Late missed free throws cost the Lady Panthers a regulation win, but Benton fought in overtime to pick up a 41-36 6A South win over the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves Friday at Benton Arena.
Lady Wolves’ sophomore Emily Burkholder hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left to make it 34-34 and force overtime, but the Lady Panthers got a big three from sophomore Grace Bryant to start the extra period as Benton scored the first six points in overtime capped by sophomore Italei Gray’s layup with 1:39 left for a 40-34 game.
“It was just an old grinder,” Benton Coach Jerry Chumley said. “A couple of 6A South teams in the middle of the pack.”
The win put the Lady Panthers (9-16, 6-6 South) back to even in conference play, while the Lady Wolves (13-12, 6-6) fell to even for a three-way, third-place tie in the South with Sheridan also 6-6. Parkview (12-0) and El Dorado (11-1) are 1-2 in league play.
On Friday, Benton was sparked by junior Lenzie “Lu” Newman, who scored a game-high 17 points on 5 of 8 from 3-point land and added five rebounds.
“When Lu’s hitting threes, life is good in Benton Arena,” Chumley said. “She can knock them down anytime. Bella (Slaughter) made some plays for us. T.O. (Taylor Oglesby), tough again. Strong to the basket and making great passes. It was a good team effort.”