BENTONVILLE — The week started on high notes but ended with a pair of low points for Bentonville’s basketball teams.
Bentonville’s girls avenged an earlier loss to Springdale Har-Ber with a 39-34 victory over the Lady Wildcats in Tiger Arena, but the Lady Tigers dropped a 53-28 decision on their home court to Fayetteville. The boys had a similar fate as the Tigers claimed a 54-42 victory over Har-Ber and completed a sweep of the Wildcats, but they dropped a heartbreaking 33-32 loss to Fayetteville after Austin Heard’s shot with four seconds left failed to drop.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Montana Lewis drove the baseline from the far sideline, then went underneath the basket and flipped up a reverse layup to start the second half of Tuesday’s game against Har-Ber.
The shot broke a 21-21 halftime deadlock and gave the Lady Tigers a lead they never relinquished.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Whitney Sandmann scored all six of her points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s win over Har-Ber, and those points were the only ones Bentonville scored in the final period. Her free throws with14.8 seconds helped the Lady Tigers seal the victory.
Nick Smith scored seven of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s victory over Har-Ber. He scored five of Bentonville’s last seven points after the Tigers had their 14-point cushion earlier in the period cut in half.
NOTABLE: As part of the Teen Cancer Challenge, Bentonville’s girls wore their special home uniforms, where much of the gold trim is replaced with pink ... At least six Lady Tigers wore different jersey numbers because of the special uniforms ... Montana Lewis failed to score in double digits Friday, the first time in 7A-West Conference games she failed to do so ... Jessica Stout injured her shoulder duringTuesday’s game against Har-Ber and didn’t play against Fayetteville.
Coach Tom Halbmaier said Stout’s status is day to day.
THE LINGO: “We were just trying to foul whoever had the ball at the end. I was really proud of the student section and how it cheered. That’s the loudest it’s ever been in this gym since I’ve been here.” - JASON MCMAHAN, Bentonville boys coach
UP NEXT: Bentonville’s basketball teams finish the regular season with four games in six days, beginning tonight with makeup games at Fort Smith Southside.
Bentonville travels Tuesday to Springdale High before playing at home Friday against Rogers High and Saturday night against Rogers Heritage. Bentonville will have its Colors Day ceremonies during Friday’s games.
Sports, Pages 7 on 02/21/2011