BENTONVILLE — Rogers High is peaking at the right time.
Senior Graham Parker led a sizzling offense with 18 points as the Mounties defeated Bentonville 51-34 in a 7A-West Conference game Friday night.
The win was Rogers’ fourth in its past five games, and it completed a 6-1 road conference record for the Mounties (17-10, 8-6).
Rogers will stay away from King Arena when it plays in the Class 7A State Tournament at Rogers Heritage next week. The Mounties will either be the No. 4 or No. 5 seed from the West.
“Six and one on the road in this conference, maybe it will serve a purpose next week,” Rogers boys basketball coach Marty Barnes.
Rogers’ season has been a roller coaster ride offensively, but it seems the Mounties have gotten back on track at the right moment. The Mounties were 9 of 16 from the floor in the first half in building a 24-15 halftime lead.
They then made 7 of 10 shots, including five straight 3-pointers, in the third period to open a 43-29 lead.
Parker was 8 of 12 from the floor, and Josh Anderson was also in double figures for Rogers with 12 points. Rogers made nine 3-pointers and 19 of 31 shots from the floor (61 percent).
“We are shooting the perimeter shot well,” Barnes said. “We are making good passes and scoring inside. You can see a difference in their eyes. They know they can make those shots, and that is a big difference.”
Bentonville (14-13, 5-8) was as close as 26-20 early in the third quarter, but the Mounties made five 3-pointers in a five-minute span to pull away.
“Rogers played really, really good,” Bentonville coach Jason McMahan said. “Rogers made all their shots and executed their stuff really well. It looked like they are ready to go to the next phase of the season.
“We played bad, but if we had played well, we still may not have won.”
Bentonville, which is also bound for the state tournament, ends the regular season tonight when Rogers Heritage visits. The girls game will start at 6 p.m. with the varsity boys to follow.
“It’s a big game for us because it can get us to a winning season,” McMahan said. “That’s a big deal for us, and it will help us going into the tournament.”
Boys Prep Basketball
7A-West Conference
ROGERS HIGH 51, BENTONVILLE HIGH 34
Rogers 15 9 19 8 — 51
Bentonville 8 7 14 5 — 34
Rogers (17-10, 8-6): Parker 18, Anderson 12, Hampton 8, Washburn 8, Carroll 5.
Bentonville (14-13, 5-8): Snow 9, Pearson 9, Smith 6, Werber 4, Malitor 2, Copeland 2, Crenshaw 2.