SPRINGDALE — A tough week didn’t get any easier on Saturday afternoon for Springdale High’s boys basketball team.
The Red’Dogs (15-10, 7-5 7A-West Conference) dropped an overtime thriller to Rogers High on Saturday, securing their third league loss of the week.
Springdale coach Brad Stamps said earlier this week that despite having to play four games in six days, his players had to stay focused mentally and physically if they wanted any chance of fi nishing the regular season with success.
After Saturday’s game, Stamps said he was proud of the way his players fought back against the Mounties,
“I’m proud of our kids for fi ghting back to give us a chance to win at home,” Stamps said. “It hurts because I thought we gave great effort to get back in (the game).”
The Red’Dogs will try to bounce back on Tuesday when they host Bentonville at 7:30 p.m. in Bulldog Gymnasium. On Jan. 25, Springdale defeated Bentonville 67-53.
Springdale’s girls team (6-19, 1-11) continued their recent skid by losing four straight games this week, including a two-point home loss to Rogers Heritage. The Lady Red’Dogs are last in the league standings and won’t advance to the state tournament for a second straight year.
PLAY OF THE NIGHT: Against the War Eagles on Tuesday, while Shelton Baird was in the midst of scoring 20 points in the last 11 minutes of the game, the senior guard also had two big assists to senior forward Curtis Evans. On one of the plays, Baird drove the lane to attract defenders before passing the ball to a wide-open Evans at the top of the perimeter. Evans knocked down a 3-pointer in the last minute of the game, which allowed Springdale to force an overtime period and eventually win the game.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Springdale’s boys team had plenty of trouble getting by Heritage on Tuesday. The Red’Dogs trailed by 13 points early in the fourth quarter before Baird hit a 3-pointer with 7 minutes left in the game. Baird went on to score 20 points in the last 11 minutes of the game, including afour-minute overtime period, to guide Springdale to a 57-50 victory over the War Eagles ... Springdale was led all week on offense by senior forward Jasmine Gilyard, who’s averaged about 11 points per game this year. Juniors Sarah Ussery and Baylea Swearingen continued this week on defense, giving the Lady Red’Dogs chances to be successful.
The Red’Dogswent into last week sitting at second place in the 7A-West standings. But after losing three of their last four games, Springdale dropped to third place with Fort Smith Southside and Fort Smith Northside in firstand second place, respectively.
THE LINGO: “No matter what happens, we’ve got to continue coming to work everyday and staying focused on winning games,” Springdale girls basketball coach Scotty Person said. “We’re in a tough situation, but we have to stay motivated and come to work.”
UP NEXT: Springdale’s teams will wrap up the regular season this week when they host Bentonville on Tuesday and play at Fayetteville on Friday. The boys team defeated both Bentonville and Fayetteville earlier this season and will be looking for two more wins this week to help secure a high seeding in the upcoming Class 7A State Tournament.
Sports, Pages 7 on 02/21/2011