Neither the unpredictable winter weather nor the play of their opponents have been able to slow down the Greenwood Lady Bulldogs (19-2) as the 5A West conference race approaches the second half of the league schedule. The GHS varsity girls are a perfect 6-0, having only been seriously challenged in one game, a two-point road win at Siloam Springs on a last second shot. The remainder of the conference slate begins on Friday at Russellville. The Lady Cyclones are currently third in the league race but were clobbered by the Lady Bulldogs earlier this season, 77-42.

Head Coach Clay Reeves and his girls were supposed to travel to Alma this past Monday for a makeup game rescheduled after the snowstorm that hit Western Arkansas last week. However, more wintry weather this week forced the makeup game to be postponed again. But they were scheduled for an open date this week anyway, so they will get back on track this coming Friday night at Russellville. They will play their home conference games on Tuesdays in February, starting with Van Buren next week followed by a long road trip to Harrison next Friday.

Siloam Springs

Both teams entered the January 17th contest unbeaten in league play (3-0) and the nature of the game reflected that parody. The winner would have the early advantage in the conference race and the rhythm of the game swung wildly. The visiting Lady Bulldogs led 36-26 at the half, but trailed by seven points (58-51) with three minutes left before closing with a 9-0 run, winning on a buzzer-beater by Anna Trusty, who had 25 points in the GHS victory.

Senior Mady Cartwright opened the scoring for Greenwood with a two-point jumper and closed the first quarter with a floater, giving the Lady Bulldogs an early 19-11 lead. At the 5:30 mark of the second period, Greenwood led 28-14, forcing Siloam Springs to call a timeout. The Lady Panthers rallied a bit, but still trailed at the break, 36-26.

But the home team opened the second half with a 13-3 run to tie the score at 39-all at the 4:10 mark of the third quarter. Anna Trusty canned a three-pointer to slow the Siloam Springs’ charge, but the Lady Panthers still led 47-46 as the period ended. The hometown ladies then continued their surge well into the final stanza, leading by seven points with three minutes remaining before hitting a wall offensively.

The Lady Bulldogs scored the last nine points of the game, starting with four consecutive free throws by Mady Cartwright and a layup by freshman Kylah Pearcy. At the 2:00 mark, senior Adriana Rusin took a charge on defense and forced a turnover, followed by a tying free throw from Pearcy, making the score 58-all with 1:11 left to play.

With half-a-minute rremaining, Siloam Springs missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw, giving Greenwood a chance to win the game at the buzzer. With time running out, junior Anna Trusty launched a long jumper that missed, but followed her shot and grabbed the rebound with enough time to get off a second shot from just inside the free throw line. The ball hit the front of the rim and then the glass before falling through the net at the buzzer for the 60-58 win.

Besides her 25 points to lead all scorers, Trusty also had seven rebounds, six steals, and two assists. Mady Cartwright added 16 points, seven boards, five assists, and three steals. Adriana Rusin scored just four points but led her teammates in rebounds with 10 boards plus forcing that critical late charging call on defense.

Mountain Home

After their narrow escape at Siloam Springs, the Lady Bulldogs bounced back with a pair of blowout wins, starting at home against the Lady Bombers on Friday, January 20th. The visitors from Baxter County made the long trip southward to Greenwood and had barely taken the floor at H.B. Stewart Arena before finding themselves buried after one period, 33-9.

The opening quarter started with a pair of three-pointers by Anna Trusty and the onslaught continued for the full eight minutes. The scoring slowed in the second stanza, but the Lady Bulldogs still led 53-23 at the intermission. Mady Cartwright scored 22 points in the first half, followed by Trusty with 17 points.

With the outcome of the game decided early, Coach Reeves pulled his starters early in the second half and finished the game with younger players, some of whom are equal to many of their opponents’ starters, like GHS freshmen Kylah Pearcy and Izzy Smith. Greenwood led 65-28 after three periods and coasted to the 78-34 victory.

Cartwright finished with 27 points, four rebounds, and four steals. Trusty did not score in the second half, but left the game with 17 points, seven boards, three steals, and three assists. Pearcy also scored in double figures with 14 points, adding two steals and two assists. Junior Carley Sexton scored five points with three assists, three steals, and a pair of rebounds.

Greenbrier

Last Friday, January 27th, the Lady Bulldogs returned to action after the snow storm that forced cancellation of classes for two days. Their opponents were the Lady Panthers of Greenbrier who occupied last place in the league race, still winless at 0-5. Their prospects didn’t improve either as they fell behind 22-12 after one quarter and 43-17 at the half. Greenwood’s Mady Cartwright and Anna Trusty combined for 28 points in the opening half.

The GHS lead expanded to 59-25 after 24 minutes, invoking the mercy rule as the Lady Bulldogs rolled to an easy 65-25 victory, shutting out the Greenbrier girls in the fourth quarter. Anna Trusty finished the game with 21 points and five rebounds. Mady Cartwright scored 18 points, but added seven boards, four assists, and three steals. Junior Brooklyn Woolsey scored eight points while Carley Sexton had six points and seven rebounds.