DECATUR — The senior high Lady Pioneer Basketball team went to Heritage High School in Rogers on July 21 and played three games back-to-back against 7A schools.

The Lady Pioneers beat Heritage 32 to 28, Fort Smith Southside 34 to 32, and Van Buren 37 to 33.

On July 28, the Lady Pioneers took on Heritage and won 25 to 21. They beat Greenland 34 to 21 and were supposed to play Berryville, but the Berryville team didn't show up.

"I believe our players are finally learning to finish games," Gentry Coach Tim Rippy said. "This summer we have played lots of 5A, 6A and 7A teams to try and prepare for our conference season.

"During the first part of our summer we were playing all of these schools close but not finishing the games well. I think we have grown up a lot this summer by executing better in the last three minutes of games. Now we just need to continue and improve this fall and hope all of the experience we have gained this summer will pay off," Rippy said.

News, Pages 7 on 08/19/2009