By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Lady Panthers won their fourth-straight game since a season opening loss last Tuesday, beating Russellville 44-28 at Panther Arena.
Cabot led the entire game, but could not pull away in the first half despite taking leads of six and seven points numerous times. The big run came in the third quarter when Cabot turned a five-point halftime lead into a 20-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
It took two minutes for either team to score in the third period, and it was the Lady Cyclones that struck first. A basket by Anna Myers made it 18-15, but Cabot went on a tear at that point, finishing the quarter on a 20-3 run, including 17-straight.
The run began with two free throws by Camryn Harmon. A minute later, VanOss scored and Sobczak benefited from a Russellville turnover to quickly make the score 24-15.
After a defensive stop, Allen made a 3-pointer for a 27-15 lead that forced another Russellville timeout.
Russellville missed two free throws out of the break, and VanOss hit a 3-pointer for a 30-15 Cabot advantage. Another Allen trey later made it 33-15, and a 2-pointer byAllen put Cabot up by 20 with about a minute left in the period.
Lady Cyclone Zee Shields finally ended the streak with her own 3-pointer, but Cabot got one free throw from Chloe Thompson, and a 2-point basket by Roberts to put the Lady Panthers up 38-18 heading into the fourth quarter.
The run didn’t stop there; Cabot also scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, making it a 24-3 run over a 10-minute stretch of play.
The Lady Cyclones finished the game with a 10-2 run against mostly Cabot junior varsity players to set the final margin.
Cabot appeared on the verge of breaking the game open on a couple of occasions in the first half, including right away.
The Lady Panthers got baskets from Holly Allen, Josie VanOss and Kenzie Wagner in the first 90 seconds to take a 6-0 lead, and never trailed.
Scoring tapered off after a Russellville timeout, and the Lady Cyclones pulled to within 8-6 with less than a minute left in the quarter.
Moments later. Cabot’s Maggie Bush completed a three-point play to send the Lady Panthers into the second quarter with an 11-6 lead.
Russellville started the second period with a 3-pointer by Kasey Heath, but Allen answered right back for Cabot to put the home team back up by five. Lesley Roberts then gave Cabot its largest lead up to that point. Her 2-point field goal from close range made it 16-9 early in the period.
Another timeout made for another brief scoring drought by Cabot as Russellville scored four-straight points to get to within three with seconds left in the half. Cabot center Haley Sobczak then scored the final basket of the half to make it 18-13 going into the locker room.
Allen was the only player in double figures. She finished with 13 points. VanOss added nine points and six rebounds.
The Cabot ladies will travel to Springdale to face the Lady Bulldogs on Friday, before beginning play in their own Pre-Holiday Tournament that starts next Tuesday.
