February 11, 2020
The Heber Springs Lady Panthers head into the final week of the regular season riding high on a four-game winning streak, including three straight on the road.
Heber Springs will put its season-tying best win streak on the line when it travels to Morrilton (17-5, 10-1 in the 4A-4) tonight. It will be the final regular season road contest for the Lady Panthers as they look to avenge a 20-point setback last month at the Panther Den.
“We didn’t play well against Morrilton the last time when they were here,” Heber Springs coach Jamey Riddle said. “I think the girls have responded well … they know we didn’t play very good.”
Morrilton clinched the outright conference title Friday night with a 47-30 victory against Clarksville, but there is still plenty for Heber Springs to play for, but that will come on Friday — Senior Night for the Panthers and Lady Panthers.
Against the Devil Dogs, Heber Springs can get a measure of revenge and win a season-best fifth game in-a-row heading into Friday’s showdown with Clarksville.
In order to do that, the Lady Panthers will have to continue to play what Riddle described as “consistent” basketball.
“Right now we are playing that way,” he said. “We are consistently shooting the ball, rebounding fairly, not turning the ball over and not getting in a hurry.”
Riddle also said everyone is pitching in and doing their job.
“Libby’s (Stutts) is starting to shoot the ball well right now,” he said before continuing, “Jillian’s (Herring) is playing hard. We played well on the road. We had three tough road games so far, we’ll see if we can stay on that streak (tonight).”
Senior Claudia Newberry is one of those who is probably playing the best basketball of Lady Panther career finishing with 10 points in a victory at Dardanelle on Feb. 4 and 14 points at Ozark on Jan. 31.
“Our post play as been a lot better,” Riddle said. “We’ve had different ones that we are able to go to now and get some things done.”
Heber Springs has wrapped up at least the three seed for next week’s 4A-4 District Tournament at Dardanelle. With a win tonight at Morrilton and a win on Friday against Clarksville, the Lady Panthers will be the No. 2 seed and earn a spot in the district tournament semifinals and an automatic to the regional tournament in two weeks at Berryville.
Heber Springs can still get the No. 2 seed with a loss against Morrilton tonight, but the Lady Panthers would have to beat Clarksville by eight or more points to earn the spot.
“It will be huge, still a lot there (to play for),” Riddle said. “We just need to go take care of business.”
February 4 HEBER SPRINGS AT DARDANELLE Heber Springs 10 15 13 12 - 50 Dardanelle 2 7 6 11 - 26 HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (50): Jillian Herring 18, Claudia Newberry 10, Ellie Riddle 8, Mary Shearer 8, LiLi Chaney 3, Brandy Meredith 2, Ashley Spanel 1 DARDANELLE SCORING (26): Doughtrey 10, Abby Apple 6, Anette Navarrette 5, Brooklyn Tidwell 3, Ellie Stokes 2 January 31 HEBER SPRINGS AT OZARK Heber Springs 14 9 12 8 - 43 Ozark 9 10 13 7 - 39 HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (43): Claudia Newberry 14, Jillian Herring 11, Ellie Riddle 7, Libby Stutts 6, Ashley Spanel 4, Mary Shearer 2 OZARK SCORING (39): Mary Grace Ree 15, Kelsee Barnett 10, Summer Joy 7, Autumn Joy 4, Tanner Richard 3
4A-4 STANDINGS
Conference Season
Morrilton 10-1 17-5
Clarksville 8-3 12-12
Heber Springs 7-3 16-7
Pottsvile 5-5 11-9
Dover 5-5 14-9
Ozark 1-9 13-11
Dardanelle 0-10 2-22HEBER SPRINGS SENIOR GIRLS 2019-2020 SCHEDULE/RESULTS RECORD: 16-7 4A-4 RECORD: 7-3 November 12 - Heber Springs 55, Nemo Vista 31 November 19 - Heber Springs 70, South Side Bee Branch 45 November 21 - Heber Springs 67, Riverview 27 November 26 - Heber Springs 56, Clinton 54 (OT) December 3 - Conway St. Joseph 47, Heber Springs 44 # December 5 - Heber Springs 53, South Side Bee Branch 34 # December 7 - Heber Springs 44, Wonderview 43 # December 10 - Heber Springs 59, Dover 56 ^ December 13 - Marshall 70, Heber Springs 52 December 16 - Heber Springs 51, White County Central 31 December 20 - Heber Springs 55, Ozark 42 ^ December 26 - Heber Springs 70, DeWitt 34 * December 27 - Pea Ridge 49, Heber Springs 44 * December 28 - Mayflower 58, Heber Springs 37 * January 7 - Pottsville 49, Heber Springs 45 ^ January 9 - Heber Springs 70, Newport 51 January 14 - Heber Springs 47, Dardanelle 29 ^ January 17 - Clarksville 48, Heber Springs 41 ^ January 21 - Morrilton 52, Heber Springs 32 ^ January 24 - Heber Springs 59, Dover 53 ^ January 28 - Heber Springs 74, Pottsville 64 ^ January 31 - Heber Springs 43, Ozark 39 ^ February 4 - Heber Springs 52, Dardanelle 25 ^ February 11 - at Morrilton ^ February 14 - Clarksville (Senior Night) ^ February 17 - 4A-4 District at Dardanelle (# - Denotes Conway St. Joseph Tournament) (^ - Denotes 4A-4 conference contest) (* - Denotes Steve Landers' Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Tournament at Heber Springs) ($ - Denotes 4A-4 District Tournament at Dardanelle)