FAYETTEVILLE ASSUMES TOP SPOT IN 7A-WEST

Seven unanswered points in the first quarter shouldn't make a big deal in a game with first place in the 7A-West Conference boys basketball standings. Fayetteville, however, used that short spurt to take a lead it would never relinquish, and the Bulldogs made a major step toward the league title Friday night with a 78-59 victory over Springdale Har-Ber on the Wildcats' home floor. The win not only gives Fayetteville (17-7, 10-2)a one-game lead in the conference standings with two to play, but the Bulldogs enjoy a series sweep over Har-Ber (20-6, 9-3). That means Fayetteville can clinch the league's top seed in the Class 7A State Tournament with one more win next week. "It was a big game in a lot of respects," Fayetteville coach Kyle Adams said. "I just love to see the improvement of our kids. It's not always about the wins and the losses, but the improvement of our kids from where we were a month ago to now. Fayetteville assumes top spot in 7A-West By Henry Apple Posted: February 17, 2018 at 1 a.m. SPRINGDALE -- Seven unanswered points in the first quarter shouldn't make a big deal in a game with first place in the 7A-West Conference boys basketball standings. Fayetteville, however, used that short spurt to take a lead it would never relinquish, and the Bulldogs made a major step toward the league title Friday night with a 78-59 victory over Springdale Har-Ber on the Wildcats' home floor. FAYETTEVILLE 78, SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 59 Fayetteville^16^21^17^24^—^78 Har-Ber^9^20^22^8^—^59 Fayetteville (17-7, 10-2): Cooper 30, Johnson 12, Morgan 11, Schach 8, Releford 7, Conley 6, Bowers 3, Blakenship 1. Har-Ber (20-6, 9-3): Perry 17, Peck 13, T. Garrett 8, Bishop 7, Ezell 5, Buchanan 5, A. Garrett 4. The win not only gives Fayetteville (17-7, 10-2)a one-game lead in the conference standings with two to play, but the Bulldogs enjoy a series sweep over Har-Ber (20-6, 9-3). That means Fayetteville can clinch the league's top seed in the Class 7A State Tournament with one more win next week. "It was a big game in a lot of respects," Fayetteville coach Kyle Adams said. "I just love to see the improvement of our kids. It's not always about the wins and the losses, but the improvement of our kids from where we were a month ago to now. photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb photoshelter gallery thumb Fayetteville versus Har-Ber Basketball "That's especially on defense. All my staff has done an unbelievable job of getting those guys where we need to be on the defensive end. Offensively, I thought RJ Johnson was the difference. He came in and came a huge lift off the bench, which he has done on many, many occasions." Collin Cooper, who finished with 30 points, hit two free throws to cause the seventh and final lead change with 3 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first quarter. Quinn Schach followed that with a bucket and Johnson's 3-pointer put Fayetteville ahead 14-8 with 1:32 remaining. It was a lead that eventually grew as much as 37-29 at halftime, thanks to Johnson's 3-pointer that went around the rim and in with 2 seconds left. "I never realized that because we are always stressing to treat each possession like it is the first or the last one," Adams said. "We just want to make sure we're competing on every possession, and I thought we did that." Har-Ber, however, used the third quarter to pull within 47-46 on Tylor Perry's 3-pointer with 1:40 left in the third quarter. Fayetteville led 54-51 at the end of the third quarter, then the Bulldogs pulled away with 10 straight points during a stretch where Perry fouled out on a charge and the Wildcats picked up four technical fouls. Johnson finished with 12 and Frank Morgan 11 for Fayetteville, which returns to action Tuesday at Springdale. Perry had 17 for Har-Ber, while Zack Peck chipped in 13.

FAYETTEVILLE ASSUMES TOP SPOT IN 7A-WEST

Photo Credit: Charlie Kaijo

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