By Rob Patrick
MORRILTON — The Bryant Blue Lady Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School forced 26 turnovers and held the Morrilton Lady Devil Pups eighth grade team to just 7 points on three field goals and a free throw on Monday night.
The result was a 26-7 win in their 2010-11 season debut.
The Bryant Blue team includes Annamarie Blair, Isabella Bluemmel, Julie Brazil, Nikki Clay, Haley Dellis, Brittany Kelley, Mercedes Dillard, Yessenia Gasper, Katelyn Giffin, Emily Henson, Allison Hughes, Jamie Jamison, Rylee Phillips, Saide Powers, and Dominque West. Rhonda Hall is the head coach with assistance from Melissa Bragg.[more]
Point guard Nikki Clay scored all 12 of her points in the first half to help the Lady Hornets build a 14-2 lead. Yessinia Gasper added 4 points including the other 2 in the first half on a baseline jumper off an inside-out feed from Rylee Phillips.
Phillips had a game-high 11 rebounds.
Morrilton was unable to score in the first quarter which ended with Bryant up 6-0. After the first Lady Pup hoop, Clay scored the next 8 points including a layup off another nice feed from Phillips at the end of the half.
The Lady Pups scored to start the third quarter but Phillips followed her own miss and Isabella Bluemmel canned a 12-footer to push the margin to 18-4.
After Morrilton added a free throw, Gasper drilled a short jumper in the final minute of the period to make it 20-5 going into the fourth.
Haley Dellis opened the scoring in the final period with a free throw. Sadie Powers knocked down a jumper and, after a free throw by Allison Hughes, Dominique West scored off the offensive glass to make it 26-5.
Morrilton managed a bucket in the final minute to set the score at 26-7.
The Lady Hornets return to action on Thursday at Hot Springs Lakeside.
