LINCOLN -- Kelton Trembly did his best to wear out the rims at Lincoln, dunking on the Wolves six times during Gravette's 62-40 win in the Lincoln gym Dec. 5.
The 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior is an explosive leaper. The Lions have started more than one conference game over the past two seasons with a lob from the top-of-the-key to Trembly roaming the baseline. The intent is to give him an alley-oop. While those plays haven't always been successful, the very attempt served notice. Opponents better protect the rim. Trembly is also a threat to shoot the jumper, as illustrated by an 18-point outing he had as a sophomore against Lincoln. He runs the floor well and can handle the ball. His skill-set combined with athleticism gives opponents trouble.
Gravette 62, Lincoln 31
Lincoln faced a tough Gravette team Dec. 5 and was blown out, 62-31, in a 4A/3A District 1 action at home.
The Lady Lions returned virtually all of their point production from a year ago when they finished 20-11 and advanced to Regionals before losing to eventual State 4A runner-up Pottsville. Last season, Gravette averaged 52 points-a-game. Post presence 6-0 Stephanie Pinter graduated, along with her 6 rebounds-per-game, yet Gravette did not rely on her scoring. The two graduated players, including Pinter, accounted for about 4 points-per-game, a scary fact for opponents.
Gravette returned plenty of offensive punch. Sophomore Cally Kildow led the Lady Lions in scoring last season as a freshman with 11.7 points-per-game. Senior All-State guard Tori Foster (11.0 ppg), senior Kyrstin Branscum (10.5 ppg), aggressive junior Jessica Bookout (5.7), defensive specialist junior Teagan Dixon (5.1) and senior Bernice Garcia (4.5) can all score.
Last year, Dixon averaged six rebounds per game and Branscum averaged four. A year later, Branscum has become a lot stronger physically. Gravette's collective athleticism and depth spelled trouble for Lincoln when the teams met Dec. 5. Foster went off like a smoking gun in the third quarter, nailing four 3-pointers and notching 14 points in the third. Foster finished with 30 points for Gravette, which blew the game open by outscoring Lincoln 24-9 in the second quarter for a 32-14 halftime cushion. Gravette built the lead up to 53-25 after three quarters. Mallory Smith and freshman Shylee Morrison added nine points apiece for the Lady Lions (4-1). Averi Massey had nine points to pace Lincoln (4-5).
Gravette 62, Lincoln 31
Gravette 8 24 21 9 -- 62
Lincoln 5 9 11 6 -- 31
Lincoln (4-5): Averi Massey 9, Jessica Goldman 5, Robin Kirk 5, Hollie Webb 5, Tanner Robb 4, Tristan Cunningham 3.
Gravette (4-1): Tori Foster 30, Mallory Smith 9, Shylee Morrison 9, Cally Kildow 5, Bernice Garcia 4, Jessica Bookout 2, Teagan Dixon 2, Gabbi Curtis 1.
Rebounds -- Gravette 24 (Dixon 7). Assists -- Gravette 8 (Morrison 3). Steals -- Gravette 21 (Morrison 7). Turnovers -- Gravette 23. Total fouls -- Gravette 12.
The Gravette Lions also defeated Sequoyah (Okla.) on Dec. 4 by a score of 58-22 and Wyandotte (Okla.) on Dec. 7 by a score of 53-44.
The Lady Lions beat Locust Grove (Okla.) on Dec. 7 by a score of 47-46 and lost to Adair (Okla.) on Saturday, 52-26.
Sports on 12/13/2017