In the opening quarter of Thursday’s game, the Northside Lady Bears couldn’t miss a shot.

The next two quarters, they struggled to connect from the field as Greenwood made a charge. But Northside regained its footing in the fourth quarter, and the Lady Bears eventually stayed undefeated on the season with a 52-40 win at Kaundart-Grizzly Fieldhouse.

“We came out in the first period and probably played as well as we have played all year,” Northside coach Rickey Smith said. “And then you get a little bit lackadaisical and you quit being attacking, and just the momentum changed that second and third period.

“We did some things we absolutely shouldn’t have done, but luckily, we’ll take (the win). ... Give Greenwood credit; they’re a very quick, very aggressive, very physical team and they were state runner-up and all of them are back. They’re good.”

Northside (8-0) led from the start, as the Lady Bears built an early 14-6 lead. The Lady Bears then scored 23 points in the first quarter by making 9-of-10 attempts from the field, including all four from 3-point range.

Over the next two quarters, though, Northside — which led by as many as 17 points midway through the second quarter — scored a combined 13 points. The Lady Bears made just one field goal in the third quarter, and that came inside the final minute.

In that same span meanwhile, Greenwood (7-2) was able to get within seven, 36-29, entering the fourth quarter. Then with less than four minutes remaining, the Lady Bulldogs made it a six-point game, when Kyiah Julian’s 3 cut the Lady Bears’ advantage to 43-37.

Northside then turned the ball over, one of 19 Lady Bear turnovers on the night, and Greenwood was poised to make things even more interesting. But the Lady Bears got a stop on defense.

On the other end, Sara Bershers fed Tiya Douglas for a basket. Then after Bershers grabbed a defensive rebound, Douglas drew a foul with 2:15 left and went to the line, making both free throws to give Northside some breathing room, up 47-37.

Douglas, a senior forward, finished with 17 points, eight of those coming in the fourth quarter.

“Tiya’s getting better every game,” Smith said. “She played really well at Bentonville last Friday and we’re finally getting some scoring around the basket.

“We got a little bit tired and we didn’t continue to attack (the Lady Bulldogs’) trap, and we started playing not to lose rather than trying to win. They hit some shots and we got cold and missed some shots that we normally would hit. ... But at the end of the day, we won and won by double digits against a really, really good team.”

Bershers led all scorers with 18 points, including making four free throws inside the final two minutes. Jersey Wolfenbarger added 14 points, 11 of those coming in the first quarter, and Wolfenbarger also hit three 3s.

Greenwood got 11 points from Julian and 10 from Kinley Fisher, with both of those players connecting on two 3s apiece.

Northside will travel to Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday to take part in the Pink and White Classic. The Lady Bears are the top seed in the White bracket, and will play a first-round game at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Springfield Catholic.

Greenwood goes to Sapulpa, Okla., for the Sapulpa Holiday Classic Dec. 27-29. The Lady Bulldogs’ first-round game is at 5 p.m. on Dec. 27 against Tulsa Washington.
