News-Times Staff
El Dorado held off a fourth-quarter surge and knocked off Hot Springs Lakeside 47-40 in varsity girls basketball action Friday at Wildcat Arena.
The Wildcats later completed a sweep in Class 5A-6A District 6 play by topping the Rams 66-56.
The Lady Wildcats improved to 10-11 on the season.
Kierra Boone led El Dorado with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
"This win was huge for us because Lakeside is a good team. They run their offense well," said coach Destinee Rogers. "We really had to sit down and defend against them and we did a good job against their motion offense."
El Dorado led by nine in the fourth but the Lady Rams cut the deficit to three.
Grace Murry and Tasia Richardson hit free throws down the stretch to help pull out the win.
"I'm really proud of Kierra. She did a good job on the block," said Rogers.
"Grace Murry, her points don't show it, but she singlehandedly tore down their 1-3-1 defense. That was a huge factor in us winning."
Richardson finished with eight points. Murry scored seven with five assists.
Jessica Morton added seven points and eight rebounds.
The Wildcats (11-12, 8-5) used a strong second quarter to take control of their contest.
With the game tied at 12-all after the first quarter, the Wildcats jumped out to a 28-16 lead at intermission.
El Dorado led 42-31 after three periods before winning by the final margin.
Balanced scoring was critical to the Wildcats' success, as four players finished in double figures.
Brendan Simmons had 17 points and five rebounds to lead the Wildcats.
B.J. Johnson had 15 points along with three steals and three assists, while Joderrio Ramey had 13 points and seven assists.
Bishop Foster chipped in with 12 points and four assists.
Keshun Greene rounded out El Dorado with six points and eight rebounds.