FRANKLIN, FAYETTEVILLE DOWN SPRINGDALE, 81-72

For the first time in 7A-West play, Fayetteville's girls had their backs against the wall. Springdale High led the Lady Purple'Dogs by 10 in the second quarter behind a hot shooting start. The Lady Bulldogs even led by seven, 36-29, at halftime, but Fayetteville's offense, particularly Jasmine Franklin, exploded in the second half to remain unbeaten in conference with a 81-72 win. Franklin, who led Fayetteville with 12 points in last Friday's win at Springdale Har-Ber, did it again Tuesday with a team-high 20 points -- 18 coming in the second half. She spearheaded an 18-3 second-half run that gave Fayetteville the lead for good. "That was our No. 1 goal, to give her a chance until she got tired, or doubled. We got a kickout and a 3-ball that helped," Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said. "We got a little separation in that little three-minute spurt there." Fayetteville, trailing 53-51 in the final seconds of the third, got a 3-pointer from Sasha Goforth to go to give the Lady Purple'Dogs a lead headed to the fourth. Then Fayetteville took control. Franklin was a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor in the final eight minutes and Maya Mayberry sunk 9-of-10 free throws late to seal the win. Mayberry's layup in the third quarter gave Fayetteville its first lead of the night at 47-45. She finished with 15 points and Goforth added 17 on four 3-pointers. But Franklin was the driving force in Fayetteville's comeback win. "The only thing I told my girls after the game is that we didn't do a good enough job gameplanning for her," Springdale coach Heather Hunsucker said. "I'll take responsibility for that." The Lady Red'Dogs gave Fayetteville its toughest test yet in league play. Springdale knocked down four of its first five 3-pointers, including two from Destiny Jackson, who scored a team-high 20 points. Sophomore Marquesha Davis added 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Ashlyn Minchew finished with 11 while Haley Dougan and Jeniya Gause chipped in nine apiece. "Springdale shot the ball well and played great. I was disappointed in our defense in the first half, but the more I watched them play, they hit some tough shots," Rimmer said. "That's the most points we've given up in a long time. You have to give them credit. "But our fullcourt defense was big in that spurt," he added. Hunsucker was pleased with the fight despite Springdale's loss. Her young team isn't so young anymore, she said. "I think tonight showed our team that if we step out and focus we can compete with the teams in the state," Hunsucker said. "That was playoff basketball. That's a confidence builder even though you lost." Fayetteville's Kylee Coulter went down with an apparent knee injury in the second quarter Tuesday. Initial word is that it wasn't ACL related, Rimmer said.

FRANKLIN, FAYETTEVILLE DOWN SPRINGDALE, 81-72

Photo Credit: Fayetteville Athletics

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