ROGERS -- Like its neighbor to the north in Decatur, the Gentry Lady Pioneers junior high basketball team traveled to eastern Rogers for Heritage High School's Hooping in the Heat, a two-day summer camp sponsored by the War Eagles basketball program.
The camp pitted several area junior high and middle schools in two 14-minute halves These contests allowed the coaches a chance to see their teams in action in order to correct any flaws in the teams' game plans before the regular season started in November. The games were spread out between the main high school gym and two secondary basketball/volleyball courts.
On day one, Gentry's first contest was against the Springdale Southwest Junior High Lady Cougars. It was more a defensive contest for both teams, with the Lady Cougars jumping out to an 8-0 lead over the Lady Pioneers. A quick lineup change by coach Courtney Millsap and the Lady Pioneers picked up four straight field goals to tie the game at 8 points each going into the second half. Southwest took the win by one point, 13-12, over the Lady Pioneers.
Gentry's next opponent was the Bentonville Lincoln Lady Leopards in Heritage's middle gym. Like the Gentry-Southwest contest 30 minutes earlier, the contest was primarily a defensive one, with neither team able to shoot very well. When the first half ended, the game was tied at 12 all. The Lady Leopards began to pull away from the Lady Pioneers but, at the two-minute mark, the game was tied a 22 all. Bentonville Lincoln went on to defeat Gentry, 25-22.
No information was available on the third game of the day for Gentry.
On day two, Gentry's first game was against the Springdale Hellstrom Lady Heros. Unfortunately for Gentry fans, Hellstrom took the win.
The Lady Pioneers squared off against the Lady Cougars from Springdale Southwest after losing to Southwest by one point during the day one competition. Unfortunately, the Lady Cougars took command of the first quarter, holding Gentry scoreless while amassing 18 points. By the seven-minute mark in the second half, Southwest added seven more points to its total. Gentry was able to score a single field goal early in the half. Southwest went on to take the win over Gentry.
Gentry's final game was with Rogers Oakdale Middle School. The Lady Lions shut out Oakdale, 20-0, in the first half and 18-0 in the second to take the win.
In a show of real sportsmanship during the Lady Pioneers' off time, most of the team members attended the Decatur games to cheer them on, while the Lady Bulldogs reciprocated in kind by cheering on Gentry.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
A view from the floor, a Lady Pioneer attempts a three-point shot during the Gentry-Rogers Oakdale junior high basketball game in the main gym at Heritage High School in Rogers June 24. The Lady Pioneer player landed the shot for three points.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
A Lady Pioneer tries to put up a shot over the top of a Hellstern defender during the Gentry-Rogers Hellstern junior high basketball game which was part of the June 24 Hooping in the Heat basketball camp in Rogers.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
A Lady Pioneer shooter flies through the air on her way to a successful layup during the Gentry-Springdale Southwest junior high basketball game in Rogers June 24. The Lady Pioneers participated in the 2022 Hooping in the Heat junior high camp at Heritage High School.