IN SHORT: The Panther boys and girls teams lost tough encounters at NLRHS.
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
Cabot visited North Little Rock on Tuesday in a pair of 7A-Central Conference matchups.The Lady Panthers needed a win over the Lady Wildcats for an outside chance of taking the conference title, but lost 85-78 in overtime. The boys game also went into extra minutes, with a late three pointer from sophomore Adam Sterrenberg.
The Lady Wildcats remained unbeaten in 7A-Central play by beating the Lady Panthers. Senior Jamie Sterrenberg tied the game with just over three seconds remaining in regulation with a pair of free throws, but North Little Rock pulled away in the final minute of the overtime period to sweep the Lady Panthers for the season.
Junior forward Lauren Walker led the Lady Panthers with 21 points. Sterrenberg added 20 points for Cabot, and Leah Watts finished with 14 points.
Senior Maddie Helms rounded out double-digit scorers for Cabot with 10. For North Little Rock, Shey Scott led with 31 points. The loss moves Cabot’s record to 17-5 overall and 7-3 in the 7A-Central Conference. The Lady Wildcats are now 21-1 and 9-0.
Cabot got a three pointer from Adam Sterrenberg to tie the game at the end of regulation. Sterrenberg missed his first attempt, but the Panthers were able to get the rebound and kick it back out to the long-distance ace for a second try. This time, it would fall and the two teams would have four more minutes to settle it.
Despite the loss, Cabot fought through a tremendous amount of adversity to even stay close in the contest.
Starting guard Jacob Trammel suffered an injury over the weekend, and sophomore forward Austin Johnson sprained his ankle early in the NLR game.
Playing without two of their leading players in the game, Panthers coach Jerry Bridges says the play he got off the bench was phenomenal.
“I had to use every player on that bench,” Bridges said. “They all stepped up when they needed to, it was a complete team effort. I’m excited about the next four games. We still have a shot at getting that sixth seed. We’re not in this for moral victories, but I think the way we played on Tuesday is something that we can build on here in the final weeks.”
Sterrenberg led in scoring for the game with 23 points. Alex Sharp added 10 points and 12 rebounds for one of the best efforts on the boards this season for Cabot. Justin Haas was looking good from the outside with a pair of three-point baskets before his early departure in the third quarter. Haas fouled out of the game early, as part of North Little Rock’s 36 trips to the free-throw line, compared to only 12 for Cabot.
“I didn’t necessarily agree with the call, but that’s part of it,” Bridges said. “A lot of times on the road, you don’t get that many calls, but I thought we played well despite of that. You have to find ways to overcome things like that, and we almost did.”
Cabot now has a record of 9-14 overall and 2-8 in the 7A-Central Conference. Cabot hosted Little Rock Central last night after Leader deadlines, and will travel to Bryant on Tuesday.
