EDITOR'S NOTE: BryantDaily.com will provide updates at the end of each quarter of tonight's Bryant-Northside State Tournament game.
VAN BUREN — The Bryant Lady Hornets, second seed from the 7A-Central Conference, will open play in the Class 7A State Tournament tonight at 7 against the Fort Smith Northside Lady Bears at Clair Bates Arena.
Northside, the third seeded team from the 7A-West, dismissed Van Buren, the sixth seed from the Central, 65-44, in the first round of the tourney on Wednesday. The Lady Bears had three players score in double figures led by Taylor Green, a 5-9 junior forward, with 18 points. Chauntel Terry, 5-10 junior forward, added 17 points, and Mannasha Bell, another 5-9 junior, added 12 including 8 of 15 from the free throw line.[more]
As a team, Northside hit 24 of 39 from the line compared to Van Buren's 12 of 20.
The Lady Pointers turned the ball over 21 times in the game and shot just 39 percent from the floor. They were out-rebounded 36-26 including 19 offensive rebounds.
Northside led 15-12 after a quarter and 28-21 at the half. It was 47-37 going into the fourth quarter and the Lady Bears put the game away at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
The win improved Northside to 21-8. Van Buren finished the season 11-16.
Bryant brings a 23-4 mark into tonight's contest.
The 7A-Central Conference got swept in the first day of play. But the top three from the league will be in action today.
CLASS 7A STATE TOURNAMENT
At Van Buren High School
Girls
Wednesday, March 3
Game 1 — Fort Smith Southside (11-15) (West 5) 61, Cabot (14-13) (Central 4) 52
Game 3 — Fort Smith Northside (20-8) (West 3) 65, Van Buren (11-17) (Central 6) 44
Game 5 — Springdale Har-Ber (14-14) (West 4) 41, Little Rock Central (12-14) (Central 5) 39
Thursday, March 4
Game 7 — Conway (18-8) (Central 3) vs. Bentonville (15-13) (West 6), 1 p.m.
Game 9 — Fayetteville (24-3) (West 1) vs. Fort Smith Southside (12-15), 4 p.m.
Game 11 — Bryant (23-4) (Central 2) vs. Fort Smith Northside (21-8), 7 p.m.
Friday, March 5
Game 13 — North Little Rock (28-0) (Central 1) vs. Springdale Har-Ber (15-14), 4 p.m.
Game 15 — Rogers (21-6) (West 2) vs. game 7 winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 6
Game 17 — Game 9 winner vs. game 11 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 19 — Game 13 winner vs. game 15 winner, 6 p.m.
Championship game, date and time to be announced
At Summit Arena, Hot Springs
Game 21 — Game 17 winner vs. game 19 winner
