FAYETTEVILLE — Springdale High had given itself such a big lead Friday, it could withstand just about anything.
Springdale enduring a terrifying four-minute stretch Friday night, finishing the regular season with a 45-32 victory against longtime rival Fayetteville.
Springdale (17-10, 9-5 7A-West Conference) was simply merciless through three quarters, storming to a 34-14 lead.
The lead seemed insurmountable — and indeed it ultimately was — but Fayetteville (14-13, 7-7) made a frenzied run to start the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs exploded for 14 consecutive points to open the fourth, slicing the lead all the way down to 34-26 on a layup by Kyle Graves with 4 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the game.
“I thought our defense intensity was really good (Friday) from the get-go,” Springdale coach Brad Stamps said. “That set the tempo for us throughout (the game). I thought we had great effort defensively.”
For much of the first three quarters, it was all Springdale.
Springdale scored the first seven points of the game, holding Fayetteville scoreless for nearly six minutes and taking a 10-2 lead after a quarter.
Fayetteville’s offense was a little more active in the second quarter, but Springdale still expanded its lead, going into the locker room up 24-10.
“Part of it was their defense, and part of it was we just didn’t make shots,” Fayetteville coach Kyle Adams said. “We couldn’t get the ball in the basket to save our lives. … But we got ourselves back in the ballgame there for a little while, and I’m proud of our kids for battling back.”
Trailing by 20 entering the fourth quarter, Fayetteville suddenly caught fire. Malik Fields was the spark, scoring 10 of his team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Springdale finally ended the 14-0 run on a three-point play by Mytaah Crawford with 3:45 remaining.
Boys Prep Basketball
7A-West Conference
Springdale High 45, Fayetteville 32
Springdale 10 14 10 11 — 45
Fayetteville 2 8 4 18 — 32
Springdale (17-10, 9-5): Crawford 11, Baird 11, Scharlau 6, Evans 6, Hernandez 5, Robinson 4, Dennis 2.
Fayetteville (14-13, 7-7): Fields 12, Graves 4, McCullough 4, Smith 3, Paschke 3, Armstrong 2, Crawford 2, Arnold 2.