Mike Abrahamson doesn’t treat a game against Conway any differently than he does a game against any other team. But following his Bryant Hornets’ quick start — which ultimately led to a 62-52 victory over the visiting Wampus Cats on Tuesday — he’s willing to concede his players might follow a different philosophy.
“We do our best to treat every game the same,” Abrahamson said. “It’s a rivalry that’s been established and it’s going to keep going … We seem to battle them in every sport… As coaches we try to treat it the same.
“I guess the kids, they get up for what they get up for.”
Romen Martin scored 18 points and Braylon Steen added 10 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Hornets, and it was clear from the onset that Bryant (15-3 overall, 5-0 7A/6A-Central) was properly motivated to defend the Hornets Nest. It turned four offensive rebounds into a pair of second-chance baskets while a swarming defensive effort led to six early Conway turnovers.
“Our guys were really aggressive to start the game,” Abrahamson added. “Offensive rebounds and tough with the ball, finishing around the basket. That was good… We haven’t had many games where we’ve gotten off to a great start. It ended up we really needed that to fall back on.”
Bryant used a 16-4 run in the first quarter to take control and Steen was at the middle of it. He ripped down three offensive rebounds in the first quarter and set the tone for his team’s energetic performance.
“He was snatching them out of the air which he hasn’t done like that lately,” Abrahamson said of the junior forward. “The way he snatches it, it sounds like the ball is going to pop. He was very aggressive tonight. He was playing really hard as all our guys were.”
Conway (8-9, 3-2) couldn’t muster any momentum in the next two quarters as the Hornets led 33-20 at halftime and then expanded it to 50-33 entering the final frame. Martin knocked down three 3-pointers in the third to quash any Conway momentum.
Conway too much for Bryant
A contest with one-loss Conway was always going to be a difficult game to win. Bryant simply didn’t do enough to pull off the upset.
Conway improved to 19-1 on the season and remained undefeated against teams from Arkansas after punishing the Lady Hornets 65-29 on Tuesday night at the Hornets Nest.
Alexis Tolefree scored a game-high 20 points for Conway (19-1, 5-0 7A/6A-Central) and Fut’ra Banks racked up 14 points and 17 rebounds – 11 on the offensive end alone.
Bryant’s initial defense often frustrated Conway. The Lady Cats shot just 38.5 percent for the game, and the dangerous backcourt duo of Tolefree and Savannah Lowe combined for 32 points, but it took them a combined 38 shots to get there.
But the Lady Hornets (6-10, 1-4) simply couldn’t rebound the misses. Banks dominated on the offensive glass to give Conway’s potent attack extra chances. Conway Coach Ashley Nance said Banks’ speed and tenacity make up for her small stature.
“She has great hands. She’s not tall, but she plays big and she’s also quick,” Nance said of her 5-9 junior. “That makes her really tough underneath the rim.”
The Lady Cats had 10 second-chance points in the third quarter alone. All those second chances took a toll on Bryant’s chances.