JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE 58, MARMADUKE 46
JUDSONIA -- A sophomore, junior and a senior teamed up to lead Johnson County Westside past Marmaduke 58-46 in a first-round game Thursday at the Class 2A girls state tournament at White County Central High School.
Gwen Turpin, Kelsey Criss and Lauryn Brasel combined to score 40 of Westside's 58 points in the victory.
Turpin and Brasel finished with 15 points each, while Criss added 10 points. Turpin and Criss also hit 3 three-pointers each in the game. Madison Shelton helped with nine points.
"They are a big part of our game plan," said Westside Coach Karra Busch, "and when our five start playing as a unit, we are able to cover the entire court, and in a game at this level, that's what you have to do."
Marmaduke, ousted in the first round a year ago by Pangburn, was trying to avenge that loss Thursday. It didn't quite work out as Westside completed the first quarter with a 17-8 lead.
Westside, which reached the regionals a year ago, is hoping to extend its state tournament ride today when it faces No. 1-seed Spring Hill at 7 p.m.
Busch said she didn't have a clue about what to expect from Spring Hill. "We have some homework to do on the bus ride home," she said.
Criss nailed back-to-back threes to end the quarter, while Marmaduke's Reesa Hampton missed all three free throws after being fouled on a long three-point attempt that would have put the Lady Greyhounds within six.
Both teams, after the opening helter-skelter quarter, began to settle into their offenses in the second period.
"I thought we played well today," Marmaduke Coach Rick Smith said. "We had the open shots, they just weren't falling for us. We went 31-7 and even though we lost today, we don't have any reason to hang our heads. It's a little disappointing but these girls coming back next year have a lot to build on."
Marmaduke used an 8 to 2 run to get within 19-16 and then climbed to within 19-18 before Westside struck for eight points to hold a single-digit 27-26 lead at the half. Hampton finished the second with nine points as did Westside's Turpin.
Fueled by threes from Shelton, Criss and Brasel, Westside stretched their lead to 10 points at 36-26 and then weathered a scoring run by Marmaduke, to retain the 10-point lead 46-36 to begin the final period.
Both teams weathered a three-minute scoring drought to start the fourth quarter before Westside held on to its double-digit margin to close out the game.
Hampton led Marmaduke with 16 points, including 4 threes, while Anna Meredith added 11 points and Emma Foster finished with 6.
CADDO HILLS 55, BIGELOW 47
Caddo Hills used 18 points from Rachel Dumont and 10 points from Taylor Allen to defeat Bigelow.
Caddo Hills led 12-10 after one quarter but fell behind 24-22 at the half. The Lady Indians regained the advantage at 40-33 to start the fourth quarter.
Alexis Hill led Bigelow with 12 points.
Caddo Hills will play the Earle-Poyen winner at noon Saturday.
EARLE 58, POYEN 31
RoShala Scott scored 16 points and Elaijha Brown added 11 as the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Indians. Earle led 14-7 after one quarter, 33-20 at the half and 37-22 to begin the final quarter. Kyla Puckett and Mikayla Kai Montiho each finished with nine points for Poyen.
Sports on 03/02/2018