by Eddie Duerr
The Ozark High School girls and boys basketball teams both fell one game short of a district title but qualified to compete this week in the 4A-1 Regional Tournament at Prairie Grove this week.
Girls
The Lady Hillbillies faced Mena in the first round of the 4A-4 District Tournament in Dardanelle on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with a trip to regionals going to the winner of the contest.
Ozark owned a two-point halftime lead and pulled away in the second half to win 51-37 over the Lady Bearcats. Sydnie Herriage had a big game, going for 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the win. Brooklyn Akers scored nine points with seven rebounds, and Livie Clauson had six points and five rebounds.
The second-round game in the tournament on Thursday, Feb. 19, started with a bad break for the Lady Hillbillies as they lost senior leader Sydnie Herriage in the first quarter to a knee injury that will most likely keep her out the rest of the postseason.
The ladies found themselves down 10 at the half and could not overcome Pottsville as the Lady Apaches took a 38-24 win. Akers led Ozark with 13 points in the loss.
The Lady Hillbillies will take on Shiloh Christian in regional play at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Prairie Grove.
Boys
The Hillbillies had a bye in the first round of the district tournament and took on a tough Dardanelle team in the semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Ozark held a four-point halftime lead, but Dardanelle forced overtime at 48-48. The Sand Lizards pulled out a 53-52 win in the extra period.
Cooper Duerr led Ozark with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Lawson Wright added 16 points, two rebounds and one assist.
The Ozark boys will take on Berryville in regional play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at Prairie Grove.
Read this story and others in the Feb. 25 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.
