Gentry sweeps Tip-Off Classic Teams start Classic with wins
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
GENTRY ó Gentry girlsí basketball coach Tim Rippy knew the best thing for his young club would be a victory to start the season and the Lady Pioneers got a big one last Tuesday.
Gentry beat Mountainburg 58-20 in their first game at the Pioneer Tip-Off Classic.
The Lady Pioneers (1-0 ) advanced to play Elkins in Thursdayís semifinal.
The Lady Pioneers ó with just one returning starter ó never trailed after the middle of the first quarter and Loren Cripps triggered the mercy rule with back-to-back baskets late in the third quarter.
ì It was a game I felt like our club needed to get some confidence, î Rippy said.
Sophomore guard Courtney Millsap had 12 points and junior Kelsea Whitten added 11 to lead the Lady Pioneers (1-0 ).
Eight other players scored.
Whitten hit all three of her three-point attempts, her third giving Gentry a 16-4 lead to start the second quarter.
Millsap added back-to-back layups off Lady Dragon turnovers to push the lead to 22-4.
Mountainburg then scored a single free throw to end a 10-minute scoring drought.
The Lady Pioneersí defense contributed to the drought and forced 28 Mountainburg turnovers ó including 18 in the first half on the way to a 34-11 halftime lead.
Millsap had eight of her points in the third quarter. She put back her own miss and Kendra McCain then put back Millsapís missed free throw for a 47-15 lead with 2: 33 left.
Cripps started the running clock a minute later.
In the first game of the senior girlsí bracket, Lincoln downed Decatur 54-20. The Lady Wolves had three players in double digits, led by Rashelle Goldmanís 12 points on four three-pointers.
Lincoln advanced to play Charleston in Thursdayís first semifinal.
Kimmy Nelson and Jori Witcher each had seven for Decatur.
The Lady Bulldogs (0-1 ) played Mountainburg in Wednesdayís consolation game. Pioneers 64 Bulldogs 39
The Pioneers (1-0 ) jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first minute and never looked back in their season opener against Decatur
Gentry advanced to play Lincoln on Thursday in the semifinals of the five-team boys bracket.
Pioneers senior forward Keevan Allen had 29 points to lead the way.
Gentry had a 39-15 halftime lead but Decatur used an 11-0 run to get within 15 late in the third quarter.
Cameron Murray and Hunter Beal combined for all of the points on the run.
Murray led the Bulldogs (0-1 ) with 18 points and Beal added 11.
The Pioneers answered, however, with a 17-4 run that carried into the middle of the fourth quarter and buried the Bulldogs.
Junior guard Robbie White added 10 points for the Pioneers.
Elkins, a 39-30 winner against Mountainburg on Tuesday, advanced all the way to Saturdayís championship game.
Decatur played Mountainburg in Wednesdayís consolation game.
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