Simply perfect: Bergman dominates Lamar on its way to unblemished record, Class 3A girls basketball state championship

The Panthers were 43-0 in 2021-22.

By Kyle Sutherland I Photos by Tommy Land

HOT SPRINGS - In the big picture, Bergman has been perfect all season and things were no different Saturday as the Lady Panthers rode a stellar shooting performance en route to a 66-42 Class 3A state title victory over Lamar at BANK OZK Arena.

The Lady Panthers shot 56% from the field and seemingly could do no wrong while Lamar struggled to get good shots and finished a frigid 28% from the field, including hitting just 3-of-19 3-pointers.

“There is no more deserving group than this one,” Bergman head coach James Halitzka said. “The amount of time they have spent outside of school is just on a whole other level and it is great when you see that pay off. Last year they were so close and fell short, this year they made it all the way through, and it is a proud moment.”

Both teams went basket-for-basket in the first quarter that ended tied at 12. Junior Maddi Holt gave the Lady Panthers a 14-12 lead on a layup 21 seconds into the second quarter and Bergman (43-0) never relinquished the lead from that point going on a 20-8 run to end the half.

Holt came up big as she has done all year leading all scorers with 23 points, 17 of those in the first half, and played a major part of that great shooting percentage knocking down 8 of her 12 shots. One of the state’s best in all classifications from the free throw line, she also connected on six of six attempts from the charity stripe.

“I knew that I had my team behind me, and I was not really nervous because I knew if I could not do it then they could,” Holt said. “I have had them by my side ever since I have been in senior high.”

Along with struggling to get shots to fall, the physicality and depth of Bergman gave the Lady Warriors fits. In the first quarter, they were able to score in the paint earning a quick eight points, but that was short-lived as Bergman made the proper adjustments outscoring them 34-14.

“Bergman is super physical,” Lamar head coach Brandon Schluterman said. “When we have guards in pretty much every position, if we are not successful when we are trying to finish then they are going they are going to be tied to our shooters, so they are going to make us drive and finish. We did not shoot the ball well at all and when the scoreboard does not change in our favor, we get a little down. That is just human nature. Physically defensively they are just so solid one through five and the kids they bring in off the bench gave us some trouble throughout.”

Along with Holt’s game-leading 23 points, senior Kara Ponder added 12 while Karsen Edwards added 10. Both Ponder and Edwards pulled down 10 rebounds eac 

For Lamar, Shae Taylor led the Lady Warriors with 10 points followed by Karley Williams with 8.

Both teams could be favored to return to Hot Springs next season as they feature a nucleus of underclassmen returning and young talent moving to the varsity level. Bergman went undefeated with its junior high and seventh grade teams this season.

“We talked about that when we left the locker room,” Schluterman said. “There is no reason not to, but none of it was easy to get here. When we start back up in a couple of weeks, we have that understanding that nothing is easy about it and that is why you got here. We have returning pieces and have more pieces to add to the puzzle.”