SILOAM SPRINGS -- The Lady Panthers raced out to a 19-3 lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a 59-19 win over Gravette in both teams' season opener at Panther Arena.
Siloam Springs (1-0) scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed in the contest. The Lady Panthers starters played for only one half before the team freely substituted in the second half.
"Our emphasis coming into tonight was defensive conditioning," said second-year Siloam Springs head coach Tim Rippy. "We felt like we had great defensive intensity in our benefit game (on Nov. 15 against Huntsville), but we ran out of steam. Tonight, we didn't get to go four quarters with our first group, but I felt like they gave good intensity while they were in there."
The Lady Panthers forced Gravette into 22 turnovers, including 17 steals, led by four steals from junior Abby Cox and three steals each for seniors Baily Cameron and Taylor Gay.
Siloam Springs also outrebounded Gravette 33-17, including 15 offensive rebounds, led by seven rebounds from senior Mayse Pippin and six from Cameron.
Senior guard Bailee Owens led the Lady Panthers with 10 points, while senior guard Rachel Jones scored eight and Pippin seven.
"We made some progress," Rippy said. "That was one of our main goals coming in. It was good to go against their 1-3-1 (zone defense). With our 12 days of practice, we haven't worked on a lot of zone offense. That was good for us to get some reps against their zone."
Owens opened up the scoring with a three-point play and Cox sank a pair of free throws for a 5-0 lead. Pippin scored on a putback to make it 7-0.
Gravette's Chasity Hubbard sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 7-3, but Owens canned a 3-pointer on the wing to get the lead back up to 10-3. The bucket started what would be a 16-0 run going into the second quarter.
Mirna Torres would score a layup in that run, while Cameron hit a baseline jumper and Jones hit a 3-pointer.
Haley Stewart sank two free throws at the end of the quarter for a 19-3 lead, and Jones and Jaci Hoelscher scored baskets to open the second quarter for a 23-3 lead.
A basket from Gravette's Maddie Foster ended the run, but the Lady Panthers went on another 10-0 run to go up 33-5.
Stephanie Pinter scored to cut the lead to 33-7.
Pippin sank a long jump-shot and Gabrielle Hufford hit a 3-pointer as Siloam Springs went ahead 38-7 at halftime.
Rippy removed his starters in the second half and emptied his bench. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock.
Twelve different Lady Panthers broke into the scoring column.
Robin Davis led Gravette with six points.
Sports on 11/26/2014