Bentonville High 44, Springdale High 38

Bentonville erased a one-point halftime deficit with a 13-2 run in the third quarter as the Tigers defeated a short-handed Springdale team in Tiger Arena. Springdale (5-11, 11-18) was missing four of its top seven players, all of whom were suspended for one game following Friday's altercation at the end of the game against Fayetteville. The Red'Dogs, however, led 20-19 at halftime after Vincent Mason's bucket with 35 seconds remaining. Bentonville (20-6, 10-3) then opened the second half with nine straight points and took a 28-20 lead on Connor Deffebaugh's two free throws with 2:38 left in the third quarter. The Tigers led 32-22 at halftime and 42-28 with 3:26 remaining after Michael Shanks hit three straight buckets before Springdale made things interesting near the end. "We wanted to compete," Springdale coach Jeremy Price said. "If we're getting on the bus, we're putting on the jersey and trying to win a basketball game. "The kids that played did an excellent job. We wanted to play team ball; we wanted our offense to help our defense. We wanted to be patient, and for the most part we did that. There were a couple of stretches where we didn't, and that's when the game got gapped." Shanks had 13 points and Deffebaugh 12 for Bentonville, which clinched the conference's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the Class 6A state tournament next week at Bentonville West. Mason had 17 points for Springdale, whose loss forces a three-way tie with Rogers Heritage and West for fifth place with one game remaining.

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BENTONVILLE HIGH 44, SPRINGDALE HIGH 38

RICK FIRES

Arkansas Online | 2/20/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Bentonville Athletics