BENTON -- It became an all too familiar occurrence this season for the Siloam Springs girls basketball team.
Fall behind by double digits, come charging back and fall just short of rallying for a victory.
6A-West Conference Tournament
Feb. 18, 21, 25
GIRLS
February 18
Game 1: Lake Hamilton 74, Texarkana 21
Game 2: Russellville 48, Greenwood 39
Game 3: Sheridan 43, Siloam Springs 37
Game 4: El Dorado 47, Benton 44
February 21
Game 5: Greenwood 60, Texarkana 35
Game 6: Benton 41, Siloam Springs 40
Game 7: Lake Hamilton 34, Russellville 32
Game 8: Sheridan 57, El Dorado 34
February 25
Fifth place: Greenwood vs. Benton (n)
Third place: Russellville vs. El Dorado (n)
Championship: Lake Hamilton vs. Sheridan (n)
Siloam Springs girls basketball
2016-17 schedule
Date^Opponent^Time
Nov. 15^Bentonville West^W, 54-44
Nov. 18^at Mountain Home^L, 48-21
Nov. 21^Rogers Heritage^L, 54-45
Dec. 1^vs. Ozark (Mo.)#^L, 68-43
Dec. 2^vs. FS Southside#^L, 53-44
Dec. 3^vs. Alma#^L, 73-62
Dec. 6^vs. Inola (Okla.)%^W, 57-52 (OT)
Dec. 8^vs. Holland Hall (Okla.)%^L, 62-52
Dec. 10^vs. Pryor (Okla.)%^L, 49-40
Dec. 13^Rogers^L, 55-32
Dec. 16^at Tahlequah (Okla.) Sequoyah^L, 59-38
Dec. 28^vs. Coweta (Okla.)^W, 65-48
Dec. 29^vs. Springdale^L, 64-36
Dec. 30^vs. Claremore (Okla.)^W, 67-62 (OT)
Jan. 3^at Farmington*^L, 40-31
Jan. 6^Harrison*^L, 52-34
Jan. 10^at Clarksville*^L, 54-48
Jan. 13^Alma*^L, 49-46
Jan. 17^at Russellville*^L, 58-50
Jan. 20^Greenwood*^L, 45-40
Jan. 24^Providence Academy^W, 64-37
Jan. 27^Farmington*^L, 53-52
Jan. 31^at Harrison*^L, 50-34
Feb. 3^Clarksville*^L, 58-52
Feb. 7^at Alma*^L, 63-54
Feb. 10^Russellville*^L, 51-37
Feb. 14^at Greenwood*^L, 46-44 (OT)
Feb. 18^at Sheridan!^L, 43-37
Feb. 21^at Benton!^L, 41-40
* 6A/5A-1 Conference
# 2016 First National Bank of NWA Great 8 Girls Basketball Classic at Rogers
% Jerry Oquin Tournament in Inola, Okla.
$ Siloam Springs Holiday Classic
! 6A-West Conference Tournament
It happened one final time on Tuesday, and this time the shortfall ended the Lady Panthers' season.
The Lady Panthers trailed by as many as 15 points to Benton and stormed back to pull within one point in the final minute, but Siloam Springs was unable to get off a game-winning attempt as Benton held on for a 41-40 victory in an elimination game of the 6A-West Conference Tournament.
Siloam Springs' season ends with a record of 5-24, which included an 0-12 mark in 5A/6A District 1 play.
"I'm proud of our kids for continuing to fight," said Siloam Springs head coach Tim Rippy. "We played a lot of close games this year and gained a lot of valuable experience for the future. I hate that this team has to go through so many heartbreaking games, but I hope it continues to be a rewarding and positive experience in their lives. There is a lot to learn about life through the tool of athletics and I am proud of our team."
Fifteen of Siloam Springs' losses came by 10 points or less. The Lady Panthers had one senior on their roster, Sidney Henry and several sophomores and inexperienced juniors to start the year.
Against Benton on Tuesday, with the winner getting a berth to the Class 6A State Tournament, Siloam Springs fell behind 10-8 after the first quarter.
Benton outscored Siloam Springs 14-3 in the second quarter to take a 24-11 halftime lead. The deficit was 35-22 entering the fourth quarter and Benton scored early in the fourth to make it 37-22.
Siloam Springs began to rally at that point. Trailing 37-24, Kenlie Noel scored a 3-point play and Morgan Vaughn hit a 3-pointer to bring Siloam Springs within 37-30.
Vaughn then had a steal and converted a layup to trail 37-32 with two minutes left. Chloe Price connected on a 3-pointer to bring Siloam Springs within 37-35, but Benton answered twice to go up 41-35.
Vaughn hit another 3-pointer to make it 41-38, and Price scored with 26.7 seconds left for a 41-40 Benton lead.
Siloam Springs fouled Benton with 20.1 seconds left and Benton missed the free throw, but Siloam Springs was unable to get a shot off.
Vaughn scored 19 points to lead Siloam Springs, while Price had 12, Alexis Roach five points and Noel four.
Makenzy Davidson and Tamia Halk each scored 12 for Benton, which advanced to Saturday's fifth-place game against Greenwood with the winner receiving a No. 5 seed in next week's Class 6A State Tournament and the loser getting the No. 6 seed.
Sports on 02/26/2017