Going into Tuesday’s game at Cabot, the Northside Grizzlies were in dire need of a turnaround.

The Grizzlies were riding a three-game losing streak, with two of those coming on their home court.

But Northside was able to emphatically snap its streak, using a huge second quarter en route to a 54-43 win.

Trailing 10-6 at the end of one quarter, the Grizzlies outscored Cabot 22-12 in the second quarter to take a 28-22 lead at halftime. Northside then won each of the final two quarters, building a 38-30 lead through three quarters.

The Grizzlies (12-8, 3-3 6A-Central) also held Cabot to 36 percent shooting, while Northside’s bench outscored the Panther reserves, 26-11.

Three Grizzlies hit double figures. Junior center Jaylin Williams had 16 points on 7-of-13 attempts from the field. He also had six rebounds and four assists.

Sophomore Jacob Joe added 12 points, all coming on four 3-point baskets, while senior Javion Releford had 10 points, two 3's, five rebounds and four steals.

Northside’s Lady Bears, the No. 1 ranked team in 6A and also ranked in the top 10 nationwide by several media outlets, stayed undefeated by rolling past Cabot, 59-28.

The Lady Bears (18-0, 6-0) built a 23-5 lead after the first quarter and later went up 33-10 midway through the second quarter before settling for a 38-17 halftime advantage.


Jersey Wolfenbarger and Sara Bershers each scored 13 points and both made three 3's. Bershers also had 10 rebounds as well as making 5-of-9 field goals and recording four assists and two steals.

The Lady Bears were also a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, with Tracey Bershers making four of those foul shots.

Friday, Northside returns to Fort Smith, as the Grizzlies and Lady Bears take on crosstown rival Southside at the Stubblefield Center on the UAFS campus.

Following Friday’s games, both Northside and Southside will be off on Tuesday before each resume the respective second half of 6A-Central play on Feb. 1.


