Report by Blake Smith
The Melbourne Lady Bearkatz played the second of a back-to-back road trip in the river valley Tuesday night, as they went to Fort Smith to take on Class 6A’s number one team, the Fort Smith Northside Lady Bears.
The Lady Bearkatz were unafraid of the nationally-ranked Lady Bears, in spite of the difference in school size.
The Lady Katz got off to a quick start, leading 12–9 after one-quarter of play.
Foul trouble began to hit Melbourne hard in the second quarter, as two starters had two or more fouls early in the period.
A last-second shot by Jenna Lawrence gave Melbourne a 25–24 lead going into halftime, and the Lady Bearkatz look to withstand the inevitable run of Northside.
That run came in the form of University of Arkansas signee Jersey Wolfenbarger, the state’s number one high school prospect.
But, the Lady Bearkatz held her in check for most of the game.
A controversial fifth foul removed Kenley McCarn from the game within the first minute of the fourth quarter, but the Lady Katz were not to be stopped, as to clutch three-pointers by Kiley Webb proved to be the difference, as Melbourne took the win 56–48.
The Lady Bearkatz improve to 5-1 on the season.
