FORT SMITH -- A sizzling start was just what nationally-ranked Fort Smith Northside needed to seize control of its nonconference game against Greenwood.
The Lady Bears connected on 67 percent of their shots in the first half to build a double-digit lead and hold off the Lady Bulldogs 52-40 Thursday night in Kaundart Fieldhouse.
Greenwood (8-2) got to within seven points in the early moments of the fourth quarter but just could not get over the hump against Northside (8-0).
"We beat a really good Greenwood team. They have everyone back from a state finalist team a year ago," Lady Bears coach Rickey Smith said. "We played as good as we could play in the first period, but I thought we played more not to lose than trying to win at times after that."
The Lady Bulldogs stayed in the game in part because they forced 20 turnovers. Northside outrebounded Greenwood 41-20.
"Northside just hit shots in the first half," said Lady Bulldogs interim coach Matt Bryant. "We were just 7-of-27. We dug ourselves a hole, but we got back in the game in the second half. We just needed to make a few more shots."
Northside had three players in double figures. Sara Bershers led all scorers with 18 points while Tiya Douglas added 17 and Jersey Wolfenbarger added 14. Kyiah Julian had 11 to lead Greenwood while Kinley Fisher added 10.
The Lady Bears sizzled in the first quarter to race to a 23-11 lead, 11 coming from Wolfenbarger. Northside hit 9-of-10 shots, including 4-of-4 from the 3-point arc. The lead was 33-19 at halftime as the Lady Bears hit 14-of-21 shots (67 percent) while the Lady Bulldogs shot just 27 percent (7-of-27).
"As well as we shot the ball in the first quarter, we did not in the second and third quarter," Smith said. "Greenwood began to hit some shots and we did miss some good looks in the third quarter. We also turned the ball over because we did not attack their traps like we did in the first quarter."
The Greenwood defense stiffened in the third quarter, holding Northside to just one field goal and three points in the third quarter while forcing five turnovers. The Lady Bulldogs finished the quarter with a 6-0 spurt, capped by a Susannah Stein layup at the buzzer, to climb to within 36-29.
But Douglas scored eight points in the fourth quarter and Bershers put the game out of reach with four free throws in the final 90 second to wrap up the win.
This is the last game of the first semester for both teams. After Christmas, both teams will travel out of state for holiday tournaments.
Northside will play Wednesday in the Springfield (Mo.) Pink/White Tournament at Drury University against Springfield Catholic. Greenwood meets Tulsa Booker T. Washington Thursday in the Sapulpa (Okla.) Chieftan Holiday Classic.
GIRLS
FS NORTHSIDE 52, GREENWOOD 40
Greenwood 11 8 10 11 -- 40
FS Northside 23 10 3 16 -- 52
Greenwood (8-2) -- Julian 11, Fisher 10, Price 7, Clements 5, Rozell 3, Stein 2, Goodwin 1, Sockey 1.
Northside (8-0) -- S. Bershers 18, Douglas 17, Wolfenbarger 14, Mays 4 .
Sports on 12/21/2018