OZARK -- When it mattered most, Cheyanne Kemp delivered for the Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs in the 4A North Regional championship game.
Kemp sank two free throws with just two second left to force overtime then went to the basket and converted a three-point play to score the first points of overtime. Those key moments helped propel Morrilton to a 46-39 victory against Pea Ridge at the Hillbilly Activity Center.
"She is just special," Morrilton coach Carin McNabb said of Kemp. "She sank those free throws really quickly. Then in overtime we were talking about she had been going to the pull-up shot and it wasn't falling. Not many people we play can stand in front of her and guard her. I told her go get to the rim, and she did just that. That was a big basket."
Kemp finished with a team-high 19 points to lead the way for Morrilton (21-3). Kennedy Reel also finished with 17 points with the help of four 3-pointers. Grace Brown chipped in 10 points for the Lady Devil Dogs.
Pea Ridge (22-5) was able to take a 37-35 lead with about five seconds left in regulation when Blakelee Winn, who had a game-high 24 points, found Ravin Cawthon under the basket for a layup.
Kemp then drove to the basket and got to the free-throw line with a little less than two seconds left. She tied the game at 37-37 with two of her 12 free throws made in the game. Morrilton finished a perfect 17 for 17 at the line in the game.
Morrilton was able to play lockdown defense in overtime. After Pea Ridge made seven of its 11 shots in the fourth quarter, it missed all six of its attempts in the extra period.
"That is our trademark -- we are going to guard you hard in man-to-man defense," McNabb said. "We have been preaching that you have to fall in love with defense to play well. Good things happen when you do that. They are making this old coach proud."
Winn made several key plays down the stretch in the fourth quarter for Pea Ridge. With a 33-32 lead in the final minute of the game, Winn grabbed a rebound and later a steal after a missed free throw by Pea Ridge. She also made a pair of free throws herself and got an assist to give the Lady Blackhawks back the lead.
"She is just a winner," Pea Ridge coach Heath Neal said. "She is one of the highest competitive kids I have ever seen. She is a next-level athlete and has been a pleasure to coach. This game was an example of what she can do and make a big impact."
Morrilton scored the final eight points of the half for a 19-15 halftime lead. Kemp was fouled at the buzzer and sank all three free throws.
The Lady Blackhawks ripped off five straight points to open the third quarter to take a 20-19 lead. But again the Lady Devil Dogs closed out the quarter strong to take back the advantage. They used a 5-0 run of their own for a 24-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Morrilton held a 32-26 lead in the fourth quarter, but Pea Ridge used an 11-3 scoring spurt to take a 37-35 edge with about six seconds left before Kemp tied the game.
Morrilton now heads into the state tournament it will host on an 18-game winning streak.
"This is big for our kids," McNabb said. "We are so excited to be hosting and be playing so well. That first game because it was an elimination one was our big game. We didn't want to go home and work the tournament and not play in it."
In the third-place game, Farmington's Carson Dillard hit a game-winner at the buzzer in a 63-61 victory against Harrison.
Boys
Morrilton 52, Farmington 47
Shots weren't falling for Morrilton in the first half. That quickly changed for the Devil Dogs after the break in the championship game of the 4A North Regional tournament.
Morrilton made just 7 of 19 shots (37%) in the first half but blitzed the nets in the second half. They made 11 of 16 to help rally and win a top seed heading into the state tournament.
Morrilton's Joseph Pinion, a University of Arkansas commit, finished with 13 points on 4 of 6 shooting with 4 steals, 3 rebounds with an assist and block. Devin Foster and Nevin Williams off the bench each scored 11 points for the Devil Dogs.
Farmington was guided by a game-high 18 points from Layne Taylor. Carson Simmons chipped in 11 points for the Cardinals.
The turnaround started for Morrilton early after halftime. They used a 8-3 run, aided by a dunk from Pinion, to take a 28-26 lead. The Devil Dogs held a 41-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
Morrilton used a 5-0 run to open the fourth quarter and extend its advantage out to 46-38. Farmington cut the lead to 46-43 with 3-pointer from Taylor with about 2:40 left in the game. But they got no closer.
In the third-place game, Dardanelle picked up a 50-47 win over Berryville.