Success following red-hot Lady Pointers

The Van Buren Lady Pointers enjoyed a week of accolades that accompanies success. A week ago, they knocked off 6A-West Fayetteville and then mercy-ruled Rogers Heritage on the road on Tuesday. Friday, though, they were locked in a dog and cat fight at halftime before finally putting away Springdale Har-Ber in a 53-39 win at Clair Bates Arena. “Our kids knew they were in for a battle tonight,” Van Buren head coach Chris Bryant said. “Har-Ber really attacked us on the offensive boards in the first half and did some things defensively that took us out of rhythm a little bit.” Van Buren (13-12, 6-6) had a 13-2 run in the opening five minutes of the third quarter, and an 11-2 run in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to win its third straight 6A-West game and set up a big final week of the regular season. “Coming out in the second half after we had a chance to visit and make some adjustments, our kids just picked up the fight on the defensive boards and got a few key stops.” Van Buren led, 12-6,after a quarter but Har-Ber’s Flo Karu hit a 3-pointer, on her only shot of the game, and Caylan Koons added another to tie the game at 20-20 at the half. “Credit Har-Ber, they brought a great deal of fight and competitiveness on the road,” Bryant said. “We knew they would, but I’m very pleased with our kids to take their best shot, come in at halftime and regroup, and start the half on such a run.” To start the third quarter, though, Kayleigh Evans had a steal and layup with a free throw after being fouled, and Rylee Ryan drained a 3-pointer for a quick six points and a 26-20 lead. After Kania Starks converted a fast-break for Har-Ber (9-16, 2-10), Emmalee Greebe hit two free throws, then a single free throw, and added a layup to push Van Buren up, 31-22. Lexi Miller capped the run with a driving bucket with exactly three minutes left in the quarter for a 33-22 cushion. Har-Ber didn’t go away, though, scoring the last five points of the quarter, including a long 3-pointer by Starks at the buzzer to keep the Lady Wildcats within, 35-29. The Lady Pointers again started pulling away with a run to start the fourth quarter that put the game away. Olivia Schnakenberg scored underneath, Brooklyn Kannady added a knifing drive, and Schnakenberg scored on a layup off a behind-the-back pass from Kannady after a long court-length pass from Miller off a defensive rebound to balloon the lead to 41-29 with 6:06 remaining. After Koons scored for Har-Ber, Ryan drilled her fifth trey of the game, and 11th of the last two games, followed by Kannady’s steal and layup for a 46-31 lead with 4:57 left. “That’s a testament of the kids coming out at halftime and obviously paid attention to the adjustments that we wanted to make, and then executing when they had the opportunity,” Bryant said. “That’s showing some growth. It’s nice this time of year seeing progress” Ryan finished with 16 points with 3-pointers in all four quarters, and Kannady with 12 points. Miller had nine points and six assists. Schnakenberg added eight points, all in the fourth quarter with four free throws late. Koons led Har-Ber with 20 points. Springdale Har-Ber 74, Van Buren 44 BOYS — The Wildcats hit 16 of their 21 shots in the second half to pull away from a slim halftime lead for the win. Van Buren led 25-24 on Brayden Gilmore’s two free throws with 2:54 left in the second quarter before Cole Bishop scored the final eight points of the first half for Har-Ber. Har-Ber scored 23 points in the third quarter, sparked by a three straight 3-pointers late in the third quarter. Bishop hit the first one, and Nick Buchanan added successive treys as Har-Ber took a 55-37 lead into the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 13-13 after the first quarter. Buchanan led Har-Ber (10-12, 6-6) with 22 points, including 13 in the third quarter and 18 in the second half. Bishop added 20 points with 17 of that coming in the first half on five treys. Gilmore led Van Buren (5-19, 1-11) with 20 points. Gary Phillips added 10 points.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

SUCCESS FOLLOWING RED-HOT LADY POINTERS

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 2/16/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Aaron Shaffer