PFEIFER LEADS LADY BOMBERS PAST LADY GOBS

Pfeifer leads Lady Bombers past Lady Gobs

NEAL DENTON

Baxter Bulletin | 12/16/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Neal Denton

HARRISON — Mountain Home's Hannah Pfeifer always has a green light to shoot the basketball.

But after her team led Harrison by as many as 24 points in the second half Friday night, Pfeifer attempted only one more 3-pointer the rest of the way.

But that was OK. The senior guard had already knocked down an incredible 7 of her first 10 attempts from behind the arc.

“She knew we had control of the game,” Lady Bomber head coach Dell Leonard said. “We have shot ourselves out of some big games with the lead in the second half this year. I think in the back of her mind, she thought we would reverse the ball three or four times, which I appreciate from a coaching standpoint.

"But when you’re unconscious, if you reverse it once, you pull the trigger. That’s just her being a smart basketball player.”

Pfeifer’s six first-half treys pushed the Lady Bombers to a 24-11 halftime lead, and Mountain Home went on to cruise to a 43-30 victory over the rival Lady Goblins on Friday night at the new Goblin Arena.

“I felt really prepared coming into the game,” Pfeifer said. “I think because it’s Harrison, we all had a lot more adrenaline and that helped a lot. We were ready.”

Leonard said it was great for his team to play so well on both sides of the ball.

“I felt like the last two years, we were so amped up that we had too much adrenaline and all our shots were long,” he said. “Last year, we scored 36 points and still found a way to win. You always hope that when you have off nights, your defense is good enough to win. It was last year. When you shoot it like Hannah shot it tonight, and play well offensively, too, it makes it a whole lot of fun.”


Pfeifer was 7 of 11 from 3-point range for the game. She buried four 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Payton Huskey added another trey and a layup as the Lady Bombers ran to a 17-6 lead after one.

Pfeifer hit 5 of her first 6 3-point attempts, and the Lady Bombers collectively nailed 6 of their first 10 attempts. Pfeifer’s fifth trey pushed the lead to 20-6, and the sixth by the College of the Ozarks commit made it 23-7.

“If she hadn’t already verbally committed that would be a heck of a film to send to a college coach,” Leonard said, “but I’m gonna send it to C of O so they’re reassured of what they’re getting.”

Pfeifer — whose 23 points led all scorers — is happy to have made her college decision early in the season.

“At first I was stressed because I didn’t know where I was going to go,” she said. “I feel more relaxed now and ready to finish out my senior year strong.”

The Lady Goblins scored only two field goals in the second quarter, including one by junior Briley Parker, who led Harrison with five points in the first half. Harrison also scored only two field goals in the third frame.

“Riley Walker is a big factor in our defensive game,” Pfeifer said of her fellow senior. “We always put her on their best player, and she does a great job. She’s a heck of a defender and a big reason why we have success.”

Mountain Home achieved more balance in the third quarter, with five players finding the scoring column. The guests went up by 20 at 34-14 on a bucket by Madeline Collins, and the Lady Bombers ended the frame with a trey by Emma Martin to make it 37-16. Maly Tabor also scored in her first game back from an injury suffered during volleyball season.

“It’s been a long time since we emptied the bench against them,” Leonard said. “To come into their new gym and play that well, especially against our rival, was special. Riley Walker and Madeline Collins both did a great job tonight, and it was good to see Maly back on the court.”

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