ROGERS. Fort Smith Northside may have solved the problems of the third quarter.

Northside made 10-of-13 shots and scored 24 points in a key quarter to break away to defeat Rodgers 72–55 on Friday night, ending the first half of a 6A-West double round robin schedule.

“This was our worst quarter all year,” said Northside coach Eric Burnett. “I was very happy that we went out and did it in the third quarter because it shows that we are making progress, that we are getting better.”

Northside (13–9, 4–4) led the quartet of scorers in double figures.

Marco Smith scored 22 points, including 13 in the first half. Denarion Whitmore scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds on seven points and seven shields in the first half. Derek Shepard added 16 points and Javion Smith 10.

“This is our vision for us,” Burnett said. “It’s coming true right now. I told them that we should be working at full capacity around the middle of February. We are taking steps towards this right now.”

Northside led 17-8 after the quarter, scoring the final six points before Rodgers made an attempt to start the second quarter.

Aidan Chronister hit a 3-pointer, Braxton Lindsey converted a simple, and Gracen Cash hit a running inside jumper that included Rodgers (5–14, 0–8), 17–15, taking advantage of a 0-of-5 start in the quarter for the Grizzlies.

Whitmore and Shepard called back the Northside with consecutive threes, while Marco Smith made an interception and slam to lift the Grizzlies back 25-15.

Northside extended their first-half lead to 32–23 in the deciding third quarter.

After Javion Smith and Rodgers’ Rex Kraut traded 3-pointers to open the second half, Northside went on to go 11-0.

Whitmore provoked a rush with successive buckets, Marco Smith took a dish from Pum Savoy in the basket, Javion Smith passed to Shepard for an open 3-pointer, and Whitmore ended the series with an interception and layup to take a 46-26 lead with 4:40 left in the quarter.

Shepard and Javion Smith added 3-pointers as Northside took a 56-38 lead in the final quarter.

“I was excited for them to just see the ball hit the hole,” Burnett said. “We’re making small moves, but in the last two games we’ve made some big moves and look like a team that I thought we could be on.”

Rodgers closed 64-48, and 4:23 left Chronister and Cash with threes.

Northside finished the game with Whitmore’s jumper, Marco Smith’s offensive rebound basket, and Whitmore’s roundhouse jumper to secure a 70–48 lead with 2:30 left.

Kraut scored 11 points and Cash scored 12 for Rogers.

Rogers is going to the Southside on Saturday. At 4:00 pm, the girls arrive at the university, followed immediately by the boys.

Northside is due to go to Southside on Tuesday.

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