GRAVETTE -- Shylee Morrison played one of the best games of her high school career Jan. 11 when she and her Gravette Lion teammates squared off against the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks at the competition gym in Gravette. In spite of Morrison's outstanding performance in the fourth quarter, the Lady Lions were unable to cut into the lead, giving the win to the Lady Blackhawks by 11.
The Lady Lions jumped out in front early in the first quarter, outscoring the Lady Blackhawks 15-9 to take a six-point lead into the next quarter. Gravette continued its dominance in the second quarter, allowing Pea Ridge only four points. Unfortunately, the Lady Lions were unable to extend that lead, scoring only six the entire quarter. Gravette went into the halftime break leading by eight.
Gravette maintained its eight-point lead until the four-minute mark of the third quarter when the Lady Blackhawks mounted a run that would bring them to within two points with less than a minute left in the quarter. At the 53-second-mark, Pea Ridge tied the game at 30 each. Gravette regained the lead a few seconds later. But the persistent Lady Blackhawks tied the game at 32 when time ran out in the third quarter.
The Lady Blackhawks grabbed the lead once again shortly after the start of the final quarter and, by the 4:15 mark, allowed Gravette only two points while building an 11 point lead. A pair of three-pointers, one by Maggie McKenzie and one by Morrison, sparked a run that would cut the Lady Blackhawk lead to five, but Pea Ridge's strong offense continued its hold on the lead.
Morrison's strong athleticism and drive would see the sophomore guard pick up 16 of her 26 points in the last three minutes of the contest. But it was not enough to overtake the Lady Blackhawks, who took a 64-53 win.
Besides Morrison's 26 points for the Lady Lions, Maggie McKenzie scored 10 points, while teammate Gabbi Scott put up seven. Other Gravette players adding to the scoring effort were Jessica Bookout with five, Abigal Beranek with four and Kaylan Chilton with one.
Sports on 01/16/2019