NHS BOYS SEEK TO FINISH STRONG IN FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON

Northside’s Grizzlies let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers last Friday with a tough overtime loss to North Little Rock. That game, won by the Charging Wildcats 65-64 in overtime, was one where Northside seemed to be in control all night. The Grizzlies led at halftime and were up by seven entering the final quarter, as well as having a six-point lead near the three-minute mark of regulation. “I thought our kids did really good, they played hard, but we’ve just got to finish ballgames,” Northside coach Eric Burnett said. “It was an opportunity for us to finish a big ballgame and get us some added momentum coming down the stretch, but we weren’t able to finish the game and they made plays when they had to.” Despite the loss, Burnett is still confident that the Grizzlies can play with anyone in the 6A-Central, having already beaten two of the top teams in the conference in Bryant and Conway. “We had Conway and North Little Rock that beat us the first round (of conference play) and this past week, we were able to win one (beating Conway by a point at home) and then got beat by one,” he said. “So to me, the kids should understand that we can play with anybody in our conference. ... They know that we can play with everybody; it’s just a matter of getting it in their heads to finish out the ballgame.” The NLR loss also diminished any hopes Northside had of getting the No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye at next week’s 6A State Tournament. Currently, the Grizzlies (16-10, 7-5) stand in fourth place two games back of NLR and Conway for second place, and the Charging Wildcats owning the tiebreaker against Northside by virtue of sweeping the head-to-head series. Northside is also up by two games in fourth place over Cabot (17-7, 5-7), the team which comes to Kaundart-Grizzly Fieldhouse on Tuesday for the Grizzlies’ Senior Night game. “It’s going to be another good game, especially with our seniors playing their last game here at Northside,” Burnett said. “They’ve worked really hard over the last three years and it’s coming to a close and I’m just hoping that we come out and take care of business and to have all the seniors having a great game.” Lady Bears The perfect season is no more. But the Northside Lady Bears still have plenty of goals left on the table as they return to the court Tuesday for Senior Night at Kaundart-Grizzly Fieldhouse against Cabot. Last Friday at North Little Rock, the Lady Bears’ 23-game win streak to begin the season was snapped when NLR pulled out a 70-64 win in overtime. Northside (23-1, 11-1) still remains in sole possession of first place in the conference by one game ahead of Conway, and the Lady Bears own the tiebreaker against the Lady Wampus Cats due to Northside sweeping Conway in the home-and-home series. The Lady Bears need to win just one game this week, either Tuesday or Friday against Southside at UAFS, to wrap up the No. 1 playoff seed from the conference for next week’s 6A State Tournament at Bentonville West. Northside’s opponent in its home finale Tuesday, Cabot (14-9, 5-7), comes into the game currently in fifth place in the conference.

NHS BOYS SEEK TO FINISH STRONG IN FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 2/19/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford