By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers made it four straight and picked up ground on first-place North Little Rock with a 54-47 win at Catholic on Friday night.
Adam Sterrenberg followed up back-to-back 29-point performances with 23 more against the Rockets as the Panthers improved to 16-5 overall, 6-2 in the 7A-Central.
“It was a good win to get on the road,” said Cabot head coach Jerry Bridges. “It gets us a step closer (to a state tournament seed).”
The Panthers were coming off come-from-behind home wins against Russellville and Conway after trailing by nine points in the second half of both games.
“I’m proud of the way they kept competing when they had every reason to give up,” Bridges said of his team’s two dramatic victories. “You have to take care of the home court. We’ve got four left on the road so we did our job as far as holding serve.”
The win, coupled with Conway’s victory over North Little Rock, drew the Panthers and the Wampus Cats to within a half-game of the Charging Wildcats. Cabot, which beat North Little Rock by 20 points in January, played the Wildcats last night in a game after Leader deadlines.
Cabot was never threatened by Catholic and led by 15 at the half and at the end of three. Though Sterrenberg accounted for nearly 40 percent of the Panthers’ points on Friday, Cabot got good effort up and down the lineup. Austin Johnson scored 10 points and Miles Monroe added 11.
Jack Bridges dished out six assists and claimed six rebounds, while Gary Clark helped to shut down Catholic big man Michael Drake in the first half.
“Everybody is doing their jobs,” Bridges said. “I thought we played well, start to finish. Overall, I was pleased with our defense.”
CABOT GIRLS 63,
MOUNT ST. MARY 46
Stephanie Glover was nearly perfect in Cabot’s third consecutive win. The senior post player went inside to make 12 of 13 shots on her way to 25 points.
“They played a 1-3-1 zone on us and that gave us an opportunity to run the double post with Sarah Moore inside,” said Cabot assistant coach Charles Ruple. “And we got exceptional outside shooting.”
Amber Rock hit three three-pointers and scored 13 points, while Jenna Bailey added 11.
While UALR signee Shelby Ashcraft was held to one point, her presence opened up things for Moore and Glover.
“(Mount St. Mary) put a lot of emphasis on her and that opened it up for Rachel,” Ruple said. “Shelby did a good job of rebounding and assists.”
Ruple also said Amalie Benjamin and Lindsay Hoggatt played exceptionally well off the bench.
The Lady Panthers (16-5 overall) improved to 6-2 in the 7A-Central, two-and-half games behind 9-0 North Little Rock. Cabot took on the Lady Wildcats last night in a game played after Leader deadlines. It is one-and-a-half games in back of Bryant (8-1).
