BASKETBALL NORTHSIDE LADY BEARS CLAIM GREAT 8 TITLE

ROGERS -- Fort Smith Northside came into the First National Bank of NWA Great 8 Classic minus a couple of starters because of injuries, but that didn't slow the Lady Bears. Freshman Jersey Wolfenbarger poured in a game-high 23 points and Northside had an answer for every Camdenton, Mo., charge to claim a 66-54 win in the championship game Saturday evening in War Eagle Arena. The Lady Bears (6-0) led by double digits much of the fourth quarter, but could never put away the Lady Lakers (3-1) completely. Camdenton pulled within 60-54 with 1 minute, 6 seconds left on two free throws by senior guard Coley Rezabek. But the Lady Lakers wouldn't score again and Northside hit six-of-six free throws. Northside coach Rickey Smith was pleased to pick three wins in three days against solid competition, but credited Camdenton -- which lost junior Natalie Basham in the first half to an ankle injury -- for its solid play. "We had them on the brink three or four times of breaking it open," Smith said. "Give them credit, we had several spurts where we had a basket or two just rim out and they would hit a shot. They played harder than we did in the second half. "At the end of the day when you've got as many young kids as we're playing and new kids you've got to feel good that we finally figured out a way to put the ball inside a little bit and score. It was a good win for us." The Lady Bears, who led 29-20 at halftime and 37-25 after three quarters, also did it without senior starters Alexis Evans and Aniya Webster, who are both sidelined with knee injuries. Evans should return next week, but Webster's status is still uncertain, Smith said. But Wolfenbarger, a slender 5-foot-10 swing player who is already drawing Division I college interest, showed off her shooting, ball-handling in the open court and even some playmaking skills. She scored in transition, inside and also made three 3-pointers. "She's special," Smith said. "That's about all you can say. You've got a kid who is a young freshman at that. Offensively, she's just so smooth. She works hard. I think the sky is the limit for her." Sarah Bershers, a 6-foot junior, was also in double figures with 12 points, while her sister, Tracey, a 6-1 freshman, also chipped in eight. Rezabek led Camdenton with 18 points, while Kylie Meier added 13. Lady Lakers coach Stacey Caffey said her team, which likes to use full-court pressure and play at a fast pace, had trouble with turnovers against Northside's pressure and length. "We started out in our press because I truly believe if you're gonna do it, you've got to believe in it wholeheartedly," Caffey said. "We pressed at times and caused a little bit of havoc, but then we'd get a foul called or unlucky situations. We pulled back in the halfcourt and tried to make outside shots and they knocked down some big shots, too."

BASKETBALL NORTHSIDE LADY BEARS CLAIM GREAT 8 TITLE

PAUL BOYD

Arkansas Online | 12/3/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Northside Athletics