BIC rallies past Lady Lions

Buffalo Island Central rode the strong play of Morgan James to rally past Manila 50-38 in senior girls basketball action Monday night at Lion Gymnasium.

The Lady Lions grabbed an 11-7 lead after the first period and pulled ahead 16-7 two minutes into the second stanza. BIC responded, outscoring Manila 11-4 over the final six minutes of the half to close to within 20-18 at intermission.

James ignited the comeback, knocking down two three pointers, the second coming with just 53 seconds remaining in the first half, slicing the Lady Lion lead to just two points.

Buffalo Island Central coach Mike Kinard gives instructions to his team during Monday night's game against Manila.  The Lady Mustangs rallied past the Lady Lions 50-38.

BIC drew even early in the third period on a short jumper by Vicky Esparza. Jealynn Cates put BIC on top to stay, 22-20, with an inside bucket at the 6:34 mark. Brianna Lambert followed with a triple before Cates got an offensive stick-back and suddenly, the Lady Mustangs held a 27-20 lead. Brailey Hampton’s three pointer stopped the BIC run, but Lambert connected from long range again to put BIC back up seven, 30-23. The two teams fought on even terms the rest of the quarter, leaving BIC on top 37-30 entering the final frame.

Cates and Esparza scored from in close to begin the fourth quarter, pushing the BIC lead to double digits, 41-30. The Lady Lions would never get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

James finished with a game high 22 points to lead BIC while Cates scored 11. Lambert tallied nine while Esparza and Haddyn Hurst added four points apiece. BIC knocked down 11-17 foul shots and drained seven three pointers, four by James and three by Lambert.

Manila's Brailey Hampton throws up a shot during Monday night's game against BIC. 

Hampton pumped in 15 points to lead Manila. Sydney Adcock and Anna Grace Adams tallied six points apiece, Meg Gifford netted four, Kaitlynn Adams contributed three while Micah Beach and Ashten Wallace added two points apiece. Manila canned 13-18 free throws and made three treys, all by Hampton.

In junior high action, Manila downed BIC, 37-28. Macy Darby scored 12 points to lead the Lady Lions while Sadie McDonald netted 10. Olivia May tallied five, Madison Hitchcock contributed four while Diana Adams, Allie Copeland and Taylor Perkins all added two points each.

Emily Davis and Hallee Wells paced the Lady Mustangs with nine points each. Ashtyn Hawkins scored four, Lena Watts chipped in three, Chasney Griggry added two while Arabella Oliver pitched in one point.

BIC hosted Mammoth Spring Tuesday night, losing 52-38 to the Lady Bears. The Lady Mustangs led 9-6 after the first break before Mammoth Spring took a 19-15 halftime edge. The Lady Bears increased their lead to 37-27 after three quarters.

Megyn Upton paced Mammoth Spring with 15 points while Lauren Mitchell and Stephine Henry added 14 and 10 points respectively.

Hurst paced BIC with 12 points while Lambert added 11.

In the junior high game, Mammoth Spring defeated BIC 46-23.

BIC finished the week with a 49-44 win over Marked Tree Thursday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette.

The Lady Indians led 9-6 after the first quarter before BIC fought back to take a 26-21 halftime advantage. BIC pushed its advantage to 35-28 after three quarters.

BIC (5-3) was led by Hurst’s 11 points. James had 10, Lambert and Cates tallied eight points apiece while Hanah Carle netted seven. Esparza contributed three while Olivia Manning added two points.

Makayla Marshall pumped in a game high 23 points to pace Marked Tree. Shira Hendrix added 10.

In junior high play, BIC scalped the Lady Indians 40-17. Krystyn Hawkins paced the Lady Mustangs with 13. Lexi Riley scored seven, Griggry had six while Watts netted five. Mason Hastings chipped in four, Davis pitched in three while Oliver added two points.

Nitasia Matthews topped the lady Indians with 15 points.

BIC returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 27, with a road trip to Bay. The Lady Lions will return to the hardcourt Monday, Nov. 26, when they travel to Piggott.