By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Sylvan Hills Lady Bears kept themselves in the postseason hunt with a 56-23 victory over North Pulaski at Sylvan Hills on Tuesday.
The victory put Sylvan Hills in a tie with Mills for third place in the 5A-Southeast Conference.
Senior forward Ashley Johnson led the Lady Bears (10-9, 5-3) with a game-high 23 points and sat out most of the fourth quarter as reserves played out a large portion of the second half.
North Pulaski (1-15) kept itself in the game through the first quarter before giving up 18 straight points. In that time, the Lady Bears went from an 8-7 deficit with 3:34 left in the first quarter to a solid, 25-8 lead with 2:46 left in the half.
“I thought we did well,” Lady Bears coach Bee Rodden said. “In the first quarter, I was not pleased, but then we got fired up and got into the flow of the game. We got a chance to play everybody, and that was something we wanted to do.
“It was okay, especially since we haven’t had many practices here lately because of all the weather. If you don’t know what to do by now, it’s too late.”
Johnson showed no signs of rust as she lit up the Falcons defense throughout the second and third quarters. She outscored North Pulaski 23-12 at one point before sitting down with two minutes left in the third.
Johnson made two free throws with 3:15 left in the first quarter to give the Lady Bears the lead for good and ended her game in style with two three-pointers, the last giving Sylvan Hills a 37-12 lead with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
“She shot really well,” Rodden said. “She’s struggled some as far as on the perimeter, but she shot it about as well as I’ve seen her. With Ashley, she’s worked so hard and so long to shoot those good outside jumpers.
“I hope it holds up, we’re definitely going to need her here these next couple of weeks.”
The close conference race and uncooperative weather has Rodden, retiring at the end of the season, crunching numbers in the twilight of her career.
“I’d like to have more benefit of depth on the bench,” Rodden said.
“We’re looking at something like three games in four days when this all goes away, and that’s a lot for them. We’re going to need anyone who can help us.”
Guard Kashima Wright added 11 points for the Lady Bears while Valicia Jarrett scored 10.
Johnson also had eight rebounds and five steals while senior post player Ashley Easom had six rebounds.
Erica Beck led the Lady Falcons with seven points while Sydney Beck and Shayla Evans each had six. Evans also had six rebounds.
For her efforts on Tuesday, Johnson won the KATV Channel 7 Fullcourt Award this week.
The boys and girls home games with White Hall were snowed out Friday and school officials were considering Feb. 21 or 25 as the makeup dates.
