Having already wrapped up a top seed in the state tournament made last Friday’s contest against Class 7A Conway just a final tune-up game for the Lady Bulldogs. But it was also the last regular season home game, it was senior night, and it presented the GHS girls with the chance to win 20 games. But the Lady Cats got off to a hot start, then held off a furious Greenwood rally to win 77-72.
The Conway girls (23-5, 11-3), are ranked fourth by FearlessFriday.com, and will be the fourth seed in the 7A state tournament, which Conway hosts next week. The Lady Bulldogs are ranked second by the same website behind Fort Smith Northside.
“It was a great game,” said Conway head coach Ashley Nance. “Greenwood is one of the top teams in the state, if not the top team in the state. We’ve been a little bit of an underdog in the conference.” Entering last Friday’s contest, Conway still needed points in the conference power ratings, while the GHS girls already had their top seed secured.
The Lady Wampus Cats never trailed in the game, and led 8-1 early on the way to a 23-14 first quarter lead. The visitors scored the last nine points of the quarter to break a 14-14 tie. They then scored the first eight points of the second quarter to take a 31-14 lead. Conway increased its advantage to 35-17 before Greenwood starting chipping away.
“Conway played unbelievable,” said Coach Reeves. “That’s the best I’ve seen them play. They hit shots and just played unbelievable. I think the first half we took a combined quarter off, not at one time, but a little bit of the first quarter and a little bit of the second quarter, and let them get a lead on us.”
Megan Hartness hit a three-pointer to start a 9-0 GHS run to end the first half. She added a pair of two-point buckets, and Sarah Elkins converted a fast-break lay-up off an assist from Lundon Williams. A pair of treys spurred Conway to a 49-35 lead with 2:52 left in the third quarter, but Greenwood closed to within 12 points at 55-43 at the end of the period.
Greenwood had a pair of 7-0 runs, plus a 6-0 run, and scored 29 points in the final quarter, but could never wrestle the lead away from the visitors.
Haleigh Henson capped Greenwood’s second 7-0 run with a fast-break lay-up to trim Conway’s lead to 61-59 with 3:31 left. Conway then increased its lead to 69-61, but Henson’s trey and a conventional three-point play by Hartness had Greenwood within two points at 69-67 with 1:00 left. Williams scored with 21 seconds left to keep the home team within three points at 75-72, but Conway was able to hold on.
“My kids showed me they’re not going to quit,” said Reeves. “They’re going to keep trying to come back and trying to find a way to win. We played one of the best 7A teams in the state and showed a lot of guts and heart. This is exactly what I wanted to see before we go to the state tournament.”
Hartness led Greenwood with 21 points, while Williams added 16 points, and Henson 13.
Conway at Greenwood
At home against the Wampus Cats last Friday night, Greenwood led at the intermission, but Conway exploded for 23 points in the third quarter, and 22 more in the fourth period on their way to a 64-49 victory over the Bulldogs.
The home team led 15-9 after a quarter behind Evan Lensing's 11 points, and were up 31-19 at the half. But Conway went on a 10-2 run to open the third quarter to get within 33-29, and then scored 11 straight points before settling for a 42-38 lead after three quarters.
Lensing finished the game with 21 points to lead the Bulldogs, 17 of those points coming in the first half. Sophomore Ryan Padilla also had 10 points in the game.