Report by Wes Gwaltney
After a two-week hiatus from the basketball court due to winter weather, the number-one seed Batesville Lady Pioneers would show zero rust Thursday night as they hosted the eighth-seeded Searcy Lady Lions in District tournament action.
The baskets would fall quickly and often in the opening frame as the Lady Pioneers would waste little time in opening up a big lead in the first frame with six Lady Pioneers accounting for points and taking a 31-12 lead into the first break.
The Lady Pioneers would “cool off” so to speak in the second, though only slightly, as they would only account for 21 points in the second quarter, but would hold the Lions to just 10 and would open up a commanding 30 point lead into the halftime intermission.
The Lady Pioneers would continue to outscore Searcy in the second half as they would coast to the victory by a final of 76-38 in the District Tournament first-round matchup.
Leading the way for the Lady Pioneers was Senior Izzy Higginbottom with 19 points, Junior Taylor Rush would be right in her footsteps with 18 points and Senior Kaylee Clark would join her teammates in double digits with 11.
The Lady Pioneers now advance to Round Two of the District Tournament and by way of winning the regular-season title, will continue to host going forward.
They will play Monday night back at Pioneer Gymnasium against the number-five seeded Marion Lady Patriots with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
