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