A last-second shot couldn't save Fayetteville this time

Bentonville High took control at the outset and defeated Fayetteville 50-44 Tuesday in a showdown of the 6A-West Conference leaders at Bulldog Arena. Bentonville (21-3, 10-1) moved into first place while Fayetteville (16-4, 9-2) dropped a game back in the standings after its second consecutive defeat. Tuesday's game was a rematch from Jan. 16, when Coriah Beck made a basket with 1.9 seconds left to give Fayetteville a 41-40 victory. But Bentonville gained the lead late in the first quarter and held on despite making only a single basket in the fourth quarter. The Lady Tigers compensated by making 14 of 19 free throws, including 9 of 12 in the final 53 seconds. "Even when we were up five or six points with 20 seconds left, I never felt comfortable," Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier said. "The girls played really well tonight. This is a great road win and I couldn't be more proud of them." Emily Sanders and Avery Hughes scored 12 points each to lead the Lady Tigers, who were eager for another chance at Fayetteville after losing by a point at home. "Coming off that game, we all had the spark and our attitude was like 'next time we got it,'" said Sanders, who scored eight points in the first half. "We picked each other up and gave each other encouraging words." Bentonville led 25-18 at halftime before Fayetteville began to pick up the pace behind Sasha Goforth, who scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half. Fayetteville got to within 36-34 after an aggressive move and a scoop shot by Goforth. But Bentonville kept the lead following a basket from Natalie Smith and free throws by Hughes and Sanders. Two calls hurt Fayetteville in the fourth quarter. The first came when the officials huddled and reversed a call after initially ruling the ball out of bounds to Fayetteville. Seconds later, Fayetteville was assessed a technical foul after a player entered the game illegally without checking in at the scorer's table. Bentonville increased its lead to five points after two more free throws by Sanders, who finished 4 of 5 from the line and made both of her 3-point attempts. Fayetteville, which lost 59-53 at Van Buren last Friday, struggled to get much going except for Goforth and sophomore Claudia Bridges, who finished with 14 points. Smith and Bella Irlenborn each contributed eight points for Bentonville. Bentonville^16^9^11^14-- ^50 Fayetteville^12^6^12^14--^44 . Bentonville (21-3, 10-1): Hughes 12, Sanders 12, Smith 8, Irlenborn 8, Dauda 7, Hayes 3 Fayetteville (16-4, 9-2): Goforth 14, Bridges 14, Beck 7, Byars 7, Saitta 2.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Fayetteville High School Athletics

A LAST-SECOND SHOT COULDN'T SAVE FAYETTEVILLE THIS TIME

RICK FIRES

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 2/13/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Fayetteville High School Athletics