PRAIRIE GROVE -- Prairie Grove overcame a 46-42 deficit after giving up an offensive rebound with Ella Faulk sparking a close-out 9-2 run to beat Gravette, 51-48, in girls basketball action Friday.
The never-say-die Lady Tigers (11-5, 3-3) clawed their way into a 40-37 lead early in the fourth on Lexi Henry's layup, then endured a 9-2 Gravette run that started with Dalacie Wishon's putback. A traveling violation gave the Lady Lions (9-8, 3-3) the ball back, and Brynn Romine snapped a 3-pointer.
Prairie Grove colors day queen Kenleigh Elder, back in the lineup coming off an injury, knotted the score at 42-all at the free-throw line. Prairie Grove freshman Hope Kidd had a fast break going but lost the ball off her foot. That led to Keeley Elsea powering up a left-handed layup after catching the ball on the low block for the Lady Lions. Romine tracked down an offensive rebound in the corner. Wishon's free-throw-line shot capped the Gravette run that lasted two minutes and provided the visitors their biggest lead of the fourth with 3:43 remaining.
Prairie Grove demonstrated resilience throughout the contest, finding ways to get stops. Gravette committed a charging foul and later lost a rebound out of bounds. The Lady Tigers in-bounded twice, finally springing Henry at the free-throw line for a jumper. Elder stole the ball at the other end and drew a foul. Gravette was over the limit, so Elder stepped up to shoot a 1-and-1. She calmly drained both to put the teams into another deadlock at 46-46, the seventh tie of the game.
Brook Handle pivoted left from the top of the key and drove to push Gravette back ahead, 48-46. Wishon blocked a shot, and the Lady Lions had a chance to extend their lead but lost the ball out of bounds.
Faulk drove into the jump circle, forcing Gravette to collapse on her defensively. That left Ava Nall open, and Faulk found her for the go-ahead 3-pointer. The trifecta hit nothing but the bottom of the net as the Lady Tigers surged ahead 49-48 with 53 seconds to play.
Faulk made another huge play by drawing a charge with 30 seconds on the clock. Kidd caught a long outlet against a full-court press but nearly lifted her pivot foot. First-year Prairie Grove coach Scott Reed called a timeout to prevent a turnover. He had to expend his last timeout when the Lady Tigers had trouble getting the ball in.
This time Gravette opted to foul Faulk, putting her at the line shooting a 1-and-1 with no time elapsed off the clock, which stood still at 23.7 seconds.
Faulk nailed the first free throw, then Gravette coach Will Pittman took a timeout.
Faulk disdained the attempt to ice her and shifted the pressure onto Gravette by converting the second foul shot, which gave Prairie Grove a 3-point cushion of 51-48. On its last possession, Gravette's 5-feet-9 guard Alexa Parker curled around to the left wing, but Kidd got a hand in her face and the three was off.
The game was tied at 9-9 after one period. Prairie Grove trailed 25-22 at halftime. The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Lions 14-10 in the third quarter to secure a 36-35 lead, then outscored Gravette 15-13 down the stretch.
Camryn Cash scored 13 points, all in the first three quarters, to lead Prairie Grove, followed by Elder with 11 and Henry with 10. Elder went 9 for 10 at the charity stripe, while Prairie Grove was 16 for 18 overall.
Romine paced Gravette with 17 points. Handle tossed in 11 and Wishon 10.
Prairie Grove 51, Gravette 48
Gravette^9^16^10^13^--^48
Prairie Grove^9^13^14^15^--^51
Prairie Grove (11-5, 3-3): Camryn Cash 3 4-4 13, Kenleigh Elder 1 9-10 11, Lexi Henry 5 0-0 10, Hope Kidd 3 1-2 8, Ella Faulk 2 2-2 6, Ava Nall 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 16-18 51.
Gravette (9-8, 3-3): Brynn Romine 6 3-5 17, Brooke Handle 4 1-2 11, Dalacie Wishon 3 4-4 10, Keeley Elsea 4 0-0 8, Alexa Parker 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 8-11 48.
3-Point Goals -- Prairie Grove 5 (Cash 3, Kidd, Nall). Gravette 4 (Romine 2,Handle 2).
Enterprise-Leader/Mark Humphrey
Gravette junior Dalacie Wishon drives to the basket against Prairie Grove. Wishon scored 10 points, but the Lady Lions lost a 4A-1 Conference girls' basketball game, 51-48, Friday.
Enterprise-Leader/Mark Humphrey
Gravette's Brynn Romine finds her path to the basket cut off against Prairie Grove. Romine scored 17 points, but the Lady Lions lost a 4A-1 Conference girls' basketball game, 51-48, Friday.
Enterprise-Leader/Mark Humphrey
Gravette junior Dalacie Wishon receives a pass as she crosses half-court against Prairie Grove. Wishon scored 10 points, but the Lady Lions lost a 4A-1 Conference girls' basketball game, 51-48, Friday.