The Rogers Heritage Lady War Eagles got off to a much better start than the last time they played Bentonville, but still came up a little short Friday night to fall two games behind the 7A/6A-West Conference leaders.

Heritage (17-6, 7-3 7A/6A-West) trailed 19-1 after a quarter a few weeks earlier against Bentonville and never recovered. The Lady War Eagles stayed close throughout, but had a pair of possible game-tying shots blocked in the waning seconds.

The Heritage boys (9-13, 0-10) also stayed close Friday, but fell 55-48 to Bentonville.

Heritage coach Tom Olsen said Fridays loss likely came down to not being able to stop Bentonvilles Nick Smith, who finished with a game-high 30 points.

I think he had their first 11 points, Olsen said. Probably the difference was that six or eight points we just couldnt do anything about. He just scored over the top of us. I thought we defended pretty well. We gave up in the 70s the last time we played them.

PLAY OF THE WEEK: Senior Lacey Murray canned a 3-pointer from the top of the key to help Heritage regain the lead, only 19 seconds after Springdale High had grabbed its only lead of the game in the fourth quarter Tuesday. The Lady War Eagles went on to a 44-37 victory.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Murray came up with a huge basket on Tuesday and led Heritage with 11 against Bentonville on Friday. Connor Hirsh scored 11 points off the bench to help the War Eagles stay close Friday.

NOTABLE: The Lady War Eagles held a league opponent to 40 points or less for the seventh time in 10 games Friday night, despite losing to Bentonville 39-37.

THE LINGO: I like what weve the last six quarters and I hope we can continue that and get a win this week and kind of change the complexion of our season.

Tom Olsen

Rogers Heritage basketball coach

UP NEXT: Heritage will get to stay at home this week, facing Van Buren and Springdale Har-Ber at War Eagle Arena.