JUNIOR HIGH NOTEBOOK: Final Regional Spot Still Open

Rogers Improves Chances To Extend Season With Pair Of Wins

Monday, February 4, 2013

Fayetteville Woodland, Fayetteville Ramay and Springdale George have the inside track for three of the four boys berths to the junior high basketball regional with four games to go.

But five teams are still in the hunt for the fourth and final spot to the regional. The regional puts the top four teams from the Northwest Arkansas Conference against the top four teams from the River Valley Conference.

Woodland (12-2) is in first place and the Cowboys face second-place Ramay (11-3) on Thursday. George (9-5) is in third place while Springdale Central, Bentonville Black and Rogers High are all tied for fourth at 7-7. Siloam Springs and Springdale Southwest are also in the hunt at 6-8.

Rogers improved its chances to extend the season with a pair of wins last week against Bentonville Gold and Siloam Springs. Rogers hosts Woodland tonight and crosstown rival Heritage Thursday.

“It was a good week,” Rogers coach Gerald Walsh said. “We certainly stayed in the conversation. We probably have the toughest schedule left of the teams we are fighting with for that fourth spot in regionals. So, we will really have to step up. We have four quality opponents left to play. We just have to take it one game at a time and be ready to compete at a very high level every night.”

Walsh said Daniel Salvador, Jay Young and George Black all played well in the two victories last week.

“We have been playing better because the intensity level on both sides of the ball has increased,” Walsh said. “We are getting production from so many different guys.”

Southwest remained in the postseason picture after defeating George 24-21 Thursday. J.P. Brandon led the way with eight points while David Carachure, Trey Smith and T.J. Eckwood keyed the defensive effort. Austin Henderson, Justin Weiser, Willie Jasinski and Avery Davis are all contributing key minutes.

Southwest plays Black tonight is a game that could go a long way in determining the final regional spot.

“We are playing good defense,” Southwest coach Stephen Price said. “There are no easy wins in the conference this year. Black is big and they have some scorers. We will have to play great team defense.”

Tyler Robinson has been one key to Black’s success after posting a double-double the past four games, including scoring 16 points in Thursday’s win against Central.

Black coach Brian Ward said the win against Central was a total team effort.

“Our team showed some toughness that had been lacking the last few games,” Ward said. “We have to continue to improve as a team. If we continue to control the glass and take care of the ball, good things will happen for us.”

Girls Race

The Woodland girls kept pace with league-leader Fayetteville Ramay with a pair of wins last week and the Cowgirls host Rogers before facing the Lady Indians. Kylee Coulter is averaging 13 points a game for Woodland while Haley Ratcliff and Susannah Gray are adding eight and seven points, respectively.

Woodland coach Marilyn Bauer said the team is focusing on one game at a time.

“We try never to overlook anybody,” Bauer said. “That is what happened with our loss to Siloam Springs and it has comeback to haunt us. This week is like every other week. Every possession and turnover is crucial, and we will work on focusing on just that. Rogers and Ramay are both going to be good games, and wins that are a must.”

Northwest Arkansas Conference Standings

Girls

Team Conf. Record

Fayetteville Ramay 13-1

Springdale George 12-2

Fayetteville Woodland 11-3

Bentonville Gold 9-5

Springdale Central 6-8

Springdale Southwest 6-8

Rogers High 5-9

Siloam Springs 5-9

Bentonville Black 1-13

Rogers Heritage 0-14

Tonight’s Games

Heritage at Central

Ramay at Siloam Springs

Southwest at Black

Rogers at Woodland

George at Gold

Thursday’s Games

Rogers vs Heritage

Central vs Southwest

Woodland vs Ramay

Black vs Gold

Siloam Springs at George

Boys

Team Conf. Record

Fayetteville Woodland 12-2

Fayetteville Ramay 11-3

Springdale George 9-5

Springdale Central 7-7

Bentonville Black 7-7

Rogers High 7-7

Siloam Springs 6-8

Springdale Southwest 6-8

Rogers Heritage 5-9

Bentonville Gold 0-14

Tonight’s Games

Central at Heritage

Siloam Springs at Ramay

Black at Southwest

Woodland at Rogers High

Gold at George

Thursday’s Games

Heritage vs Rogers

Southwest vs Central

Ramay vs Woodland

Gold vs Black

George at Siloam Springs