Lady Wolves rout Texarkana in 6A-West tournament

PEARCY -- Facing Texarkana in the first round, Lake Hamilton wasted no time solidifying its status as the girls' team to beat in the 6A-West tournament Saturday at Wolf Arena.

The top-seeded Lady Wolves rode a 14-0 run to an early 26-5 lead and routed the Lady Razorbacks 74-21, securing a berth in the Class 6A tournament beginning March 1 at Wolf Arena.

"We just talked about this one being important to make sure that we get in the state tournament," Lake Hamilton coach Blake Condley said. "We've talked all season about how we want to play our best at the end of the year, and overall I was pleased with our effort tonight. There were some things that we've really been preaching on, but we didn't start seeing them until tonight. The girls really just locked in to try and do everything the right way."

Lake Hamilton opened the game on a 12-3 run and buried three straight three-pointers at the end of the first quarter for a 23-5 advantage, sophomore Sara Bershers with 12 points.

"She always takes what the defense gives her and wants to get her teammates involved, but the other girls brought up in team meeting that maybe somebody needs to give up a shot or two so Sara gets a few more looks," said Condley. "That's how this team is; they're unselfish and always looking for whoever has the hot hand and is playing well. We just want all our players to be at the best they can be. The girls in this locker room are in it for each other."

Logan Keener, Grace Tedder and Hannah Walker combined for 15 points in the second period while the Lady Wolves limited Texarkana to seven points for a 43-12 halftime lead. Lake Hamilton connected on seven treys and 10 of 12 free throws in the first half.

"There have been some games where we shoot well from the perimeter and some games where we play well inside, but we've always wanted to get it like today where we had both," Condley said. "When you're able to put those things together, it makes you really hard to guard and makes it hard for the other team to prepare for you."

Behind an 8-0 run and scoring contributions from eight different players, the Lady Wolves went up 67-17 in the third quarter. With the mercy rule and running clock enacted, Condley went to his bench for the final eight minutes, and Shahmarie Afkhami scored four of the team's last seven points.

Bershers led all scorers with 15 points, and Tedder finished with 13, including three shots from behind the arc. Tierra Holliman and India Young paced Texarkana with five points each.

Lake Hamilton will host Russellville in the conference semifinals Tuesday night at Wolf Arena. Sherry White, formerly at Hot Springs (state championship in 1990) and Lakeside, coaches the Lady Cyclones, 6A state runner-up to Jonesboro last year.

"We've just been talking about having championship behavior and championship standards," said Condley. "I want the girls to come in tomorrow and have a really good shoot around and then come in Monday and have a really good practice. We're just trying to do the right things and be at our best every time we step on the floor."

Sports on 02/19/2017

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