Jordan Madden shows the intense concentration which has helped her to become one of the hottest basketball prospects in Arkansas. Here she goes up against a Hoxie player during the 3A-3 district tournament final last Friday night. (Tribune photo/Ryan Rogers) [Click to enlarge]

The Lady Warriors of EPC had previously secured a place in the 3A Region 3 Tournament coming up next week in Marmaduke, and were able to improve upon their guaranteed placement with a victory over the hosting Lady Bobcats in the semifinals of the 3A-3 District Tournament in Corning last Thursday. However, the district tourney crown proved elusive for the Lady Warriors, as the team fell short against Hoxie in finals Friday night, 56-53.

EPC went into the final seconds trailing by one, 53-52, when standout senior Jordan Madden was fouled on her way to the basket with 20 seconds left to play. Madden, who had missed her four previous attempts from the stripe in the period, fell short on her first effort to tie, but knotted the game up at 53-53 by burying her second attempt.

Hoxie's Tanya Sisco drove inside, but her shot went high off the glass as the seconds ticked away. The ball hit the floor with a bad bounce for EPC, finding its way to Jessica Barber of Hoxie who not only canned the putback, but also earned Madden her fifth and final foul of the game, sending EPC's leader to the bench with four seconds remaining. Barber hit the freebie, setting the 56-53 final in place.

Hoxie held a 15-12 advantage after the first quarter and led by 10, 33-23, at intermission.

EPC trailed by as many as 14 in the third quarter, but found their way back into the mix during a strong 13-0 run during a three minute stretch. The third quarter came to a close with the Lady Warriors within a single point, 43-42.

EPC made just one of seven free throws in the fourth quarter.

"We missed too many free throws down the stretch," Lady Warrior coach Bobby Lewallen said. "That's one of the things that came back to haunt us. If we make just two of those, it's a whole different game.

"Hoxie deserves a lot of credit. They did a real good job of forcing us to settle for outside shots. They kept us out of our usual rhythm for much of the game."

Madden led EPC with 25 points in the loss. LaPorscha Williams added 12 on the night. Also scoring for the Lady Warriors were Becca Ross 9, Jocelyn Joplin 5 and Katelyn Armstrong 2.

Hoxie was led by Megan Black's 26 and Barber's 21.

Lewallen also said he doesn't expect his team to let the memory of the game's outcome fade away too quickly.

"A lot of people want you to put that game behind you, but I want us to remember this the next time we step out on the floor. I want us to use this feeling as motivation from here on."

EPC is currently 26-2 overall. They are slated to face Yellville-Summitt at 4 p.m. Thursday in the 3A Region 3 Tournament in Marmaduke.

Victory over Corning

The Lady Warriors advanced to the district finals with a 63-41 shellacking of host Corning last Thursday.

The game was in little doubt, as EPC found their rhythm early. The Lady Warriors led 34-18 at the half and never looked back.

Ross and Madden paced EPC with 15 points each in the win. Carla Kemp added 12 for the Lady Warriors. Other scorers were Joplin 8, Williams 7 and Armstrong 6.