Weary Conway girls get a bit of a respite

FORT SMITH -- After playing five games in three days in Texas last week, Conway girls basketball Coach Ashley Hutchcraft said her team still is trying to recover. Thankfully, the Lady Wampus Cats have a deep bench. Conway used a smothering half-court press to overwhelm Fort Smith Southside en route to an 84-20 6A-Central Conference victory Friday at Southside Gymnasium. "We're honestly still a little sore," Hutchcraft said. "The games [last week in Duncanville, Texas] were very physical. Our main 5-6 players are still feeling it. With North Little Rock coming up [on Tuesday], it was important to get our legs back." The Lady Wampus Cats (15-2, 1-0) had 15 different players scored as Hutchcraft liberally substituted throughout. "We're fortunate to have 19 players who are really good," Hutchcraft said. "We have several girls who can start for other schools. For them to get some valuable minutes, it will help us down the road. We have to have other players step up because our conference is so tough." The Lady Mavericks (0-11, 0-1) could not handle the Lady Wampus Cats' half-court trap and man defense, committing 25 turnovers in the game's first 18 minutes as Conway built a 57-13 lead. After Southside's Melanie Rice scored on a drive to tie the game at 2-2 with 6:33 left in the first quarter, Conway went on a 15-0 run -- 10 from Asiyha Smith -- to seize control at 17-2 with 2:28 left. Smith would score a game-high 20 to lead Conway while Kamiah Turner added 10. Rice scored eight points to lead Southside. The Lady Wampus Cats led 26-7 after a quarter, then opened the second quarter with a 19-2 run. Conway led 70-16 after three quarters.

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WEARY CONWAY GIRLS GET A BIT OF A RESPITE

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Arkansas Online | 1/5/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Conway Athletics