Van Buren ends 2016 well

The Van Buren Pointerettes are right where they want to be to open the new year. They won all three games in the Neosho Holiday Tournament in Missouri to defend their tournament title. "It was exactly the way we want to close the year out and go into the new one," Van Buren head coach Chris Bryant said. Van Buren won its three games by a combined 174-68. "The finals and semifinals were the best games we've played this year, combining 32 minutes defensively and shooting the basketball," Bryant said. "It was a great tournament for us." Van Buren waltzed past host Neosho, 78-36, for the championship Friday. Lani Snowden scored 19 points, Halie Jennen had 17 points, Jamilyn Kinney had 12 points and Taylar Sutton scored 10. Kinney was the tournament's Most Valuable Player, and Snowden was named to the All-Tournament team. Van Buren's toughest game was a 57-27 win against Lafayette High of Saint Joseph, Mo., in the semifinals. "St. Joe Lafayette is a really good team," Bryant said. "We played as well as we've played this year." The Pointerettes beat McDonald County, 39-5, in the opener, allowing just a field goal in the first quarter, and a field goal and a lone free throw in the fourth quarter. "They're a young team," Bryant said. "They're feeling their way through. We played well. We feel terrible about the score, but our starters played three minutes at the beginning of the game and three minutes at the start of the second half just to get the use of the gym and to get a sweat going. After that it was our second team and our reserves." Bryant gave his squad Saturday and Sunday off. "They need that break with what we're about to go into," Bryant said. Van Buren (8-3) begins 7A-West play Friday, traveling to Bentonville West but first travels to Fort Smith to play Southside on Tuesday in nonconference action. "The last thing kids and coaches want to do is to come back and practice four or five days before you get to play another game," Bryant said. "To be able to play that nonconference game when we come back kind of breaks up practice." Varsity girls will tipoff at 6 p.m. at Southside Gym with the varsity boys immediately following.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN ENDS 2016 WELL

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 1/3/2017