win. She hit two free throws after Earle was called for an intentional foul with 43.5 seconds left, then added three more in the closing seconds.
"Shylee had a few ups and downs, but she's a competitor," Pittman said. "When you challenge her a little bit, she always steps up to it. I was pleased with her down the stretch, and she never came out of the game."
Bookout was the only other Gravette player in double figures with 17 points, while Colbi Maples had 19 for Bryant.
Gravette will play at 12:30 p.m. today against West Memphis, a 61-59 winner over host Harrison in the other semifinal. Meanwhile, Ashdown defeated Bentonville West 46-44 in a consolation game and pushed the Lady Wolverines into the seventh-place game against Hampton at 10 a.m.
In boys action, Ethan Edwards' layup as the buzzer sounded gave Harrison a come-from-behind 49-48 victory over Ashdown as the Goblins scored 10 points in the final 65 seconds. Harrison will play at 1:45 p.m. against Forrest City, which defeated Earle 65-58 in the other semifinal.
Preps Sports on 12/29/2018