LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL STIFLES, TOPS HAR-BER

LR Central 56, Springdale Har-Ber 35 Erynn Barnum and the Little Rock Central Lady Tigers put the clamps on Springdale Har-Ber on Wednesday afternoon. Barnum, a 6-2 senior center, scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in leading Central to a 56-35 victory over the Lady Wildcats in the opening round of the Class 7A girls state tournament at the North Little Rock High School Arena. Central (17-9) scored the game's first 13 points and led 21-7 at the half. Har-Ber (13-15) missed its first 10 field-goal attempts, its first 3 three-point attempts and its first five free throws. The Lady Wildcats did not score until senior Maci Mains hit a short jumper with 6:06 remaining in the second quarter. "I told the girls we have to get out quick on Har-Ber because their two shooters -- Mains and [Savanna] Collins -- can shoot it deep," Central Coach Michael Green said. "If those two could get it going it would be a long night for us. We focused on taking care of them and getting out to a good start. It worked in our favor." Central advances to play top-ranked Fayetteville in today's quarterfinals. Barnum scored 12 of her points in the first half and was 16 of 20 from the free-throw line, including a 10-of-12 effort in the second half. Freshman Lauryn Pendleton scored 8 of her 13 points in the second half, and she finished with a game-high 13 rebounds. "I ask her to get us 5 or 6 rebounds a game," Green said. "She got 13 tonight. That's just gravy." Back-to-back baskets from freshman Elyse Smith in the final minute of the third quarter helped Central take a 36-17 lead into the final quarter. Central finished 16 of 45 from the floor and 21 of 26 from the line. Har-Ber hit only 3 of its first 20 field-goal attempts and finished 13 of 48. Collins led Har-Ber with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Mains added eight points and handed out three assists.

Little Rock School District Athletics

LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL STIFLES, TOPS HAR-BER

Photo Credit: Staton Breidenthal