NHS BOYS GET REVENGE IN CONFERENCE OPENER

there was a silver lining to Northside’s loss to Bryant at the recent Coca-Cola Classic, it’s that the game didn’t count in conference play. Last Friday’s rematch with the Hornets did, as it was the 6A-Central opener. This time, the Grizzlies came out on top, winning the game at Bryant, 47-42. “After we got done playing them (the first time), we saw that that game didn’t mean as much as this next one we were about to play in conference,” Northside coach Eric Burnett said. “So we were a little bit more prepared for them in that first conference game, which to me is the more important game. “I thought we also did a little bit better job defensively. We didn’t let them get to the hole as much; the first time we played them in the Coke Classic, they were able to beat us off the dribble and get to the hole, which caused us a lot of problems.” Burnett added the Grizzlies also did a better job of getting the ball to their front-court players, mainly Jaylin Williams and Braylin McKinley. Williams led Northside with 13 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots. “We were bigger than them, and so we were trying to focus on getting the ball inside and let our big guys go and score,” Burnett said. “Jaylin and Braylin were able to stay in the whole game, so that makes a huge difference when you’ve got Jaylin inside.” Northside (10-5, 1-0) also got 12 points from guard Javion Releford, all coming in the second half. “Javion hit some huge free throws down the stretch for us and did a good job handling the basketball and distributing that to the people it was supposed to go to,” Burnett said. The Grizzlies travel to Little Rock Central on Tuesday. The Tigers are coming off a 67-63 overtime loss to North Little Rock in their conference opener last week. Lady Bears In Friday’s 6A-Central opener at Bryant, Northside nearly let a huge lead slip away. But the Lady Bears got some clutch foul shooting to pull out a 55-47 win and remain undefeated. “Bryant’s very athletic, much improved, 10-2 going into our game,” Northside coach Rickey Smith said. “We started off a little slow and got a 10-point lead at halftime and extended it out to 17 real quick to start the third period and then kind of relaxed. “I made a few substitutions, they came back, they hit a couple of shots and the next thing you know, it’s a ballgame.” Bryant got to within two points, 44-42, with more than two minutes left before Northside was able to withstand the rally attempt. Sophomore point guard Jersey Wolfenbarger led the Lady Bears with 21 points, including making all six of her free-throw attempts in the final two minutes. Tracey Bershers added 14 points in the win. “Give Bryant credit, they came to play and they shot the ball well; we could have very easily lost the ballgame,” Smith said. “But Jersey stepped up and hit some big free throws, Tracey Bershers stepped out and hit a huge, deep 3 that maybe was the back-breaker. “But it was a good win, and there will be a lot of teams that will struggle at Bryant this year; they will surprise some people at Bryant.” The Lady Bears (13-0, 1-0) travel to Little Rock Central on Tuesday. Central lost to North Little Rock last week in its conference opener.

NHS BOYS GET REVENGE IN CONFERENCE OPENER

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 1/8/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Fort Smith Northside High School Athletics