Lady Panthers finish on high note, look to down host at district tournament

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Heber Springs catcher Vallie Cantrell askes the umpire where the offering from Taylor Parker was located after the official called a ball against South Side Bee Branch on Friday at the Heber Springs Sports Complex. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

The Heber Springs softball team opens 4-4A district tournament play today at Pottsville against the host school with a lot on the line for both teams.

A win would advance the Panthers to the 4A-North Regional Tournament at Morrilton next week.

“It has been three seasons since a Heber softball team has played in the postseason,” Heber Springs coach Dusty West said.  “We have talked all year about setting the foundation for the future and rebuilding the legacy of Heber Softball and this is part of the equation.”

To rebuild that legacy, the Panthers (9-11 overall) must get past a Pottsville team that beat Heber Springs 7-0 on April 5th in Pottsville.

“We are excited to play the host school Tuesday in the first round,” West said on Monday. “They beat us the first time on only two earned runs.

“If we can limit the number of free passes and errors, we will have a great opportunity to move on to the semis (of the district tournament) and regionals.  Making a regional has been this team’s goal this year.  We knew it would be a challenge and we have set ourselves up to make it reality.”

The Panthers are coming off a week which saw victories over Rose Bud (7-3 on April 18) and South Side Bee Branch on Friday (13-6) sandwiched in-between a 13-2 loss to a hard-hitting Dardanelle team on April 19th.

“This team has really been playing well here of late,” West said.  “They have been getting better every time we get to play.  Our pitching has become more consistent over the past two weeks and that has really helped us as a team.”

The Panthers will play the second game of the day (Dardanelle will open with Ozark) around 6:30 p.m. A win would set-up a re-match with conference champion Morrilton in the semifinals on Thursday at Pottsville.

“Coming from where we were this time last year, I couldn’t be more excited for this team and the opportunity they will have Tuesday night,” West said on Monday.  “We have improved in all areas on the field this year and Tuesday is a chance for these kids to see their hard work throughout the summer/fall/winter finally pay off. ”

4-4A CONFERENCE 
FINAL STANDINGS
Morrilton       5-0    16-6
Clarksville     4-1    11-7
Dardanelle      3-2    13-5
Pottsville      2-3     3-13
Heber Springs   1-4     9-11
Ozark           0-5     3-17

HEBER SPRINGS 13, SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH 6

April 22

Senior Kylie Carr finished with five RBIs in helping lead Heber Springs to the 13-6 win.

Each team collected 11 hits each. Heber Springs was led by junior Madison Clemons, who finished 3-for-3 at the plate.

The Panthers score a pair of runs in the first inning highlighted by a Carr double.

Singles by Clemons, Carr and Gracie Parish, and a walk by Vallie Cantrell helped Heber Springs plate six runs in the fourth inning as the Panthers led 8-0.

South Side plated three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Addison Hudspeth also finished with a pair of hits for the Panthers.

Freshman Taylor Parker claimed the win in the circle for Heber Springs working four innings and striking out four. Brooklyn Barnes and Hudsepth each pitched in relief.

DARDANELLE 13, HEBER SPRINGS 2

April 19

Dardanelle scored in five of the seven innings to claim the win over Heber Springs.

Trailing 6-0, the Panthers plated a run in the fourth on a Hudspeth RBI single that drove in Parker, who had reached on a double.

The Sand Lizards made it 9-1 with three in the fifth and 10-1 with a run in the sixth before the Panthers plated another run after Vallie Cantrell singled and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Rylee Birmingham.

HEBER SPRINGS 7, ROSE BUD 3

April 18

Parker pitched a complete striking out 11 for Heber Springs allowing three runs on seven hits.

Hudspeth went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Panthers.

Rose Bud scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning.

Heber Springs took a 1-0 advantage in the second after Hope Turney reached on a walk and would later score on a Barnes single.

The Panthers made it 3-0 in the third as both Parish and Turney reached base and would later score on an error.

In the fourth, Parker walked, stole second and score on an error off the bat of Hudspeth. After a strikeout, Clemons drove in a Hudspeth with a two-out single to right.

Heber Springs added two insurance runs in the sixth as Parker and Birmingham both scored.

 

Lady Panthers battle, fall one game short of regionals

By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY

SUBIACO – The Heber Springs Lady Panthers didn’t go away without a fight against Dardanelle in Tuesday’s quarterfinal game at the 4-4A Conference Basketball Tournament.

Dardanelle (8-10) went on a 13-3 scoring run, beginning with one minute left in the third quarter to 3:45 remaining in the game, and defeated the Lady Panthers 46-36.

Heber Springs, which lost its 12 consecutive game, finished the season at 10-15. The Lady Panthers’ last win came against Nemo Vista at the Mount Vernon-Enola Holiday Tournament in late December.

Jaylea Hooten and Addison Hudspeth led Heber Springs each with eight points. Hudspeth and Savannah Stout each made two 3-pointers. Hope Turney and Madison Clemons each had a 3-pointer.

Karlie Cursh scored a game high 17 points for Dardanelle. Bethani Walter contributed nine points.

The Lady Sand Lizards led throughout the first half with a 4-2 lead after the first quarter and 17-12 at halftime.

But momentum shifted to the Lady Panthers early during the third quarter. Stroud hit back-to-back 3-pointers for an 18-17 lead.  Dardanelle regained the lead on two free throws by Cursh. Heber Springs then recaptured the lead on Hudspeth’s 3-pointer.

The Lady Sand Lizards pulled within one and later took the lead for good on Grace McIntyre’s 3-pointer with one minute to go in the third quarter.

Savannah Williams scored during closing seconds for a 29-25 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Dardanelle put the game away by completing the 13-3 scoring run and led by as much as 15 points, 46-31, with 48 seconds left.

Heber Springs    2 10 13 11 –36
Dardanelle           4 13 12 17–46
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (36): Jaylea Hooten 8, Addison Hudspeth 8, Savannah Stout 6, Molly Smith 4, Sophie Stone 4, Madison Clemons 3, Hope Turney 3.
DARDANELLE SCORING (46):  Karlie Cursh 17, Bethani Walter 9, Grace McIntyre 6, Jayden Vazquez 6, Savannah Williams 4, Audry Rowan 2, Elizabeth Earnest 2.

Heber Springs falls in home finale

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Heber Springs’ Jaylea Hooten drives for a lay-up against Clarksville’s Macy Weathers. Hooten was fouled on the play. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

HEBER SPRINGS – Clarksville hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the first quarter and didn’t look back in downing Heber Springs, 47-30, in 4-4A senior girls play.

A Jaylea Hooten free throw for Heber Springs made it a one-point game at 5-4 in favor of Clarksville with 2:11 left in the opening quarter, but Clarksville’s Macy Weathers hit 3-pointers with 1:08 left and at the first-quarter buzzer to make it an 11-4 contest.

Heber Springs (10-13 overall, 0-9 in 4-4A) cut the deficit to under 10 points twice in the second quarter. An Emily Fuller 3-pointer at the 5:59 mark made it 14-7 and a Hooten three-point play with 1:01 left in the half cut the Clarksville (8-13, 5-4) lead to 9 at 21-12. But the visiting Panthers, again hit a pair of 3-pointers to close out the quarter with a 27-12 halftime lead.

Fuller paced Heber Springs with 8 points while Clarksville’s Kenleigh Rieder led all scorers with 14 points. The visiting Panthers led 38-19 at the end of three quarters.

Heber Springs travels to Pottsville Tuesday for its regular-season finale.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (30): Jaylea Hooten 7, Addison Hudspeth 2, Sophia Stone 6, Molly Smith 2, Savannah Stout 5, Emily Fuller 8

CLARKSVILLE SCORING (47): Kenleigh Rieder 14, Abby Domerese 13, Adilyn Cummins 4, Kelsey Frizzell 2, Macy Weathers 12, Madison Pennington 2.

Second-half woes cost Lady Panthers

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Heber Springs’ Molly Smith and Pottsville’s Rylie Boley wait for the officials call after a tie-ball situation during Monday’s 4-4A senior girls contest at the Panther Den. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

HEBER SPRINGS – Pottsville blew open a close game in the third quarter to down Heber Springs, 45-27, in 4-4A senior girls action Monday night at the Panther Den.

Heber Springs (10-11 overall) remains winless in 4-4A play (0-7) and have not won a game since a 45-39 victory over Nemo Vista on Dec. 28 at the Mount Vernon-Enola tournament.

For Pottsville, the Apaches improved to 13-6 overall and more importantly kept pace with Morrilton for a share a of the conference lead at 6-1 in the 4-4A.

Monday night it was close for two quarters as Pottsville led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter and the Panthers managed to tie things up at 13-all at the half after a Hope Turney 3-pointer.

Pottsville opened the second half with a 5-0 run before Savannah Stout hit a jumper to make it 18-15 with 5:23 left in the third quarter.

A 10-0 run by the Apaches made it 28-15 at the 3:00 mark of the third quarter. A pair of Molly Smith free throws stopped the bleeding, but Pottsville would manage a 31-17 advantage at the end of three quarters.

Heber Springs returns to action Tuesday when they host Dardanelle (5-10, 4-4) at the Panther Den.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (27): Hope Turney 3, Jaylea Hooten 8, Addison Hudspeth 3, Molly Smith 5, Savannah Stout 2, Madison Clemons 3, Sophia Stone 3.

POTTSVILLE SCORING (45): Rilee Underwood 11, Rylie Boley 6, Lindsey Aday 13, Layla Stroud 11, Tori Daniel 2, Annleigh Pennington 2

 

4-4A Standings

Pottsville 13-6  6-1

Morrilton 16-4, 6-1

Clarksville 7-13, 4-4

Dardanelle 5-10, 4-4

Ozark 11-9, 2-5

Heber Springs 10-11, 0-7

Lady Panthers fall in rubber match to Lady Hornets

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Heber Springs’ Jaylea Hooten drives for a basketball against South Side Bee Branch’s E. Thomas (35) late in the fourth quarter at the Panther. Hooten made the lay-up and a drew a foul on the play. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

HEBER SPRINGS – South Side Bee Branch’s final 12 points all came from the free-throw line as the Hornets held off Heber Springs, 44-36, in nonconference senior girls action at the Panther Den.

The win by South Side Bee Branch avenged a 47-41 victory by Heber Springs on Dec. 4 on a neutral court in Conway.

On Tuesday, a cold second quarter doomed the Panthers (8-2) as they were outscored 12-4 in the stanza to trail at the half 18-11.

Heber Springs, which trailed 26-18 at the end of the third, went on an 8-1 run midway through the fourth quarter to pull within three at 29-26 after a 3-pointer by Sophie Stone and a three-point play by Jaylea Hooten with 4:11 left.

After a pair of free throws by South Side’s Jewel Walley, the Panthers would make it a 2-point game at 31-29 with three minutes left. Stone would hit the front end of a one-and-one while Hooten would stick the rebound back up for two.

Brinkley Smith would have an answer for the Hornets on their next possession when she drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to make 34-29.

From that point on, South Side Bee Branch (10-10) would hit 12-of-14 over the final 2:08 to hold on for the win.

On the night, the Hornets hit 21-of-25 (84 percent) while Heber Springs was 1o-of-17 (58.5 percent).

Hooten led all scorers with 19 points.

Heber Springs will open conference play Friday night at Ozark (7-3).

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (36): Madison Clemons 1, Jaylea Hooten 19, Addison Hudspeth 4, Sophie Stone 7, Savannah Stout 3, Molly Smith 2

SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH SCORING (44): Erin Holland 2, Brinkley Smith 7, Marli Huddleston 4, Mollie Leonard 7, Jewel Walley 8, Emily Walley 13, Maggie Bradford 2, Emily Thomas 3

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HEBER SPRINGS SENIOR GIRLS
2021-2022 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
(Click on a game for previous details)
(Record: 8-2, 4-4A Conference: 0-0)
Nov. 09   Heber Springs 53, Mount St. Mary 42
Nov. 15   Heber Springs 59, Newport 44
Nov. 18   Heber Springs 46, Bald Knob 33
Nov. 22   Heber Springs 55, Guy-Perkins 43
Nov. 23   Heber Springs 60, Shirley 20
Nov. 29   Mayflower 61, Heber Springs 25 +
Dec. 02   Heber Springs 45, Conway St. Joseph 44 +
Dec. 04   Heber Springs 47, South Side Bee Branch 41 +
Dec. 07   Heber Springs 49, Benton Harmony Grove 43
Dec. 14   South Side Bee Branch 44, Heber Springs 36
Dec. 17   at Ozark (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Dec. 20   at Lonoke (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. 
Dec. 21   at Des Arc (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m.
Dec. 28-30 at Mount Vernon-Enola Tournament (SG, SB)
Jan. 04   Morrilton (SGJV, SBJV, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Jan. 07   at Dardanelle (JG, JB. SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 11   at Clarksville (SBJV, SG, SB), 5 p.m. *
Jan. 14   Pottsville (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 21   Ozark (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 25   at Morrilton (SGJB, SBJB, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Feb. 01   Dardanelle (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m.
Feb. 03   Clarksville (SBJV, SG, SB), 5 p.m. *
Feb. 08   at Pottsville (SGJV, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Feb. 14   District Tournament at Subiaco Academy

(+ - Conway St. Joseph Tournament)

Lady Panthers down Lady Cardinals

HASKELL – With Heber Springs’ leading scorer Jaylea Hooten held to four points, a trio of Panthers stepped up finishing in double figures in helping lead Heber Springs to a 49-43 nonconference victory over Benton Harmony Grove.

Addison Hudspeth paced Heber Springs with 16 points as the Panthers were tied at 9-all at the end of the first quarter and led 24-13 at the break.

Savannah Stout finished with 12 and Hope Turney added 11 to round out the trio that scored in double figures.

The Cardinals got back into the contest in the third quarter outscoring Heber Springs 18-8, thanks in part to four 3-pointers in the quarter by senior Kallyn Sussamon.

Sussamon scored a game-high 20 points, including nailing six of the seven 3-pointers made by Harmony Grove on the night.

Heber Springs dropped 11 3-pointers led by Stout with four, Turner and Hudspeth with three and Emily Fuller with one.

The Panthers outscored the Cardinals, 17-12, in the final quarter.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (49): Hope Turney 11, Jaylea Hooten 4, Addison Hudspeth 16, Savannah Stout 12, Molly Smith 3, Emily Fuller 3.

BENTON HARMONY GROVE SCORING (43): Grace Reese 9, Olivia Wallace 2, Kallyn Sussamon  20, Lanie Chancellor 7, Emma Baker 3

Heber Springs holds off South Side Bee Branch

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Heber Springs’ Lindsay Southerland dribbles past South Side Bee Branch’s Jewel Walley in senior girls action the Family Activities Center in Conway. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

CONWAY – Heber Springs got 16 points from Addison Hudspeth as the Panthers downed South Side Bee Branch, 47-41, in a consolation contest of the St. Joseph Tournament at the Family Activities Center.

Heber Springs led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter and 23-17 at the break.

The game remained tight throughout the third quarter as a Molly Smith basket gave the Panthers a 29-21 advantage with 5:45 left in the third quarter, before Marli Huddleton field goal capped a 6-0 run that put the score a 29-27 with 2:22 remaining in the stanza.

Hudspeth would go on a 5-0 run with a 3-pointer, one of three on the afternoon, and a short jumper with 59 seconds left pushed the Heber Springs advantage back to seven at 34-27.

Mollie Leonard hit a pair of free throws for the Hornets and Jewel Walley drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 34-31 heading into the final quarter.

Junior Jaylea Hooten would take over in the fourth quarter scoring seven points, including the only two field goals for Heber Springs in the quarter, to fuel a 7-2 run that saw the Panthers increase their advantage to 41-33 with 4:48 left.

South Side Bee Branch (7-9) would make it a six-point contest with less than a minute to go but Heber Springs would salt the game away from the free-throw line. The Panthers finished the quarter 9-of-15 from the line and 11-of-20 on the afternoon.

“The game was a little closer than I wanted it to be,” Heber Springs coach Spencer Gay said, “but I was proud of the effort and was really proud of the girls fixing some ball-handling problems we’ve had.”

Heber Springs came into the tournament with an undefeated record but suffered their first loss of the season in the pool-play opener to Mayflower.

“That  game was tough,” Gay said.  “I don’t want to harp on that because winning two out of three (in the tournament) was pretty big time for us. I was proud of that.”

The first-year Panther coach would later add that the loss could benefit Heber Springs when they get into conference play.

“They played us a style that we are going to see later down the road,” Gay said.  “I saw a (ball-handling) problem. Our kids saw a problem and they’ve worked every day since to fix it. It’s not going to happen overnight, but a month from now, but you are going to see a different team.”

The win improved Heber Springs to 7-1 on the season.

“I am ecstatic where we are,” Gay said. “I think it says a lot about the kids.”

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (47): Hope Turney 1, Jaylea Hooten 15, Addison Hudspeth 16, Sophie Stone 4, Molly Smith 8, Emily Fuller 3.

SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH SCORING (41): Brinkley Smith 2, Marli Huddleston 3, Mollie Leonard 8, Jewel Walley 13, Emily Walley 14, Maggie Bradford 2.

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HEBER SPRINGS SENIOR GIRLS
2021-2022
(Click on a game for previous details)
(Record: 7-1, 4-4A Conference: 0-0)
Nov. 09   Heber Springs 53, Mount St. Mary 42
Nov. 15   Heber Springs 59, Newport 44
Nov. 18   Heber Springs 46, Bald Knob 33
Nov. 22   Heber Springs 55, Guy-Perkins 43
Nov. 23   Heber Springs 60, Shirley 20
Nov. 29   Mayflower 61, Heber Springs 25 +
Dec. 02   Heber Springs 45, Conway St. Joseph 44 +
Dec. 04   Heber Springs 47, South Side Bee Branch 41 +
Dec. 07   at Benton Harmony Grove (JG, SG, SB), 5 p.m.
Dec. 14   South Side Bee Branch (JG, SG, SB), 5 p.m.
Dec. 17   at Ozark (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Dec. 20   at Lonoke (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. 
Dec. 21   at Des Arc (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m.
Dec. 28-30 at Mount Vernon-Enola Tournament (SG, SB)
Jan. 04   Morrilton (SGJV, SBJV, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Jan. 07   at Dardanelle (JG, JB. SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 11   at Clarksville (SBJV, SG, SB), 5 p.m. *
Jan. 14   Pottsville (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 21   Ozark (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 25   at Morrilton (SGJB, SBJB, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Feb. 01   Dardanelle (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m.
Feb. 03   Clarksville (SBJV, SG, SB), 5 p.m. *
Feb. 08   at Pottsville (SGJV, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Feb. 14   District Tournament at Subiaco Academy

(+ - Conway St. Joseph Tournament)

Heber Springs downs host in tournament

CONWAY – Jaylea Hooten and Molly Smith each scored in double figures as Heber Springs held off the host, Conway St. Joseph, 45-44, at the Family Activities Center in a tournament contest.

Hooten finished with a team-high 15 points while Smith added 10 as the Panthers trailed 8-4 at the end of the first quarter, but battled back to take a 20-19 advantage into the break.

Heber Springs would lead 38-29 at the end of the third quarter before the Bulldogs would keep close the rest of the way.

Conway St. Joseph’s Kaitlyn Kordsmeier led all scorers with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

Hooten was a perfect seven-for-seven from the free-throw line for the Panthers as Heber Springs finished 13 of 18 on the night.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (45): Hope Turney 3, Jaylea Hooten 15, Addison Hudspeth 9, Sophie Stone 8, Molly Smith 10.

CONWAY ST. JOSEPH SCORING (44): Kaitlyn Kordsmeier 17, Chloe Skinner 3, Ashlynn Vote 8, Presli Webb 4, Olivia Williams 9, Lydia Humphrey 3.

Mayflower hands Heber Springs first loss

CONWAY – Mayflower knocked down nine 3-pointers and had three players finish in double figures in scoring as they defeated Heber Springs, 61-25, in the St. Joseph tournament at the Family Activities Center.

Hailey Francis finished with 17 points, Kiara Williamson added 12 and Karley Brown with 10 as the Eagles led 22-6 at the end of the first quarter and 42-13 at the break.

Heber Springs was paced by Jaylea Hooten’s 10 points.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (25): Hope Turney 2, Jaylea Hooten 10, Addison Hudspeth 1, Sophie Stone 5, Emily Fuller 2.

MAYFLOWER SCORING (61): Hailey Francis 17, Karley Brown 10, London Webb 2, Riley Whittington 9, Olivia Patterson 3, Kiara Williamson 12, Ella York 8.

Heber Springs disposes of Shirley

SHIRLEY – Heber Springs raced out to a 25-4 first-quarter advantage and didn’t look back in downing Shirley, 60-20, in nonconference action.

Eleven players scored for the Panthers, paced by Emily Fuller’s 9 points, as Heber Springs led 46-6 at the half and 55-6 at the end of the third quarter.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (60): Hope  Turney 7, Madison Clemons 6, Jaylea Hooten 6, Addison Hudspeth 5, Sophie Stone 5, Savannah Stout 3, Lindsay Southerland 8, Molly Smith 6, Olivia Norton 3, Emily Fuller  9, Ava Little 2.

SHIRLEY SCORING (20): Haydie Breedlove 2, Ariana Bradford 7, Alex Bradford 9, Abigail Hensley 2.