Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Balanced Scoring Attack Dooms Scarpperettes

Nashville found out what 14 other teams had already learned -- Prescott's Wolverettes are tough.

The Scrapperettes learned this lesson Friday and Saturday as the Wolverettes swept a double-header from Nashville in the home-and- home conference contests.

Friday night, the Wolverettes hammered Nashville 63-37 in Prescott, on their way to what appears to be a 20-win season.

Wolverette Coach Cecily Butler said her girls were pumped for the pumpkinheads and more than ready to play.

This was evidenced by the balanced scoring attack and patient offense the Wolverettes displayed in the contest.

In fact, a scout for the University of Central Arkansas was in the stands watching Prescott's Gladies Gulley. While Gulley only scored 10 points in the outing, the scout saw her pull down nine boards and dish out nine assists while stealing the ball twice.

The Wolverettes opened the game by jumping all over Nashville 18-3 in the first period. The second period wasn't any better for the visitors as Prescott added 18 to its tally to make the halftime score 36-15.

Butler's brawlers slowed the pace somewhat in the second half, though never allowing the pumpkinheads to get in the game. At the end of three, Prescott led 51-26.

The Wolverettes converted six of 16 free throws, while the Scrapperettes were a pathetic two of eight at the stripe.

Laura Culpepper paced Prescott with 16 points, three assists, 10 boards and six steals. Leslie Hines nailed three from downtown as she scored 15. Stacy Stockton added 13 points, seven boards and three steals to her stats as well. Jessica Hildebrand scored six; Mandy Cox had two; and Jennifer Adams had one.

Nikki Ray led Nashville with 13, including a perfect three-for-three from three-point land.

"The girls were pumped," Butler said. "They executed well, worked the ball and were patient."

PRESCOTT 44

NASHVILLE 28

Game two was no better for Nashville, even though it was played on their home court.

Butler's brigade slowed the pace down, something the pumpkinheads didn't expect, and posted a 44-28 win.

Butler said it's nice to score in the 60's, but she'll take scores in the 20's if her team wins.

Nashville was able to stay with Prescott better in the opening eight minutes of game two, but still trailed 12-8 at the end of one.

The second quarter saw the Wolverette offensive assault come to the forefront as Prescott took a 25-10 lead to the lockers at the break.

Both squads played evenly for the remainder of the game.

The Wolverettes improved slightly from the charity stripe, hitting seven of 16, while Nashville's free throw shooting was still pitiful at two for eight.

Gulley led Prescott with 14 points, nine rebounds and a trio of assists. Culpepper ripped the cords for 13 points and nine boards, while Stockton chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Hines nailed another three in the game. Hildebrand recorded three steals and Amber Arney had two assists.

"We were a little flat," Butler said. "We got off to a slower start, but the girls knew they were in control and were relaxed."

She said Nashville expected the Wolverettes to play a fast-paced game for the entire 32 minutes, but Prescott surprised them by coming out in a half-court defense in the second half.

PRESCOTT 43

LAKESIDE 55

For only the third time this season, the Wolverettes fell to a team.

On January 14, Prescott's senior girls lost to Hot Springs Lakeside, making the Lady Rams the only squad to beat the Wolverettes twice.

After beating arch-rival Gurdon in the finals of the Southwest Arkansas Senior Invitational Tournament in Saratoga Jan. 11, the Wolverettes may have been flat for their date with the Lady Rams.

In fact, Prescott never led in the contest, as the Wolverettes found themselves trailing 19-3 early in the game, fighting back to make the score 23-9 at the end of one.

Butler's crew rallied in the second period to cut the lead to two at the half at 27-25, and were able to tie the game at the end of three.

However, the Wolverettes simply didn't have what they needed to keep Lakeside from jumping on them early in the fourth to post the win.

The Wolverettes were three of five from the free throw line, while Lakeside was four of 16.

Gulley led Prescott with 16, while Stockton netted 14. Hines and Culpepper each hit a three-pointer, while Culpepper and Gulley each had eight boards. Hildebrand dished out four assists.

Tonya Cenac led all scorers with 21, while Mikka Mooney followed with 20 for Lakeside.

Butler said the Wolverettes just didn't execute during the game. She said there was no ball rotation as the girls would take shots instead of passing off to a more open player.

CUBETTES 38

BLEVINS 30

Prescott's Cubette basketball team handled Blevins 38-30 in a game played Thursday, Jan. 16.

The layoff from Christmas may have affected the Cubettes as Bulter said they didn't play as well as they can in any phase of the game.

The Cubettes opened with a 12-4 lead, and held a 19-11 halftime advantage. They pulled away somewhat in the third, leading 29-19.

Traci Graham paced Prescott with 17, while Jeanie Haynie added 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

Martin led Blevins with seven.

Prescott was 16 of 27 from the line, while the Lady Hornets were three of six.

CUBETTES 45

NASHVILLE 29

Nashville's girls teams found out Prescott plays for keeps when taking to the hardwood.

The Cubettes pounded the junior pumpkinheads 45-29 in a game which showed how well the Prescott junior team can play.

The Cubettes opened with a 15-10 first quarter lead, only to see Nashville take control in the second period to go in at the half ahead 22-19.

Butler talked to her crew about how the game was played during the break, with her charges responding and only allowing Nashville to score seven points for the rest of the contest.

Haynie stepped up offensively to score 26 points, while Graham netted a dozen herself, including two treys and nine assists.

Haynie also recorded a dozen rebounds and three steals as she connected on 12 of 15 shots from the field.

Laura Beth Williams had four steals, while Donishia Williamson had three steals and hit a three-pointer.

McGhee led Nashville with 10 points.

The Cubettes were two of six from the stripe, while Nashville converted three of five free throws.