Rogers opens conference with fast start

The Rogers Lady Mountaineers opened 6A-West just about the best way possible on Tuesday night. Rogers hit six long-range baskets in the first quarter and jumped out to a big lead in a 56-38 win over Van Buren at Clair Bates Arena. Rogers (10-4, 1-0) scored 22 points in the first quarter behind a game-opening 3-pointer by Kate McConnell and a conventional three-point play by Kate Miller for a quick 6-0 lead. “It’s a real credit to our players for their level of focus,” Rogers head coach Preston Early said. “We have so much respect for Van Buren, and they’re so hard to play anywhere but especially here. I really stressed for two days that their attention be in the right place. We started the game the right way.” Rogers had three offensive rebounds on the opening possession that led to the 3-pointer and then the three-point play came off an offensive rebound. “Everything begins and ends with defense,” Early said. “We talked about setting a tone there. We had good energy in transition. Rebounding wars are always big on first possessions. We get three offensive rebounds and a kick-out three.” After freshman Bri Ball drove inside for a bucket for Van Buren, Rogers drilled four treys in a row with two by McConnell and two by Camiran Brockhoff. Taylor Treadwell added a fast-break layup and only her missed free throw after being fouled prevented a seventh three-point play by the Lady Mountaineers in the first quarter. “They came out and really hurt us on the offensive boards those first two possessions,” Van Buren head coach Chris Bryant said. “They shot it until they made it. You give a team that shoots the ball like that multiple opportunities and they’re going to make you pay.” The Lady Pointers (6-8, 0-1) answered with a 13-8 quarter to trim Rogers’ lead to 30-18 at the half. Van Buren closed the second quarter with a 8-0 flurry on Lexi Miller’s running jumper inside, and consecutive 3-pointers by Ball and Miller. The Lady Pointers continued to whittle away at their deficit in the new half. After London Hatch scored to open the third quarter for Rogers, Van Buren mounted another 8-0 run. “I appreciate the fight and our willingness to battle,” Bryant said. Brooklyn Kannady scored successive buckets, first on a drive and then on a steal and a layup. Emmalee Grebe added consecutive buckets as well, scoring inside and then hitting a pair of free throws to cut Rogers’ lead to 32-26 with 5:20 left in the quarter. “We look up in the third quarter, and it’s a six-point game,” Bryant said. “We spotted them a 20-point run to start the game. We’re capable. We just have to find a consistent quality of play. Specifically, we have to get our finger on how to get a better start.” Rogers, though, went on a 9-0 run and finished the third quarter with a 44-32 advantage. “Give credit to them, they weathered the storm,” Bryant said. “We had two really good runs on them to get back into contention.” McConnell scored 15 points to lead Rogers. Kate Miller added 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Ball and Kannady each scored nine points for Van Buren. ROGERS 54, VAN BUREN 45 BOYS – The Mountaineers remained undefeated for the season, opening 6A-West play with the road win. Rogers (12-0, 1-0) trailed just 5-4 and was tied at 7-7 and 9-9 before an 8-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Elliott Paschel, spurred the Mountaineers. Rogers led 17-12 after a quarter, 25-19 at the half and 35-27 after three quarters. Van Buren (5-7, 0-1) was within, 31-27, with 3:37 left in the third quarter following a running jumper by Gary Phillips and a slam by Maury Newton. Rogers scored the final four points of the quarter and led by 11 three different times in the fourth quarter. Drew Miller led Rogers with 17 points, including 12 in the opening quarter. Drew Hobbs added 12 points, and Will Liddell 10. Newton had 14 points to pace Van Buren.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Rogers High School Athletics

ROGERS OPENS CONFERENCE WITH FAST START

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 1/8/2020

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford