The Bryant Blue Lady Hornets eighth grade basketball team improved to 7-0 on the season with wins over E-Stem and Conway Blue this week. On Monday, the Lady Hornets defeated EStem, a charter school in Little Rock, 39-26, behind a 24-point performance by Raija Todd. On Wednesday, in a make-up game at Conway, Bryant Blue forged a 29-21 victory.
Also, Bethel’s seventh grade girls picked up a win at EStem, 28-26 to improve to 3-2.
Monday’s games were the first since Dec. 16 for the Bethel teams.
Lady Hornets coach Rhonda Hall said of the win at Conway, “This was one of our best team effort games. We played hard, worked together well as a team. Conway was much bigger than we were. (Stephanie) Cullen and (Baylee) Rowton did a good job defending the much bigger post players.”
Todd scored 14 points to lead the offense. Danielle Singleton added 9 with Rowton, Raelae Benton and Katie Evans scoring 2 apiece. Rowton led the team with six rebounds.
Bethel held an 8-7 lead after a quarter. It was 14-13 at the half. The Lady Hornets opened up a little breathing room in the third period, which ended with them holding a 23-17 advantage.
On Monday, EStem broke out on top 10-6 in the first quarter but Bethel rallied to tie the game 14-14 by halftime. Another third-quarter surge gave the Lady Hornets the upper hand. It was 27-21 going into the final period.
Along with Todd’s 24, Singleton scored 6, Cullen 4, Evans and Abby Henson 2 each. Rowtown hit a free throw and collected four boards.
In the seventh grade contest, Mary Catherine Selig scored 10 to lead the way. Grace Ouellette finished with 6, Lauren Burnett 5. Rachel Studdard, Ashlyn Thompson and Allysa Fason scored 2 each.
Bryant Blue was set to host Hot Springs Lakeside tonight.
