3rd-quarter run boosts Berryville

Playing their first game of the season, on their county rivals’ home floor, it took the Berryville Lady Bobcats a while to settle in.

But once they got things going, the Lady Bobcats took control on the way to a 43-30 victory over the Green Forest Lady Tigers on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the Grim Gym.

The Lady Tigers, who beat Berryville on the same floor last season, led 18-15 at halftime. But the Lady Bobcats opened the third quarter with a 20-0 run to turn a close game into a bit of a rout.

“Playing a rival right off the bat on their home floor was a little emotional for us,” Berryville coach Daniel Cornelison said. “We were a little jacked up. We didn’t play real well in the first half, but we played a really solid third quarter. That one nice run there gave us enough to win the ballgame.”

Sophomore Kaylyn Smith had 11 of her gamehigh 19 points in the third quarter, including a three-pointer from the right wing that tied the score at 18 with 6:39 left in the quarter.

The Lady Bobcats took their first lead when sophomore Paige Thurman made the first of two free throws at the 6:15 mark. Berryville then grabbed the rebound on Thurman’s second free throw and she drove for a basket that made it 2118 with 6:03 left.

Junior Kynadee Hopper scored off an offensive rebound, then passed to sophomore Ella Miller for a basket from close range before Smith added a basket for a 27-18 cushion.

Hopper came up with a steal and drove from halfcourt for a layup before Smith added one basket in transition and another off an offensive rebound.

Sophomore Tessa Johnson’s basket made it 3518 and capped the Lady Bobcats’ 20-0 run.

“I thought we did what we had to do to win the ballgame, which was just keep pressure on them,” Cornelison said. “I thought Kaylyn played real well for us offensively and Paige played really defensively for us.”

Thurman had eight points for Berryville.

Kayla Lozano led Green Forest with nine points, including eight in the first half.