The Bradley Central Bearettes’ ninth straight win to open the high school basketball season was their toughest to date.
The Bearettes got a game-winning field goal from junior standout Rhyne Howard – on an assist by Halle Hughes – with no time left on the clock for a 48-46 non-district victory over stubborn Stone Memorial at Jim Smiddy Arena on Friday night.
After a turnover by Stone’s Emily Boyd with four seconds remaining, Bradley coach Jason Reuter called a timeout for a last-second strategy session.
Howard, who made two free throws to tie the game at 46-46 at the 26-second mark, took a pass from Hughes and hit the game-winner to give the Bearettes a 9-0 record. It was Bradley’s closest winning margin so far and the win stretched its home-court winning streak to 32 straight games.
Stone Memorial’s Alex Eldridge hit a 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining for a 46-44 lead over the Bearettes.
Howard finished with 16 points and five rebounds. She is now averaging 17.8 points per game, the same as Hughes. A senior, Hughes scored 15 points and also grabbed five rebounds.
Hughes and Howard have each scored 160 points in nine games.
Howard played only 23 minutes due to foul troubles – she had four when the game ended.
The visiting Lady Panthers (7-2) had the edge in just about every statistical category except the final score.
Stone shot 45.7 percent (16 of 35) from the floor and 37.5 percent (6 of 16) from 3-point distance. The Lady Panthers won the rebounding battle 25-24 with Boyd grabbing five and connected on 8 of 9 from the charity stripe for 88.9 percent.
The Bearettes hit 16 of 42 shots from 38. 1 percent and only 3 of 13 3s – Hughes was 4 for 4 – and 68.4 percent (13 of 19) from the free throw line.
Bradley got off to a 7-0 start as Hughes hit a field goal and 3-pointer and Howard connected on a shot from the paint.
However, the game was tied at 24-all at halftime and the Lady Panthers went into the fourth quarter holding a 38-35 advantage.
A Tessa Johson gave Stone a 40-35 lead with 7:48 remaining. At the 3:54 mark Howard’s steal and bucket gave the Bearettes a 43-40 lead. Stone’s Lexi Hinch got a steal from Howard and converted the defensive play into a 3-pointer at the other end as Stone tied the contest at 43-43.
Eldridge paced the Lady Panthers with 16 points.
Linescore
Stone Memorial 4 20 14 8 -- 46
Bradley Central 8 16 11 13 -- 48
Stone Memorial (46) – Hinch 9, Alex Eldridge 16, Johson 4, Capps 2, Boyd 9, Brun 2, Selby 2, Robinette 2.
Bradley Central (48) – Halle Hughes 15, Carter 8, Brown 8, Rhyne Howard 16, McRee 1, Morgan, Lombard.
3-Point Goals – Stone Memorial 6 (Hinch 3, Eldridge 2, Boyd 1), Bradley Central 3 (Hughes 2, Brown 1).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)