FARMINGTON -- Makenna Vanzant scored 5 of her 12 points in crunch time, none more important than an old-fashioned 3-point play that erased a 55-53 Batesville lead with 1:47 left.
The hoop and harm by the freshman guard gave Farmington a one-point lead and the Lady Cardinals (23-6) found a way to win, holding off Batesville (25-6) by five points, 60-55, during a first-round State 5A girls basketball tournament contest March 1 at Magnolia.
With 40.4 seconds remaining, Farmington took the ball out-of-bounds with a 56-55 lead. The Lady Cardinals were able to run the clock down and Vanzant made good on a pair of free throws to push the lead out to a 3-point advantage of 58-55 with 17.5 seconds remaining.
Senior guard Camryn Journagan capped off a 12-point performance by scoring off a turnover to ice the game with seven seconds on the clock. The basket concluded a 13-3 Farmington run over the last 6:50, countering a 7-0 Batesville run in the first 1:10 of the fourth.
Coming into the contest, Johnson noted the teams had played during the 2015 State 5A tourney. The Lady Cardinals won that game 66-54 and Johnson knew Batesville's seven girls, who were sophomores in 2015, including 5-feet-9 skilled Hannah Qualls, would remember. Qualls had a 28-point game against Sylvan Hills as a sophomore in the 2015 State 5A tournament.
"We got a rematch with Batesville, we played them in the quarterfinals of the elite eight a couple of years ago," Johnson said. "The girls that were good players as sophomores on that team are good players as seniors now. They made it to state last year. They are experienced. It's two programs that know each other. I'm looking forward to it."
Ironically, current sophomores from both teams would play large roles.
Farmington sophomore Anthea Jones drew high praise from her coach for getting off to a quick start.
"Anthea Jones scored the first five points for us right out of the gate, she really helped us get off to our run against Batesville," said Farmington coach Brad Johnson.
Sophomore shooting guard/swing player Taylor Griffin scored 18 points to pace Batesville, the No. 2 seed from the 5A East, with senior Qualls adding 14. Not to be outdone, Farmington's sensational sophomore Madisyn Pense led Farmington with 20 points. Combined with Journagan and Vanzant, the trio accounted for 44 of Farmington's points.
The first-round battle to advance during the 5A State girls basketball tournament featured runs and comebacks by both teams. Farmington jumped out to an early 7-point lead and stayed in front, 16-11, at the end of the first period. A 13-5 Batesville run, featuring eight consecutive points, put the Lady Pioneers ahead, 24-21, before Farmington answered with a 5-2 run to even the score at 26 within the last two minutes of the first half. The game was tied at 30-30 at the half and Farmington edged ahead, 47-45, after three quarters.
With the win, Farmington advanced to Friday's quarterfinal meeting with Hot Springs, another team they played in the 2015 State 5A girls basketball tournament.
Farmington 60, Batesville 55
Batesville^11^19^15^10^--^55
Farmington^16^14^17^13^--^60
Farmington (23-6): Madisyn Pense 20, Mackenna Vanzant 12, Camryn Journagan 12.
Batesville (25-6): Taylor Griffin 18, Hannah Qualls 14.
Sports on 03/08/2017