GRAVETTE -- Surrounded by a sea of orange, the Gravette Lions and Lady Lions hosted Elkins on Friday night. It was the 2018 Orange Out night for the Lions as students, family and fans filled both sides of the gym wearing orange T-shirts in support of the Gravette basketball programs.

The Lady Lions pulled away from the free throw line to earn a 50-36 win over Lady Elks Friday night.

The Lady Lions (16-5) didn't make a field goal for nearly four minutes in the third quarter but instead hit eight of 10 free throws to pull away for the win.

Gravette coach Will Pittman credited the ability to get to the foul line on his defense.

"We were aggressive and got them in foul trouble," he said. "Our defense led to that. The second half, our defense was better. We got some steals which allowed us to attack, then Elkins got a little bit frustrated, and we took advantage of that."

The Lady Lions made 21 of 35 free throws on the night.

"They pulled away with free throws," Elkins coach Monica Wells said. "They were a little bit more aggressive in the third quarter and it turned us."

Wells also credited the Gravette press with forcing the Lady Elks (13-8) into missed shots and unforced turnovers. Gravette limited Elkins to 33 percent shooting and 29 turnovers.

"Their press does that to a lot of teams," said Wells of Gravette's 1-3-1 pressure defense. "We tried to force things. We felt their moment go, and we started forcing things and making passes we didn't need to make."

Gravette's Gabbi Curtis led all scorers with 14 points. Calli Kildow scored 13.

Carla Burton led Elkins with 10.

GRAVETTE 50, ELKINS 36

Gravette 10 13 14 13-- 50

Elkins 13 12 4 7 -- 36

Gravette (16-5): Curtis 14, Smith 13, Bookout 8, Foster 7, Morrison 3, Kildow 2, Branscum 2.

Elkins (13-8): Burton 10, Diaville 9, Hollingsworth 7, Coleman 6, Parrish 2, Kestner 2.

BOYS

Gravette 52, Elkins 39

Gravette coach Matt Busch knows what Kelton Trembly can do. After Friday's performance, the rest of the Lions' fans do too. Trembly scored 15 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, as Gravette defeated Elkins, 52-39.

"Kelton carried us early with his shooting," Busch said. "I'm happy he's stepping up and doing that his senior year."

Behind the play of Trembly, Dayten Wishon, who scored 11 points, and Chris Childress (12), the Lions (16-5) were able to extend their lead to as many as nine. Elkins pulled within six in the fourth quarter, but Gravette hit free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

"Every time they made a run, one of our guys would give his body up (by taking a charge). That's something we've been preaching all year," Busch said.

Paxton Bennett led Elkins (15-7, 9-5) with 13 points. Chad Graham added nine.

Gravette 11 18 8 15-- 52

Elkins 14 9 6 10 -- 39

Gravette (16-5): K. Trembly 16, Childress 12, Wishon 11, Austin 6, B. Trembly 4, McCarty 2, Short 1.

Elkins (15-7): Bennett 13, Graham 9, Hipps 7, Vaught 6, Evans 4.

Sports on 01/31/2018