LITTLE ROCK — Buoyed by re-enforcements after losing to the Bryant Blue Lady Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School, 39-25, on Monday, the Arkansas Baptist Lady Eagles put together a third-quarter surge. Vying for the championship of The Anthony School Classic on Thursday night, the Lady Eagles closed to within 25-20 going into the final period.
But the Lady Hornets held them to just 3 points the rest of the way, answering with their own 13-3 run to earn a closer-than-that 38-24 victory for the tourney championship.[more]
“Our players rose to the occasion and really stepped it up in the fourth quarter,” acknowledged Lady Hornets coach Rhonda Hall. “With the addition of four players that weren’t at the game on Monday, Arkansas Baptist played us a much tougher game.”
Bryant built a 12-4 lead in the first quarter and held a 20-10 advantage at the half before the Lady Eagles made their run.
“We did an exceptionally good job on the boards,” Hall mentioned. “We also were able to get points from five different players in the fourth quarter.”
Desera Duckworth paced Bryant Blue with 16 points and eight rebounds. Rori Whittaker added 13 points and five boards. Ashley Caton contributed 4 points, Erica Smith 3 and Jessica Alliston 2. Smith claimed five caroms, Alliston and Andrew Buford three each.
“Whittaker and Duckworth had a great week for us leading us in scoring with a much-improved supporting cast,” Hall noted.
The Lady Hornets return to action on Monday, Nov. 23, with a 5 p.m. game at Greenbrier.
