By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Facing Thayer’s stingy matchup zone defense, Fair Grove coach Gary Greene knew that Tuesday night needed to be an Abbey Green game.
So, he set a bold pregame goal for his senior forward.
“I told her I wanted her to have about 20 offensive rebounds tonight, and she had several,” Greene said. “She was all over the boards.”
Message received.
Behind Green’s dominance in the paint, Fair Grove muscled its way to a 57-43 home victory over Thayer in the Class 3 sectional round.
Green tallied season-highs in points (24) and rebounds (11), including nine offensive boards.
“It was very encouraging for me,” Green said of the pregame pep talk. “It gives me a lot of confidence because he knows that’s something I’m capable of. Sometimes I do need to be reminded I’m capable of that, especially going into these big games. We like to move the ball a lot, so it’s all about looking for each other’s shots.”
With leading scorer Ashton Bell in foul trouble most of the game, Fair Grove guards Brooke Daniels (19 points) and Cam Hart (10 points) picked up the slack in scoring and playmaking.
“They cheered me on in the locker room, but I said, ‘I don’t get those (points) if you guys don’t make those good passes,’” Green said. “Cam, Brooke, Ashton and Emma (Padgett) making those passes is the reason I had the game I had tonight.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Fair Grove only made two 3-pointers. The Lady Eagles were 13-for-17 at the free throw line and used their size to score inside against a younger, smaller Thayer squad.
“We knew (Thayer) was going to be in a zone, so we had to get the ball in the middle,” Greene said. “When we get the ball in the middle, they either have to come up and we can dump it down or they’ll give up a shot. We tried to look for (Green) down low. She stays active and she’s good at going and catching the ball when we throw it up in the air.”
A showdown with a familiar foe awaits Fair Grove. The Lady Eagles will host El Dorado Springs in the Class 3 quarterfinal round this Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.
It’s a rematch of the last two Class 3 state championship games. Fair Grove won both of those.
But El Dorado Springs prevailed in the most recent meeting, a 51-44 home win earlier this season in mid-January. Fair Grove holds a 4-2 edge in the series dating back to the 2022-23 season.
A victory would send Fair Grove back to the final four, where the Lady Eagles hope to become just the 13th team in state history to win three or more consecutive state championships in girls’ basketball.
“We know our final games are counting down, but that just gives us the motivation to make each game the best we can make it and leave ourselves all out here on the floor,” Green said.
The Lady Eagles weren’t caught looking ahead on Tuesday night. Fair Grove raced out to an 11-2 lead and led 34-18 by halftime.
“These girls are pretty experienced, and they know what they have to do,” Greene said. “You have to play it one game at a time. We try to simplify it to one quarter at a time. We just want to win everything, you know?”
As the deficit approached 20 in the third quarter, Thayer clawed back on a Riley Pierce-led rally. Pierce, Abby Bowers and Ryleigh Davis scored 11 each to lead the Lady Bobcats. Pierce scored nine of her 11 in the second half.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
Thayer got as close as nine (49-40) when Kadyn Hilles scored with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“One thing we may have overlooked, more than anything, was Fair Grove’s physicality,” said Thayer coach Denny Young. “They just knocked us out of where we needed to be in our offense. They’re just a very good bunch. They play well together.”
Thayer finishes its best season under Young at 21-6 overall. The Lady Bobcats won their first district title in five years.
The Lady Bobcats graduate three seniors, including one of their leading scorers in Bowers, but return a strong nucleus with another good freshmen class coming in next season.
“This bunch has meshed and grown together,” Young said. “This is probably the tightest-knit group I’ve had since I’ve been at Thayer. We’ve got the majority of these girls coming back.
“Losing our seniors is going to be tough, but that’s the way it goes. Next fall, we’ll be bouncing the ball again and we’ll have some new Lady Bobcats ready to step up.”
Fair Grove 57, Thayer 43
Thayer 9 9 18 7 — 43
Fair Grove 17 17 15 8 — 57
Thayer (21-6 overall) – Riley Pierce 11, Abby Bowers 11, Ryleigh Davis 11, Kadyn Hilles 7, Ally Kerley 3
Fair Grove (25-4 overall) – Abbey Green 24, Brooke Daniels 19, Cam Hart 10, Ashton Bell 2, Shea Skouby 2
