PRAIRIE GROVE -- Pea Ridge got a hand on almost every Prairie Grove shot in the first quarter then shot the lights out at the other end while dominating, 48-26.
"Defensively, that's kind of been our mindset all year. We try to pride ourselves on getting in a stance and guard even the best teams. We feel like we're athletic enough and long enough that we give teams some fits. We haven't had in a couple of games that full like take-off offensive game and Coach Froud had some swivels in there defensively that kind of gave us some fits early to try and take our best player out of the game so we had to make some adjustments," said Pea Ridge coach Heath Neal.
"The kids made good reads and reacted offensively off of what Coach Froud was giving us. We hit some big-time shots early that kind of stretched it out where we had a little bit of a comfort zone."
The Monday, Jan. 13, makeup game at Prairie Grove was one-sided from the start. Pea Ridge jumped out to a 13-4 first quarter lead. Prairie Grove's only points early came on free throws.
Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud lamented the fact that the Lady Tigers did not assert themselves offensively to challenge the style of defense Pea Ridge played.
"We've got to do a better job of finishing opportunities and playing the game how it's called whether it's called touch-fouls or being physical. We just got to adjust to that and still be able to make plays," Froud said. "We couldn't score. I mean there were shots we weren't getting which Pea Ridge had a lot to do with it, but when you're getting open threes or some open layups and some free throws you got to knock those down to beat good teams."
Meanwhile Pea Ridge filled up the basket from 3-point range. The Lady Blackhawks' first three field goals came from beyond the arc something Froud takes the blame for although the defense successfully held Pea Ridge star Blakelee Winn to a pair of free throws over the first two quarters.
Ravin Cawthon and Lauren Wright each sank two 3-pointers in the first half with Josey Golberg and Allisa Short also making threes. The Lady Blackhawks were up 27-11 at halftime.
"First half, I'll take that. I tried to change up our defense a little bit and move around and Pea Ridge did a good job of other players other than Wynn hitting shots," Froud said. "They hit seven 3-pointers in the first half. The second half we went back to playing man and I think they only beat us five or six points that half, but we were already down."
Winn made 10 of her 12 points in the second half and Pea Ridge led 38-17 after three quarters.
Aidan Dayberry added 10 for Pea Ridge.
Pea Ridge 48, Prairie Grove 26
Prairie Grove^4^7^6^9 -- 26
Pea Ridge^13^14^11^10 -- 48
Pea Ridge (14-3, 1-2): Blakelee Winn 3 6-6 12, Aidan Dayberry 4 0-0 10, Ravin Cawthon 2 0-0 6, Lauren Wright 2 0-0 6, Jordyn Allison 2 0-0 5, Josey Goldberg 1 0-0 3, Hayley West 1 0-0 3, Allisa Short 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 6-6 48.
Prairie Grove (7-9, 1-2): Jasmine Wynos 3-10 4-4 10, Alex Torres 2-6 2-4 6, Charity Stearman 1-4 1-2 3, Abby Preston 1-4 0-0 2, Olivia Kestner 1-3 0-0 2, Gracie Foster 0-1 2-2 2, Trinity Dobbs 0-10 1-2 1, Torie Price 0-4 0-2 0, Zoe Hubbs 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Vance 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 8-49 10-16 26.
3-point Goals -- Pea Ridge -- 10 (Dayberry 2, Wright 2, Cawthon 2, Allison, Goldberg, West, Short). Prairie Grove -- 0-14 (Stearman 0-1, Torres 0-1, Price 0-1, Vance 0-2, Dobbs 0-3, Preston 0-3, Wynos 0-3).
Rebounds -- Prairie Grove 25 (Wynos 6). Assists -- Prairie Grove 3 (Dobbs, Price, Wynos). Steals -- Prairie Grove 5 (Torres 2). Blocks -- Prairie Grove 0. Turnovers -- Prairie Grove 9.
Sports on 02/26/2020