Lady Pointers coast at Clair Bates, 55-33

The Van Buren Lady Pointers led from start to finish in earning their first 6A-West win of the young conference season. Van Buren jumped out to a big lead and then coasted to a 55-33 win over Rogers Heritage on Tuesday night at Clair Bates Arena. “It’s a sigh of relief watching our kids relax on the floor,” Van Buren head coach Chris Bryant said. “I’m happy certainly to get the win but more excited to see us playing with some flow offensively.” Junior point guard Lexi Miller and Rylee Ryan each bagged two treys a piece in the first quarter to pace Van Buren (8-9, 1-3) to an 18-7 lead. A big part of the flow of the offense for the Lady Pointers were no turnovers in the first quarter. “Our junior point guard played very well,” Bryant said. “I’m just thrilled with every aspect of Lexi Miller’s game. She pushed the tempo and was very active and aggressive defensively. She got us started shooting the ball well and hit two threes early. We put the ball in her hands and allowed her to quarterback this basketball team.” Brooklyn Kannady hit a 3-pointer to open Van Buren’s scoring in the second quarter, and Miller followed with a basket inside to balloon the lead to 23-10. Van Buren increased the lead to 29-14 at the half and then held Heritage (4-12, 0-4) to just one field goal in 16 attempts in the third quarter to take a commanding 46-20 lead into the fourth quarter. “We had a senior-dominated lineup and those seniors really brought the energy, defensively, which allowed us to get out in transition and get some really good looks,” Bryant said. “Those seniors really came out of halftime to finish the game. I’m very proud of them for that.” Up 34-16, the Lady Pointers put the game away with a 10-0 run. Kayleigh Evans started the run, converting a fast-break layup. Emmalee Greebe scored off her own miss, and Ryan fed Kannady for another fast-break bucket. Greebe added a basket inside, and Ryan canned two free throws for a 44-16 lead with 1:03 left in the third quarter. Miller had 13 points, six rebounds and four assists for Van Buren. Kannady added 11 and Greebe 10, both off the bench. Evans had nine points and seven rebounds. Ryan shipped with eight points. Rogers Heritage 51, Van Buren 48 (OT) BOYS — Ethan Carpenter scored eight of his 13 points in overtime to lift Rogers Heritage to its first 6A-West win. Heritage (6-10, 1-3) was led by Logan Clines, who scored 18 points, and Carpenter, who scored Heritage’s first three baskets of overtime. Heritage led 12-10 after a quarter, 20-18 at the half and 35-29 after three quarters. After Kyle Ingram hit a lone free throw for Heritage to open the last quarter for a seven-point lead, Van Buren (4-12, 0-4) went on a 10-0 run over a six-minute span to take a 39-36 lead. Logan Brothers drilled a pair of 3-pointers during the run, and Brayden Gilmore scored on a floater and put his own miss with 1:43 left for the lead. Clines tied it at 39-39 with 1:07 left. In the final minute, Van Buren missed a shot and Heritage turned it over with a second left to force overtime. Carpenter’s three baskets had Heritage up, 45-41, before Gary Phillips drove a bucket for Van Buren. Clines scored, and Carpenter hit two free throws as Heritage went up, 49-43, with 26 seconds left. Gilmore scored inside, but Tyler Furseth added two free throws to put Heritage up, 51-45 with 11 seconds left. Gilmore hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left and finished with 23 points. Brothers added 12 for Van Buren.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

LADY POINTERS COAST AT CLAIR BATES, 55-33

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 1/16/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell