Episcopal Collegiate sweeps Harding Academy

The girls had to hold on down the stretch

By Jeff Halpern | Photos by Braeden Botts 

LITTLE ROCK — A 13-0 run lifted Episcopal Collegiate to a 36-34 home victory over Harding Academy Tuesday night. 

Episcopal (21-3, 11-1 3A-5 Conference) overcame a 29-22 deficit in the third quarter and won a game in which it shot 13-of-38 from the floor, including 4-of-9 on three-pointers. Harding (19-6, 11-3) shot 12-of-41 for the game, including 1-of-18 on three pointers. Episcopal had 15 turnovers and Harding had 11.

“We like to play defense and in a game like this, offense for either team wasn’t very good,” said Episcopal head coach Micah Marsh. “I thought we turned it over a little too much. Our girls came gritty with defense at the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter. We stuck with it. It was a good win. Harding’s a good team. They’re well coached and physical. We have to do a better job offensively as we go into tournament time.”

Limited to two free throws at the start of the third quarter, Episcopal finally got a field goal when Riley Brady, who finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds, scored with less than a minute left in the third quarter to close it to 29-24.

When the fourth quarter started, Laney Marsh made a field goal and added 1-of-2 at the foul line to close it 29-27 at the 7:00 mark.

Brady made a three pointer to put Episcopal up 30-29. Sunnie Corley, who led the home team with 14 points, drove the lane to make it 32-29 and added a three-pointer to make it 35-29.

Marsh credited his team for not losing their composure after a third quarter in which they shot 1-of-10 from the floor and committed four turnovers.

“I just told them to stick with it,” said Marsh. "We’re a defensive-minded team. We feel if it doesn’t get too out of hand, we’re two or three stops away. We got some good stops. We got some easy buckets and Sunnie hit a big three in the corner and it put us over the top.”

Still, the game was not over. With 1:53 left, Harding’s Jamanno Akpanudo made 1-of-2 free throws to close it to 35-32. With 1:00 left, McKenney Sheffield made two free throws to close it it 35-34.

With 24.1 seconds left, Episcopal was called for a shot-clock violation when Cydney Sanders was trapped. After Harding called timeout with 16.1 seconds left, they set up a play, but Callie Citty’s pass inside was knocked away and Episcopal got possession with 7.3 seconds left.

After Harding called timeout, the visiting Lady Wildcats, who had five team fouls at that point, committed two to get Episcopal into the bonus. With 3.7 seconds left, Corley made the first free throw to make it 36-34, but the second attempt was waved off due to a lane violation.

Harding used its last timeout and a last-second, desperation shot never had a chance.

“If you’re proud of your defense and Coach Marsh is, you don’t consider it a defensive struggle, you consider it a great basketball game,” said Harding head coach Rusty Garner. “It probably was not a lot of fun to watch, but he’s pleased with it and the way they defended and we we’re pleased with the way we defended.”

Harding out-rebounded Episcopal 33-20 with Citty, Sheffield and Kloey Fullerton all leading the way with 7. Brady led Episcopal with 7 rebounds.

“At our level, Riley Brady is as good a rebounder as we’ve seen in many years,” said Garner. “We had to minimize her and win the rebounding battles everywhere else. We rebounded really well and against those guys, you have to rebound, and you don’t finish defending until you get a rebound.”

Sheffield and Citty led Harding with 12 points.

EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE 69, HARDING ACADEMY 32 (BOYS)

Kellen Robinson put on another shot for the host Wildcats (20-5, 11-1) in a blowout victory over the visiting Wildcats (7-10, 6-8).

Robinson scored 33 points and shot shot 14-of-22 from the floor, made all four free throws and grabbed 6 rebounds in the first three quarters.

Robinson opened the game by scoring 17 points in the first quarter when Episcopal led 21-4.

“He came out and in that first quarter and hit a couple threes and they had to respect his shot a little more and we got into a rhythm, and we got up on them and felt more comfortable,” said Episcopal head coach Brandon Friedel.

“Kellen is a special player, and he can score at will. He can hit shots and get to the rim. He’s a great playmaker for everyone else. They play well together and move the ball and hit open shots. It’s a team game, but we’re lucky to have a special player, but I’m proud of group tonight.

Robinson credited his teammates for working together and making the big victory over possible.

“It really goes to practice,” said Robinson. “Me and my teammates work hard in practice so we try to put points on the board. I have Elijah Mason guarding me every day in practice which helps me.

“If I have the hot hand, my teammates are going to keep giving it to me to see what I can do. If one of my teammates has the hot hand, I’m going to see what they can do.”

Grant Gary had 9 points while Mason had 8 for the home Wildcats. Levi Mercer led Harding with 7 points.

Braeden Botts, SBLive Sports

Braden Botts, SBLive Sports