LADY BEARS HEAD TO CABOT BOASTING 5-0 LEAGUE MARK

Northside coach Rickey Smith was relieved to have survived last week’s tough two-game slate with Conway and North Little Rock. But it doesn’t mean things get any easier today when the Lady Bears head for Cabot. Northside senior Sara Bershers had a monster 19-point, 17-rebound effort in the team’s 58-48 win over North Little Rock last Friday. Coupled with Tuesday’s grueling 65-55 win over Conway, the Lady Bears happily enjoyed the weekend. Well, part of it, anyway. There is no rest for the weary in the 6A-Central. “Playing those two, Conway and North Little Rock, those are two of the top teams in the state,” coach Rickey Smith said. “We’ve got a good record, so everybody is coming after us. But I was frustrated with the turnovers we had and the missed free throws we had. “We didn’t play near as well as I thought we should have.” Cabot dropped into a third place tie with Bryant and North Little Rock following Friday’s 53-48 loss to the Lady Hornets. North Little Rock’s 9-8 record isn’t flashy. But the well-coached Charging Wildcats aren’t exactly chopped liver, either. “North Little Rock is a great team,” Bershers said. “I’m just glad that we came together and fought them off. It was tough, and it’s going to be even tougher when we go there to play them. I’m very thankful for my teammates playing together.” Bershers did her part, on both ends of the floor, but the same was true for sophomore standout Jersey Wolfenbarger. The 6-foot-2 point guard sparked a late run in the third quarter with a trio of baskets, helping Northside gain some separation heading into the fourth quarter. Northside’s Tiya Douglas, Tracey Bershers and Jazzlyn Coleman also had significant contributions in the victory. “Normally, we’re able to keep our composure,” Smith said. ”(But) we’ll take the win; to be 5-and-0 in conference is a good thing.” The Lady Bears lead Conway by one game, and North Little Rock, Cabot and Bryant by two full games as the final week of the first round of conference plays out. Grizzles Northside coach Eric Burnett knew things weren’t a cozy as the team’s 2-0 league record showed two weeks ago. Not in the 6A-Central. Northside heads to Cabot today mired in a three-game losing streak. The Grizzlies fought their tails off in Friday’s 66-58 loss to North Little Rock. And Cabot? The Panthers are also in the midst of a three-game slide following Friday’s 65-55 loss to Bryant. Northside senior Jaylin Williams led the team with 22 points in Friday’s loss. The Grizzlies, who were upset by Catholic two weeks ago, return to Fort Smith on Friday to play Southside at the Stubblefield Center.

LADY BEARS HEAD TO CABOT BOASTING 5-0 LEAGUE MARK

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 1/22/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell