SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber saw a 15-point fourth-quarter lead slip away Saturday afternoon, but Flo Karu made sure the Lady Wildcats secured the win.
Karu sank two free throws with 0.4 seconds left to lift Har-Ber to a 61-59 victory over Greenland on the final day of the Slim Chickens Thanksgiving Classic in Wildcat Arena.
The senior guard rebounded a teammate's miss and was sent to the free-throw line with the score tied at 59 and less than a second remaining. She calmly sank both free throws, and Greenland (3-4) was only able to get a hurried shot attempt before time expired.
Har-Ber coach Kimberly Jenkins said her team, which lost 41-39 to Morrilton on Friday, is going through growing pains. Karu making those free throws is a step in the right direction though after missing the front end of a one-and-one late on Friday.
"We're still learning how to win," Jenkins said. "But stepping up at the end and making a couple of free throws -- that's part of learning to win, too.
"The thing we have to do is we have to learn to manage the game. We've had two losses that were very close at the end, and it's about knowing our role, our personnel, and time and score. We're still really young."
Karu and sophomore Kania Starks led a balanced scoring attack for Har-Ber, which led 32-18 at halftime, with 13 points each, while Sophie Nelson added 12. Freshman Caylan Koons was also in double figures with 11.
The Lady Wildcats' inexperience showed at times late as Greenland used a 19-4 fourth-quarter run to erase a 15-point deficit. Har-Ber (2-3) also missed two front ends of one-and-ones in the final minute, which could have put the game away. That left the door open for Greenland, and Fiona Wilson fueled the run with 11 of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter.
Destiny Jackson was also in double figures for Greenland with 15, including 13 in the second half.
Greenland's Kaylee Wilson banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 59-59 tie with 20.5 seconds remaining. Har-Ber ran the clock down as Nelson missed a short jumper and a follow, but Karu grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
Farmington 78, Pulaski Academy 63
The Lady Cardinals used a big second half to pull away for the win.
Farmington (2-0) led only 38-36 at halftime but pushed the lead to 13 after three quarters and never looked back.
Madisyn Pense poured in a team-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers. Sophomores Tori Kersey and Trinity Johnson added 18 and 12, respectively.
Mattie Hatcher led Pulaski Academy (1-4) with 20, while Taylor Hernandez added 17 -- including five 3-pointers.
Springdale High 63, Morrilton 51
The Lady Bulldogs ended the third quarter with a 14-4 run en route to the win.
Springdale (3-2) led only 32-30 after Mary Kate Kordsmeier drained a 3-pointer. But the Lady Red'Dogs used a nice run to push their lead to double digits and made free throws in the fourth quarter to keep Morrilton (5-1) at arm's length.
Arkansas signee Marquesha Davis poured in a game-high 25 points, but she had plenty of help with three others in double figures.
Thaly Sysavanh chipped in 11,while Ashlyn Minchew and Jeniya Gause added 10 points each. Kordsmeier led the Lady Devil Dogs, which trailed 25-21 at halftime, with 22.
At A Glance
Slim Chickens Thanksgiving Classic At Wildcat Arena, Springdale
Friday’s Scores
Springdale High 65, Pulaski Academy 57
Morrilton 41, Springdale Har-Ber 39
Farmington 66, Greenland 49
Saturday’s Scores
Springdale High 63, Morrilton 51
Farmington 78, Pulaski Academy 63
Springdale Har-Ber 61, Greenland 59
Springdale Har-Ber 61, Greenland 59
Greenland 8 10 20 21 - 59
Har-Ber 10 22 20 9 - 61
Greenland (3-4): F. Wilson 26, Jackson 15, K. Wilson 9, Fanning 5, Campos 3, Houston 1.
Springdale Har-Ber (2-3): Karu 13, Starks 13, Nelson 12, Koons 11, Fotenopulos 8, Hambleton 4.
Sports on 11/25/2018