VAN BUREN — Both teams will miss out of the postseason this year, but it doesn’t mean Friday’s win wasn’t a special one for Springdale coach Heather Hunsucker.
The Lady Bulldogs (7-20, 2-12) opened their 7A/6A-West Conference schedule with an upset win over Rogers High, then lost 12 straight games — including a 51-45 home loss to Van Buren last month. But the win in the rematch snapped the losing streak and ended Springdale's season on a high note.
“We lost a lot of close games in conference,” Hunsucker said. “We felt like we had chances for more quality wins, but we were just a few points short. Tonight, to see our teams make plays to win the game was a big stepping stone for us.
“For the next six months, this is something to build off of. This was big.”
In the end, it was a defensive play that made the difference when the Bulldogs knocked away a pass meant for Van Buren post Maria Santillana. Springdale got the ball with two seconds left and ran out the clock.
After a steal and layup by Javonda Daniels gave Springdale a 35-26 advantage midway through the fourth quarter, the Lady Bulldogs seemed to be in control. But Kaylee Sheppard scored five points in a 10-2 run, including two free throws with 11.7 second left, to get the Lady Pointers to within 37-36.
Sheppard paced Van Buren with 12 points.
Van Buren then fouled Ashley Dederich, who led Springdale with 10 points. She missed a one-and-one with nine seconds left, but the defensive stop saved the day.
Springdale 37, Van Buren 36
Springdale 13 12 6 6 37
Van Buren 12 12 0 12 — 36
Springdale (7-20, 2-12): Dederich 10, Daniels 8, Jurgens 8, Taylor 7, Long 2, McPherson 2.
Van Buren (5-18, 1-13): Sheppard 12, Beckner 9, Santillana 9, Glassco 4, Outlaw 2.