BERRYVILLE -- Turnovers and problems defending lobs into the post contributed to Gentry's first-round, 46-30, loss to Pea Ridge in the District 4A-1 girls' basketball tournament held Feb. 15 at Berryville's Bobcat Arena.
The first quarter and fourth quarter belonged to Pea Ridge senior Alli Whatley, who finished with a season-high 20 points. Whatley scored 8 in the first quarter and all 10 of the Lady Blackhawks' points in the fourth, mostly on lobs while floating to the basket.
Pea Ridge complemented its post game with timely outside shooting. Jennifer Anthony hit a pair of 3-pointers in the last 1:43 of the first quarter to lift the Lady Blackhawks to a 14-8 advantage. Gentry battled back to within five, 17-12, with Hannah Boss' putback and Haley Hays' drive into the middle following Chastery Fuamatu's offensive rebound and cross-court pass.
The Lady Pioneers turned the ball over as the first half wore down when a pass intended for Fuamatu, posted up, went too deep and she came down with a foot out-of-bounds.
"That wasn't the offense we worked on," said Gentry coach Toby Tevebaugh.
In the first minute of the third quarter, Pea Ridge's Hollyn Davis collapsed and fronted Fuamatu in the paint, stealing a pass intended for the Lady Pioneer center. Fuamatu did catch a lob on the low block 47 seconds later and made a free throw. Boss and Fuamatu each had offensive rebounds, but the Lady Pioneers overpassed the ball and couldn't score. During a time-out, Tevebaugh instructed his team, "Start taking the shots."
Pea Ridge executed a high-low post play with Maggie Fletcher throwing a lob to Whatley, putting the Lady Blackhawks ahead, 32-18, with 3:05 to go in the third. Maggie Fletcher stole a Gentry lob intended for the post on the next possession, but Gentry got the ball back and Boss scored off the glass and added a free throw. Pea Ridge led, 36-21, after three quarters.
Gentry used a 6-0 mini-run to make a charge to get back in the game. Boss stole an outlet and made a layup. She then scored on a Gentry high-low lob pass and Jaydon Jarnagan converted a layup off a steal to cut Pea Ridge's lead to 36-27 with 2:06 elapsed in the fourth quarter.
Whatley then scored five baskets, all in the paint, over the final 3:42 to help the Lady Blackhawks put the game away. With the victory, Pea Ridge is headed to the 4A North Regional for the first time in eight years, while Gentry was eliminated from the district tournament. Boss led the Lady Pioneers with 21 points.
Pea Ridge 46, Gentry 30
Gentry 8 7 6 9 -- 30
Pea Ridge 14 7 15 10 -- 46
Gentry: Hannah Boss 21, Haley Hays 4, Chastery Fuamatu 3, Jaydon Jarnagan 2.
Pea Ridge: Alli Whatley 20, Jennifer Anthony 11, Hollyn Davis 9, Avery Dayberry 5, Melissa Landis 1.
Sports on 02/22/2017