Report by Big Daddy Randy Alan
It was semi-final action in the 4A-3 Conference tournament at Southside on Thursday night as the Batesville Lady Pioneers took on the Pocahontas Lady Redskins for the third time this season.
The lead traded places in both of the opening quarters and the Lady Redskins pulled ahead of Batesville with some hot shooting from the foul line. Pocahontas went 13/14 from the charity stripe and led at the intermission, 29-22.
The lady Pioneers went on a 15-0 run in the third period to take the lead for the second time in the game and lead by as much as 17 points in the second half.
Pocahontas kept up the hot hand from the line and came within four by the final buzzer as the Lady Pioneers won the game, 69-65.
Pocahontas had three players in double digits. Junior Kendra Johnson went 11/11 from the charity stripe and ended the game outscoring everyone with 29. Senior Kate Sorg poured in 16 and Sophomore Diamond Kimble added in 12.
The Lady Redskins will be the third seed going into the 4A East Regional Tournament next week in Valley View.
Batesville was led by Izzy Higginbottom with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and a blocked shot. Junior Calkee Clark added in 17 points before fouling out of the game. Sophomore Taylor Rush chipped in 15 points with five rebounds and four assists. Freshman Kayla Ward moved up from the Junior High team and was a force on the defensive side of the basketball. Ward earned six rebounds, two blocked shots, and a steal, plus she showed resounding effort in her time on the floor and added some much-needed energy to the team.
The Lady Pioneers are now 25-2 on the season and will take on the Southside Lady Southerners on Saturday for the Conference Tournament Championship at 6 p.m.
