One last chance

Chloe Price and Emery Brown want one more chance to go to the state basketball tournament.

If the ball bounces right for the Lady Panthers over their next three games, the only two seniors for the Siloam Springs girls basketball just may get that opportunity.

"I think it would be great to go back to the state tournament, just to see us improve more than we did last year and try to get farther," said Brown, a 5-9 forward. "Because last year we did lose in the first round and it was kind of a hard loss for everyone. So it would be nice to win the first round and go farther than before."

With three wins to open the second half of 5A-West Conference play -- including two huge victories last week at Alma and at home against Greenbrier -- the Siloam Springs girls are knocking on the door for a playoff spot. Heading into Tuesday's game at Greenwood, Siloam Springs was 6-4 in conference play and in a three-way tie for third place with Greenwood and Russellville.

Results of Tuesday's game were not available at presstime, but the outcome won't necessarily have any bearing on whether the Lady Panthers make the state tournament for the second straight year.

Siloam Springs hosts Little Rock Christian on Friday, but the most important game of all may be Tuesday at home against Russellville. Siloam Springs lost to Russellville 53-50 at Cyclone Arena on Jan. 22, but if the Lady Panthers can win by four points or more this time around it would give them a tiebreaker advantage over the Lady Cyclones.

The Lady Panthers certainly know what's at stake over the next few games and they're ready for the challenge.

"I think it would be a really good opportunity for us if we do make it," said Price, Siloam Springs' point guard and leading scorer. "I feel like we'll be going in with a lot more confidence than we've had because it was rough at the beginning of the season."

Price said the Lady Panthers' new-found confidence was on display during their come-from-behind 50-44 win in overtime at Alma on Feb. 5. The Lady Panthers trailed most of the game, including 36-27 entering the fourth quarter, and rallied to take a lead. Alma's Cassidy Cooper hit a desperation 3-point shot to send the game into overtime, but Siloam Springs controlled the OT period to get the win. A loss there might have put a playoff spot out of reach.

Last Friday on homecoming, Siloam Springs led wire-to-wire in a victory against Greenbrier -- their third straight -- as the Lady Panthers kept pace in the conference race.

"I think last (Tuesday) night it really showed us that if we stay calm -- no matter the situation -- and if we work together then we can do it," Price said. "We didn't freak out when she made that buzzer-beater three to tie the game. We just stayed calm. I feel like knowing that, we can do that, it can take us further in the state tournament."

Siloam Springs didn't qualify for the state tournament during Price and Brown's sophomore season in 2016-17, but last year the Lady Panthers pulled an upset at El Dorado in the 6A-West Conference Tournament to earn a postseason spot.

However, only four players with any varsity experience returned from that last year's team, including Price and Brown.

"I think getting there last year was important," Siloam Springs coach Tim Rippy said. "It's an expectation of what we want to get accomplished every year is to get to the tournament and give yourself an opportunity."

Rippy said Price and Brown have shown leadership that seniors need to show to help the young Lady Panthers gain experience throughout the season.

"I think it's been an interesting year from their perspective," Rippy said. "Being the two seniors, I think it's a quiet leadership, but I think they've assumed the role that other people are looking for them for some leadership. They've been through the battles and all that, and they've been through the battles of competing to get into the state tournament.

"I think those two have, at times, depending on the ball game, have really taken a leadership role and stepped up and been a big factor for us down the stretch. I think going forward we've got to have that from those two. They've got to be consistent."

Price is playing her best basketball of her career this season for the Lady Panthers.

A three-sport athlete, Price returned to the basketball team in late October after an all-state volleyball season in which she helped the Lady Panthers return to the state semifinals for the second straight year.

Last week, Price signed a letter of intent to play college volleyball at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. She's also a standout athlete in track and field for Siloam Springs.

"The thing I love about Chloe is she's a competitor first and foremost," Rippy said. "I think that you put her in track or basketball or volleyball. If we played football -- whatever it is -- she's going to compete and she likes to win. She doesn't like to be beat. I see it even when we do a simple down-and-back. She doesn't want to lose it. She wants to try to finish first."

On the season, Price is averaging 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Over her last three games heading into Tuesday, Price was averaging 20.6 points, including a season-high 24 points at Beebe on Feb. 1.

Brown said Price is the key cog to the Lady Panthers' operation on offense.

"I feel like Chloe, if we couldn't have her on offense we wouldn't know what to do," Brown said. "She's one of the main persons that steps up and tells us what to do. For everyone else, I don't know if it's just me, I feel like Chloe helps us a ton on offense with ballhandling and making layups. I just feel like without Chloe it would be hard for all of us to contribute because she can attack and get someone an open shot. And she's not selfish for herself."

Brown, meanwhile, has shown steady improvement since moving up to the varsity team as a sophomore.

One of the Lady Panthers' taller players with a long wingspan, Brown is a an important part of Siloam Springs' 3-2 zone defense.

"Emery is one of the anchor points of our defense in our zone down low," Rippy said.

Back in the fall, when Price was with volleyball, Brown was the lone senior for the basketball team during offseason workouts.

"During the fall I thought Emery did a good job," Rippy said. "I thought she was vocal and positive. Everybody was kind of finding their role because we had so many young ones in there."

Brown also has shown the ability to score on offense. She's averaging 3.3 points, but is capable of scoring in double figures as evidenced by her 21-point outburst earlier this year against Camdenton, Mo.

"We're a much better team when we're getting production from that post spot for sure," Rippy said. "Whether it's through offensive rebounds, whether it's through handling the drives and kicks and finishes. Whether it's off a post up or like last (Tuesday) night (against) where she got a big bucket late in the game. We got it to Jael (Harried) at the high post and Emery cut back door and made a strong finish. Those little key moments where she can contribute are a big factor for our team."

"Emery is a really good rebounder," Price said. "She can finish really well. She's really good at finishing the tough shots that we need. Then if she gets fouled we know she's going to do good at the free-throw line too. She's a really good free throw shooter. She's good at defense and offense -- best of both worlds I guess."

The two seniors take their roles seriously for sure and want to lead their younger teammates into the postseason.

"I feel like we have to be better role models because there's only two of us," Price said. "They look up to us a lot more than if there was more of us. I personally want to show them what they're capable of doing, make them better in practice and just help them out. I feel like with two seniors you have to do more."

Sports on 02/13/2019