GRAVETTE -- The Lady Lions ran into a bit of trouble on Jan. 18 when the team played host to the Farmington Lady Cardinals at the Lions' Den in Gravette. The fast-paced Lady Cardinals got the best of the Lady Lions and, when the dust settled 24 minutes later, Farmington came out on top by 21 points.
The Lady Cardinals came into the Gravette contest in second place in the 4A Region 1 conference behind the Gentry Lady Pioneers, who currently lead the conference. The Lady Lions currently hold third place in the conference.
The opening tip went to Farmington which was unable to produce a score due to strong defense by the Lady Lions. Likewise, Gravette was unable
to score on its first possession of the night. Neither team's offense was able to make a basket until the six-minute mark in the first quarter when Farmington's Carson Dillard was fouled by Gravette's Rachel Deihl, sending Dillard to the line for two free throws. Dillard made both free throws and the Lady Cardinals were on the scoreboard for the first points of the contest.
On Gravette's next possession, Alexa Parker was fouled by Farmington's Jenna Lawrence, sending Parker to the line for two free throws. Parker missed the first attempt but sank the second, putting the Lady Lions on the scoreboard but trailing by one.
Then at the 5:15 mark of the first quarter, a jumper by Farmington's Morgan Hernandez ignited the Lady Cardinals offense and suddenly the Lady Lions found themselves trailing by nine. By the end of the quarter, Farmington was in firm control of the contest, leading Gravette 23-10, with the worst yet to come.
A 20-6 sweep of the second quarter by the Lady Cardinals found the Lady Lions trailing by 27 points, 43-16, going into the halftime break.
Farmington kept up the pressure in the second half and, when the final buzzer sounded to end the contest, the Farmington Lady Cardinals defeated the Gravette Lady Lions, 74-53, for the conference win.
Two Lady Lions were in double figures for this contest, Alex Parker with 18, including five three-point field goals, and Reese Hamilton with 15, including four three-point field goals. Other Gravette Lady Lions contributing to the scoring effort included Rachel Deihl with eight, Alyssa Holland with five, Gabbi Bates with three, Keeley Elsea and Brooke Handle each with two.
On the Farmington side, four players were in double figures for the night. They included Morgan Hernandez with 15, Carson Dillard with 13, Jenna Lawrence with 12 and Reese Shirey with 10.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
As Morgan Hernandez (Farmington 20) puts up a jumper from inside the lane, Alyssa Holland (3) tries to strip the ball away during the first quarter of the Gravette-Farmington basketball contest in Gravette Jan. 18. Holland scored five points for the contest.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Rachel Deihl (Lions 12) pulls down a rebound during the second quarter of the Gravette-Farmington varsity girls basketball contest at the Lions' Den in Gravette Jan. 18. The Farmington Lady Cardinals defeated the Gravette Lady Lions 74-53 to take the conference win.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Alexa Parker (10) puts up a jumper from the three-point line as a flock of Lady Cardinals try to block her out during the third quarter of the Gravette-Farmington conference contest at the Lions' Den in Gravette Jan. 18. Parker made the shot which was one of five three-pointers for the night.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Keeley Elesa (Gravette 40 ) fights her way past Jenna Lawrence (Farmington 23) on her way to the basket for a layup during the Jan. 18 Gravette-Farmington varsity girls contest in Gravette. Elsea made the shot for her only two points of the contest.