Reserves spark Fayetteville in opener

The Fayetteville Bulldogs had three starters score double-digits, but it was two bench players who proved the difference in Tuesday's nonconference win over Conway in Bulldog Arena. Alonzo Releford knocked in the go-ahead jumper with 13 seconds left in the game and Sully Witte drew a charge that negated a potential game-winning layup from Conway's Terry Clardy to lead the Bulldogs to the 63-62 win in the first game of the season. "It's about as much depth as we've had in a long time," Fayetteville boys basketball coach Kyle Adams said. "I think back to the Manuale Watkins group -- they were about 9-10 guys deep, and I think this group can be that way, too." Releford scored six points, including the shot at the end of the game, but his brother, Tamaury, proved to be the biggest challenge for Conway, which struggled to match up with the 6-foot-7 sophomore center. He had 19 points, including his team's first six points of the fourth quarter that jump-started the Bulldogs' big run. "He's a load around the rim," Adams said. Tamaury even recorded a couple of assists, kicking out the ball to shooters in the corner, when the defense collapsed on him. Conway coach Brian "Salty" Longing thought this action was the difference in the game. "They took advantage of their personnel," Longing said. "They spread the floor, they went high-low with the big Releford kid, and when we pinched, they kicked it out to their shooters. That's a great offense." Conway had stormed its way back to the lead at the half behind a strong second quarter that netted it 17 of its 62 points in the game. The Wampus Cats went 6 of 7 from the free-throw line in the quarter, driven by Caleb London's four consecutive makes from the line that put Conway ahead before the half ended. London scored 20 points to pace the Wampus Cats' offense while his teammate Kylen Milton dropped 16. Yet it was Clardy who kept Conway in the game late. The senior scored five of his points in the last minute of the game and almost scored the game-winner before he was called for the charge. Clardy had been taken out earlier in the game, and the fourth quarter was the first action he had since early in the third quarter. "He struggled at times tonight, but when he came back in the fourth quarter, I thought he played a lot more inside himself and played more of his game," Longing said. Fayetteville's Collin Cooper scored 16 and went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, while Conner Barnett hit three 3-pointers on his way to 14 points. The Bulldogs next face Fort Smith Northside at home next Tuesday while Conway will travel to Memphis, Tenn., for the Rumble on the Ridge tournament where it'll face hometown Southwind in the first round next Thursday.

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Fayetteville High School Athletics

RESERVES SPARK FAYETTEVILLE IN OPENER

ALEX NICOLL

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 11/14/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Fayetteville High School Athletics