Rural Special basketball coach Hanse Bowman said he doesn’t think anyone gave his team much of a chance against West Side in Saturday’s Class 1A State Tournament semi-final game at Trumann. And there was good reason, as his Lady Rebels had been unable to seriously challenge the top-ranked conference rivals Lady Eagles in three previous games this season.
Followers of local basketball, however, know it is a mistake to underestimate any Rebel team in the postseason.
As it turned out, West Side did prevail 62-58 and earned a trip to this week’s state final game in Hot Springs, but it took all they had to come out on top as the lead see-sawed at least six times in the fourth quarter.
“We were a stop and bucket away from the upset and the finals,” Bowman said. “I was so proud of our effort and our belief in ourselves and each other.”
The coach credited seniors Rayleigh Turner, Emma Goins and Kendall Kocher for stepping up and leading the team as the year season progressed.
“All the girls played their hearts out in the West Side game. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Turner led scoring against West Side with 18 points, while Bellah Kirby had 11 off the bench. Goins and Rieley Sutterfield each scored 9 points.
The team finished the season with 30 wins and 10 losses.
Rural Special started the semi-final game with a three-pointer from Sutterfield and an inside shot from Kocher before West Side tied the score with a three-pointer and mid-range basket. The Lady Eagles took the lead on the next possession, but Turner tied the score at seven with a drive.
West Side hit another trey, then later scored on a steal. Bellah Kirby came into the game and hit a trey from the corner, but the Lady Eagles completed a three-point play after a player was fouled on a rebound put-back, gaining a five-point advantage.
Sutterfield swished a three-pointer for the Lady Rebels, but it was quickly matched by one at the other end. Turner and Kocher each made shots and Turner added three of four freethrows in the remainder of the first quarter to stay within one point.
Goins hit two treys early in the second quarter to bookend a West Side basket, shifting the lead to 26-23 in her team’s favor. The Lady Eagles would have better success for the remainder of the half, however, more than offsetting a three-point play by Aubrey Linville and another Turner jumper, to lead 34-31 at the break.
Turner scored first in the third quarter, then another three-pointer by Goins and two more from Kirby helped get back within one point. Turner then set off the see-saw action with a jumper to give the Lady Rebels a 44-43 lead. After a miss on one trip, West Side scored on the next to regain a one-point advantage. Both teams missed shots and then Turner launched a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third period up 47-45.
In the fourth quarter, Rural Special got a basket from Linville and another trey from Sutterfield, but West Side edged back into the lead with a freethrow and trey. Midway through the period, Turner dished the ball to Kirby for a score inside and a 54-53 lead. The Lady Eagles put back a rebound, and in the next minute Turner drove in for what would be Rural Special’s last lead at 56-55.
West Side regained the lead with a basket in the lane, then closed out the game making five of six freethrows as Rural Special got just one more rebound basket from Kocher.
In the 61-26 win over Scranton in the quarterfinal, Linville led a balanced scoring effort with 16 points, while Sutterfield had 15 and Turner 14. Jordan Stone came in off the bench and hit nine points.
“We came out and played really hard,” Hanse said. “Our pressure gave them trouble.”
In the first-round 71-69 win over Wonderview, Turner led with 26 points, while Linville had 14.
Sutterfield also had 14 points after hitting four treys in the second half.
Hanse said Wonderview played well and shot over 50 percent from beyond the arc. Turner was able to give the Lady Rebels the edge by drawing a charging foul on the team’s last defensive set to regain possession, then hit the game-winning shot just before the buzzer.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here