FAYETTEVILLE GIRLS FIGHT OFF BENTONVILLE

The final result was another double-digit victory for Fayetteville's girls, but the Lady Purple'Dogs had their work cut out for them Friday night. Bentonville kept Fayetteville within striking distance until the final 3 minutes as the Lady Purple'Dogs withstood those challenges and claimed a 66-52 victory over the Lady Tigers during 7A-West Conference basketball action in Tiger Arena. "Bentonville really did a great job," Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said. "Their kids really attacked the rim, and they shot the 3-pointers really well, too. "We were getting blown by on the perimeter, and that's a tribute to them. It was a case where, defensively, we could never get into a rhythm and get enough stops to get away. Giving up 50 points on our end, I was very disappointed with that." Fayetteville (21-2, 8-0) didn't take a double-digit lead until Sasha Goforth's 3-pointer made the score 38-26 with 3 minutes, 22 seconds left in the third quarter. Bentonville (11-10, 4-4) answered and pulled within 42-35 on Krista Clark's bucket at the 1:03 mark, only to have Maya Mayberry's free throw make it a 46-37 game entering the fourth quarter. The Lady Purple'Dogs used an 8-2 spurt to extend their lead to 54-39 on Wyvette Mayberry's bucket with 5:37 remaining, but Bentonville refused to quit. The Lady Tigers pulled within 55-47 on Clark's two free throws with 4:08 remaining before Fayetteville pulled away, outscoring Bentonville 11-5 to end the game. "I was pleased with the overall effort, top to bottom," Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier said. "Everybody contributed, and we had girls come on the floor that played hard and got after it. They weren't intimidated. "We had some opportunities. Those will be the opportunities that we will try to capitalize on during practice." Goforth and Maya Mayberry each had 13 points, while Grayce Spangler and Wyvette Mayberry added 10 apiece for Fayetteville, who was forced to play without senior Ashley Breathitt after she turned an ankle during Wednesday's practice. Clark finished with 17 for Bentonville while Avery Hughes and Abby Roberts each chipped in 10.

FAYETTEVILLE GIRLS FIGHT OFF BENTONVILLE

Photo Credit: Emma Palasak

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