Leader sportswriter
The Beebe Lady Badgers avenged their first 5A-East Conference loss with a 61-50 victory over the Blytheville Lady Chickasaws at Badger Sports Arena Saturday.
The Lady Chicks (6-12, 2-6) looked strong early and built a 9-2 lead, but once the Lady Badgers caught up at the end of the first quarter, they controlled things the rest of the way.
Beebe (7-13, 2-5) benefited from Blytheville’s lack of depth and slowly pulled away in the second half.
Guard Sharmaine Selvy scored half of the Lady Chicks’ points, but Beebe limited post player Andrea Robinson to just four points in the second half. Robinson finished with 12.
Beebe guard Jamie Jackson took control in the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run that gave the Lady Badgers a 55-40 lead with 4:47 left to play.
Alisha Shane and Selvy tried to cut the margin. Selvy completed a three-point play that made it 55-45, but Beebe stayed in front with continued tough inside play from Jackson, who led the Lady Badgers with 33 points.
Kaci Simpson made a basket to give the Lady Badgers the 18-17 lead to start the second quarter. Shaylyn Young hit a turnaround jumper that extended the lead to three with 5:53 left in the half.
