By Rob Patrick
London Abernathy knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Bryant Lady Hornets freshman team off to a fast start as they cruised to a 41-13 win over the Sheridan Lady Stingers on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Abernathy wound up with 15 points to lead all scorers in the game as the Lady Hornets improved to 14-4 overall and 7-2 in the South Division of the Central Arkansas Junior High Conference, keeping the heat on leaders Cabot South (tied with Bryant at 7-2) and North Little Rock (9-0).
Bryant, which lost its only two league games to the leaders, get another shot at them the first week of February. In the meantime, they were set to try to get past Mount St. Mary’s on the road on Monday, Jan. 26, and Lake Hamilton at home on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Sheridan came into Thursday’s game without Karson Henry, who has done the bulk of the team’s scoring this season. The Lady Stingers struggled mightily against the Bryant press, turning the ball over 17 times in the first half while attempting just four shots from the floor and six free throws. They hit three of the free throws and none of the field goals and trailed 20-3 at the half.[more]
The first Sheridan field goal didn’t come until there was just 2:57 left in the third quarter when Taylor Wilkins grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it 25-5.
Abernathy started Bryant’s scoring with a 3. Kayla Sory followed up with a steal and layup. After Sheridan’s Taylor Hicks hit two free throws to get her team on the board at the 3:05 mark of the first quarter, Abernathy rained down another triple to make it 8-2.
It stayed that way until, with :22 left, she drained the third bomb to make provide Bryant with a 9-point lead going into the second quarter.
Callie Hogancamp hit a free throw to start the second period then got back to take a charge. Abernathy took advantage by getting to the line and cording both shots. Jessie Taylor added a pair free throws and Casey Lee hit a pair of shots including a buzzer beater off a nice feed from Abernathy to set the halftime margin.
Sory, who finished with 9 points, got 7 of those in the third quarter to go with two more buckets by Abernathy and the lead grew to 33-5.
Reserves took over for the Lady Hornets in the fourth quarter. Sheridan managed its second field goal 10 seconds into it, a 3-pointer by Hannah Hicks but baskets by Kristen Dudley, Allie Hogancamp and Brittney Ball produced the final score.
JUNIOR LADYHORNETS 41, LADY STINGERS 13
Score by quarters
Sheridan 2 1 2 8 — 13
BRYANT 11 9 13 8 — 41
LADY STINGERS 13
Pruitt 1-6 3-4 5, T.Hicks 0-0 2-2 2, H.Hicks 1-5 1-4 4, Appleberry 0-0 0-0 0, A.Wilkins 0-2 0-0 0, Welch 0-1 0-0 0, T.Wilkins 1-2 0-1 2, Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 3-16 6-11 13.
JUNIOR LADY HORNETS 41
Barker 0-0 0-0 0, Abernathy 5-10 2-2 15, Sory 4-6 1-2 9, Lee 3-5 0-2 6, Taylor 0-1 2-4 2, Blundell 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 0-2 0-0 0, C.Hogancamp 0-4 1-2 1, Ball 2-2 0-0 4, Nichols 0-1 0-0 0, A.Hogancamp 1-3 0-0 2, Dudley 1-2 0-0 2, Miller 0-4 0-0 0, Rouse 0-0 0-0 0, Hatcher 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-40 6-12 41.
Three-point field goals: Sheridan 1-5 (H.Hicks 1-2, Pruitt 0-2, Welch 0-1), Bryant 3-7 (Abernathy 3-5, Sory 0-1, C.Hogancamp 0-1). Rebounds: Sheridan 14 (Welch, A.Wilkins 4), Bryant 27 (Lee 6, Nichols 4). Turnovers: Sheridan 25, Bryant 11. Total fouls: Sheridan 14, Bryant 9.
