By: Jason Peake
Featuring several newcomers in key roles, Webb City only trailed by four with 1:30 to play, but the Cardinals were unable to overcome the deficit.
Webb City coach Lance Robbins said he was pleased with his team's performance.
"It was our first game of the season, and I thought we looked a little nervous at the start of the game," Robbins said. "Bentonville is always a solid, well-coached basketball team. We knew they'd had three or four games under their belt, so we just wanted to see where we were at. It was fun to play against somebody. I thought our girls did a great job. We have a lot of new faces out there. I thought everybody stepped up and played to their strengths. We saw a lot of positive things that we can build on."
Bentonville closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 15-7 advantage.
In the second period, Webb City received a trey from senior Malorie Stanley and a bucket from junior Kirra Long to stay within striking distance. But Cambrie Phillips and Anna Lee-Kulka both drilled 3-pointers for the Tigers, who held a 27-16 advantage at the break.
The Cardinals began the second half on a spirited and game-changing 11-0 surge, as senior guard Mia Robbins swished back-to-back 3-pointers and freshman forward Addie Burns contributed five points to tie the game at 27-all.
Overall, Webb City outscored Bentonville 23-13 in the third period, as Stanley's buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the left wing trimmed her team's deficit to one, 40-39, entering the final frame.
"At halftime, we talked about just coming out more relaxed," Coach Robbins said. "I thought we did that in the third quarter. We played with more confidence, we saw some shots go down and we used that energy to fuel us for the rest of the half."
The Cardinals hung tough until the end but couldn't get over the hump late in the contest.
Clinging to a one-point cushion, the Tigers finished the game on a 12-5 surge.
Mia Robbins led Webb City with 14 points, 12 coming on four 3-pointers. Stanley also reached double figures with 11 points. She hit a pair of treys.
"Our seniors did a good job," Coach Robbins said. "They weren't called on to score as much the last couple of years, but we need them to score more for us this year. They both did a good job of that."
Burns contributed nine points for the Cardinals and Long had five.
"Kirra did a good job tonight of distributing the ball," Coach Robbins noted.
In addition to Burns, three other freshmen contributed nicely for Webb City, as Adalyn Maxwell and Whitlee Keith scored three points apiece and classmate Abby Sargent had two.
Lee-Kulka scored a game-high 26 points for the Tigers and Sadie Steele added 19.
The Cardinals will meet Sunrise Christian in the consolation semifinals at 4 p.m. on Friday.