AMITY, Ark. – Ashdown’s girls persevered Saturday night after blowing an early 13-point lead to beat Fouke in overtime at the 3A-7 District Basketball Tournament, 59-52.
The win was Ashdown’s second straight over Fouke (24-6), which had beaten the Little River County team twice earlier this season. The key for Ashdown was its defensive play and late free throw shooting.
“I’m really proud of the girls, they came out with a lot of intensity,” said winning coach Beau Tillery. “It was ironic that we let them back in the game by missing six free throws in the third quarter. Kenya Wilson made some big free throws there at the end.”
It was Wilson driving the length of the court after a missed free throw for the tying bucket with two seconds left in regulation. She scored 10 of Ashdown’s 12 points in overtime, finishing with 21 points. Teammate Alysia Thompson led all scorers with 27 points.
Thompson poured in 13 of those points in the first half.
Fouke goes 11 minutes without a field goal
Fouke led 13-11 after the first quarter, but couldn’t buy a field goal the next 11 minutes. The Miller County Lady Panthers scored three free throws in the second quarter, allowing Ashdown to take a 24-16 lead at intermission.
Ashdown’s lead was 29-16 when Mallory Oliver buried a 3-pointer to ignite a Fouke rally with five minutes left in the third quarter. Ten seconds into the fourth quarter Fouke captured the lead on a 3-pointer by Taylor Hardin.
Fouke finished the game with six treys, but shot less than 20 percent from outside in the contest. Ashdown’s defense had more to do with that than anything.
Laykin Smallwood led Fouke’s offense with 19 points, including two 3-pointers. Oliver finished with 17 points, all in the second half and extra period.
Both teams advance to next week’s regional tournament in Prescott.
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