NHS GIRLS IMPROVE TO 20-0 AFTER HOLDING OFF BRYANT

t definitely wasn’t pretty, but the final result was similar to the other games the Northside Lady Bears have played all season — simply perfect. Northside built a double-digit lead in the second quarter before holding off a late Bryant charge in the second half as the Lady Bears moved to 20-0 with a 50-38 win Friday in 6A-Central action at Kaundart-Grizzly Fieldhouse. “We get the best shot from everybody, we really do,” Northside coach Rickey Smith said. “Every team wants to beat us and I don’t know that our kids understand that the game is circled on the calendar (by the opponents). ... We didn’t play well, Bryant had a lot to do with that; we get a little bit of a double-figure lead then we just start making some crazy shots and missing some free throws. “At the end of the day, we get a double-figure win; we didn’t play well, but we’re lucky enough to still get a double-figure win.” With Northside (20-0, 8-0) up by one early in the second quarter, the Lady Bears reeled off seven straight points due in large part to 3-pointers from Sara Bershers and Jersey Wolfenbarger. The Lady Bears eventually closed out the first half with a 15-2 run to build a 27-13 halftime advantage. Northside then scored the first three points of the second half to build a 17-point lead. But Bryant (13-7, 3-5), behind a barrage of 3-point shooting, made things interesting. The Lady Hornets got within six late in the third quarter before closing the gap to five, 40-35, on a 3 from Tierra Trotter with less than six minutes left. Bryant then got the ball back and had a chance to make it a one-possession game but missed a shot, with Northside’s Tracey Bershers grabbing the rebound. On the next trip down the court for the Lady Bears, Jazz Coleman launched a 3 which went in, giving Northside renewed momentum with an eight-point lead. “I had to bring my team and give us more of a lead. ... I’m not a scorer, but I try to do what my team needs to make them proud,” Coleman said. Coleman, a junior, had all seven of her points in the second half. She also came up with a couple of steals down the stretch. “I didn’t play great the first half, but I just did it for my team and the coaches to just keep pushing and show them that I can do the best that I can be and just keep working hard for my team and coaches,” Coleman said. The Lady Bears eventually regained a double-digit lead as Wolfenbarger made several foul shots while Bryant eventually cooled off from the outside after converting 10 3's for the game. “Give Bryant credit; they played us tough down there and we bring the best out of them,” Smith said. “They shot the 3 really, really well and you just have to shake your head and smile. ... When they shoot 3's, with their speed and quickness, they’re a good ball club. “I thought Jazz (came through) and hit a huge 3 and got a big steal. We played good defense and finally locked them up there at the end.” Wolfenbarger led all scorers with 17 points, and also went 8-of-10 from the foul line. Sara Bershers had all 11 of her points in the first half, including making three 3's. Trotter had 11 points to lead Bryant as she hit three 3's of her own. Bryant 46, Northside 34 BOYS — Entering Friday’s game, the Grizzlies had a chance to tighten the 6A-Central race if they were able to sweep Bryant in conference play. But the Hornets went in front to stay late in the first half and held the lead throughout the second half, pulling away for the win. Bryant (16-4, 7-1), which lost to Northside (13-9, 4-4) in the 6A-Central opener last month, remains in first place in the 6A-Central after posting its seventh straight conference win. The Hornets were up by eight late in the third quarter before a 3 from Northside’s Javion Releford cut it to five. Then with less than three minutes left, an offensive rebound and put-back from Anthony Travis made it a one-possession game, 35-32. Bryant, however, withstood the late Grizzly charge, going on an 11-2 run in the final two minutes of play. Hornet sophomore guard Camren Hunter led all scorers with 15 points, seven of those coming in the final quarter. Northside junior Jaylin Williams had 12 points to lead the Grizzlies.

NHS GIRLS IMPROVE TO 20-0 AFTER HOLDING OFF BRYANT

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 2/2/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell