GRAVETTE -- Shedding the gowns, heels and makeup, the Lady Lions went to work in the second game of the 2016 Gravette homecoming basketball night against the Lady Elks from Elkins at the competition gym in Gravette Dec. 16.
For senior forward Elizabeth McKenzie, the thrill of winning the homecoming crown was short lived before she traded her long, red gown for a basketball jersey and tennis shoes and transitioned to basketball mode.
The Lady Lions put the first two points on the scoreboard just a few seconds into the first quarter. For the remainder of the quarter, both Gravette and Elkins played a defensive game, allowing a combination of only 19 points. Elkins got the upper hand and managed to take a slim 10-9 lead going into the second quarter. The Lady Elks maintained a narrow margin over the Lady Lions until the four minute mark, when Elkins began to extend their lead. Gravette came back to tie the game at 16, but Elkins went on an eight-point run with only seconds left to regain the lead and take a 24-16 lead going into the halftime break.
Elkins continued to dominate Gravette through much of the third quarter until, with three minute left in the quarter, the Lady Lions began to hit the basket. They were up by two going into the final eight minutes of the contest.
The Lady Elks fought back to get on top but the Lady Lions never gave up and managed to shut down Elkins' offense long enough to recapture the lead and jump to a seven-point advantage with less than a minute remaining. The Lady Elks never recovered from the Gravette run, allowing the Lady Lions to prevail and take the victory, 53-46.
The Lady Lions were back in action Dec. 20 to take on the West Fork Tigers in the competition gym at Gravette (after press time).
Sports on 12/21/2016