By FRED CONLEY
Special to The Leader
In all phases of Tuesday night’s 5A-East Conference game against the Forrest City Lady Mustangs, Beebe was just better.
The Lady Badgers were quicker, faster, better ball handlers and better decision-makers in their 67-52 win over the Lady Mustangs played on Bill Baxter Court at Mustang Arena.
Shredding Forrest City’s full-court press, the Lady Badgers made it look easy early by consistently beating Forrest City’s press for easy layups and hitting from long range when needed. Beebe led 14-6 after one period, 39-25 at the half and 52-39 to start the fourth period.
Beebe improves to 3-1 in the East and remains in a three-way tie for second with Greene County Tech and Nettleton. Forrest City slips to 1-3 in the conference and into a tie with Blytheville in the standings.
The Lady Mustangs trailed by just two points early in the first period, which would be the closest they would get for the entire game.
Back-to-back threes by Mollie Laws early in the third period kept the Lady Mustangs within striking distance before Beebe used a three from Kalela Miller, two free throws and a putback basket by Gracie Anders to push their lead to 50-32 at the two minute mark.
The Lady Mustangs answered with a 7 to 2 run to end the period which included two baskets by JaBrisha Hawkins and a field goal and free throw by Dominique Dillard.
Beebe pushed their advantage to 59-42 in the fourth and 61-46 at the five minute mark. The Lady Mustangs cut Beebe’s lead to 11 at 61-50 on two free throws by Sherelle McGowan with just over three minutes left in the game, but got no closer.
Hawkins finished with 12 points to lead the Lady Mustangs, while McGowan added 10 points. Jakayla Burke added nine points, while Deja Collins helped with eight and Laws and Dillard each finished with six.
From the foul line, the Lady Mustangs dropped in 12 of their 26 free throw chances.
Miller led Beebe with 21 points and helped put the game away in the fourth by hitting four of five free throws. Anders added 16 points, while Ashlyn Johnson helped with nine points and Madison Richey finished with six.
From here, the Lady Badgers will play at Greene County Tech on Friday.
Paragould defeated Greene County Tech 64-59 Tuesday to stayed unbeaten in the conference at 4-0.
Forrest City and Beebe will play a final conference game on Feb. 18.
Beebe moves into the 5A-Central conference next season while Valley View moves up from Class 4A to take their place in the East.
