Returning all-stater Payton Henson didn’t take long to show he and the Siloam Springs Panthers will compete in their inaugural season in the 7A/6A-West Conference after being elevated from Class 5A.
Henson rattled the rim for 39 points to lead the Panthers to a 69-62 win against Springdale Har-Ber on Friday in the conference opener.
“He’s been on a roll lately, and his teammates have done a good job of getting him the ball in the right spots,” Siloam Springs boys basketball coach Tim Stewart said. “He really had a good night.”
Henson was 13 of 16 from the floor with a pair of dunks, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked two shots.
“He had a couple of real big dunks that really got our crowd into it,” Stewart said. “He really came through big for us. He’s getting better every game this year, and that’s what we need him to do.”
Henson also converted a rare four-point play with Siloam Springs clinging to a 58-54 lead with 3 minutes, 7 seconds left in the game. Henson hit a 3-pointer, was fouled on the shot and added the ensuing free throw.
“He’s improved his game, not just on the post but he hit can hit the three and put it on the floor,” Strwart said. “We’re really thankful to have him.”
Henson became the school’s all-time leading scorer in December, and now has scored 1,858 points in his four-year career. He led the 5A-West in scoring last year with 347 points in 14 conference games, which was a single-season conference record.
That Figures
1,858 - Career points scored by Siloam Springs’ Payton Henson
70 - percent Shooting for Fayetteville Bulldogs in second half Friday
1 - Win by Rogers Heritage girls in nine games against Fayetteville after Friday’s win
Sisters Ashley and Brittany Ward each scored 16 points to lead Rogers Heritage to a 50-48 win in overtime against Fayetteville.
“They really played well especially in the second half,” Heritage girls coach Kevin Ramey said. “We were out of sorts in the first half and struggling along, but Fayetteville had a lot to do with that. We got into halftime and knew we had to ride their backs a little bit more in the second half; get the ball into Ashley’s and Brittany’s hands and let them make decisions and make plays for us.”
Brittany Ward scored five of Heritage’s seven points in overtime. She also had six assists, five rebounds and five steals. She was 10 of 13 from the free-throw line.
“Ashley really kept us in the game in the first half and allowed us to stay close,” Ramey said. “Then in the fourth quarter and overtime, Brittany really stepped up and took control for us. She made some big free throws for us and allowed us to put the game away.”
Ashley Ward was Heritage’s leading scorer as a sophomore before tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee just prior to her junior season and missing the entire season.
“We felt so terrible for her,” Ramey said. “She had as good a spring and summer and fall as any kid I have coached in my 14 years. She had put herself in position to have an outstanding junior season, and we were looking for big things for her. We were really excited for her, and then a week before the season she tore that ACL and missed her entire season. She never had a pity party; she sucked it up and was an outstanding teammate last year in a different role.”
She’s off to a good start in her senior season in conference play.
“I think she savors playing a little bit more now, and it means a little bit more because she missed that year,” Ramey said. “She’s given us so much over three years. It’s great to have her out there on the floor.”
OVERTIME ALREADY
Heritage won the first overtime game of the conference season on Friday with a 50-48 win.
Fayetteville sent the game into overtime with an unlikely 3-pointer from sophomore post player Lauren Schuldt, who hit a shot from about 22 feet out at the fourth-quarter buzzer to tie the game at 46-46.
“You never want to have to win a game twice,” Ramey said. “That’s the exact situation we were in. They had shot it and missed. We had secured the rebound and were trying to clear it out of there, but lost the handle on it. She (Schuldt) picked it up and made a heck of a shot.”
The main focus for Ramey and his players was to go back on the floor and win the game in overtime.
“There was a little bit of shock when the ball went through the basket,” Ramey said. “My immediate concern was for my players. They had put so much into getting the lead and getting stops down the stretch, and then to have something fluky like that happen. It was a 1-in-1,000 shot, but give her (Schuldt) credit because she swished it. By the time they got out of the huddle, they were OK.”
The win by Heritage was a big one for the Lady War Eagles, who had never beaten Fayetteville.
“We were 0-and-8 against them,” Ramey said. “Their tradition is so good at Fayetteville. It helps us with our confidence. Hopefully, this will springboard us forward.”
Heritage trailed 23-17 at the half.
“A year ago, I don’t think we would have had the maturity to win that game,” Ramey said. “We have four or five kids that have been through the fires with us and been in those situations. They refocused real fast.”
The win was especially gratifying for the seniors, who won one conference game as sophomores and two conference games last year.
“Sometimes, you’re working as hard as you can possibly work and the smartest you can possibly work and you just don’t see any rewards,” Ramey said. “They’ve been through the fires, and we just kept telling them to doing right, keep working and good things are going to be alright. They have to have belief in what we’re doing. They never let go of the rope. It’s rewarding to see them get some success that they deserve.”
BIG WIN
The win by the Siloam Springs Panthers was also a big one.
“It was a big win for us to get started right,” Stewart said. “We know it’s going to be a big challenge for us this year. We’re looking to keep clawing and fighting our way and see how we can do.”
Siloam Springs is the only Class 6A school competing in the 7A/6A-West. The Panthers are assured of making the state tournament in Class 6A, where all schools advance to the state tournament.
“We’re preaching that we’re trying to win the (7A/6A) West,” Stewart said. “We’re going to do everything we can do to be at the top of the pack. A good finish gives us a good draw and a better first-round game. Once you get to the state tournament and get a game under the belt, there’s no telling what will happen.”
Benton and Greenwood are the only two schools to submit a bid for hosting the Class 6A state tournament. Last year’s tournament was held in El Dorado.
“Having it in Greenwood would be nice,” Stewart said. “We’re comfortable in that gym, and it’s a short drive. We’d feel pretty fortunate if it’s at Greenwood.”
The Arkansas Activities Association is expected to vote Thursday.
NOT AS GOOD
Van Buren’s return to the 7A/6A-West was not as good as Siloam Springs’ debut in the conference.
Van Buren was swept in its first conference doubleheader back in the West at Bentonville.
The Tigers beat the Pointers, 57-51, while the Lady Tigers outscored Van Buren in each quarter on the way to a 57-33 win.
Van Buren was last in the West in 2008 when the Pointers finished 7-7 and advanced to the state tournament. The Pointerettes were just 3-11 and failed to make the state tournament.
Fort Smith Northside and Southside are now playing in the 7A/6A-Central.
TIP-INS
The Fayetteville Bulldogs canned 70 percent of their shots from the floor in the second half of Friday’s 59-32 win against Rogers Heritage, hitting 16 of 23. … Manny Watkins had 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win. … Bentonville’s Taylor Lee had a solid all-around performance in a 57-33 win against Van Buren with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals and has scored in double-digits in all 14 games this season.
7A/6A-WEST CONFERENCE LEADERS
BOYS
SCORING OFFENSE
SCHOOL G PTS AVG
Springdale High 1 79 79.0
Siloam Springs 1 69 69.0
Springdale Har-Ber 1 62 62.0
Fayetteville 1 59 59.0
Bentonville 1 57 57.0
Van Buren 1 51 51.0
Rogers High 1 49 49.0
Rogers Heritage 1 32 32.0
TEAM DEFENSE
SCHOOL G PTS AVG
Fayetteville 1 32 32.0
Springdale High 1 49 49.0
Bentonville 1 51 51.0
Van Buren 1 57 57.0
Rogers Heritage 1 59 59.0
Siloam Springs 1 62 62.0
Springdale Har-Ber 1 69 69.0
Rogers High 1 79 79.0
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
PLAYER, SCHOOL G PTS AVG
Payton Henson, Siloam Springs 1 39 39.0
Dashaun Stark, Springdale High 1 24 24.0
Manuale Watkins, Fayetteville 1 19 19.0
Nick Smith, Bentonville 1 19 19.0
Quinton Ray, Van Buren 1 18 18.0
Alex Rice, Springdale Har-Ber 1 16 16.0
Ryan Pearson, Van Buren 1 15 15.0
Austin Fox, Springdale Har-Ber 1 15 15.0
Austin Heard, Bentonville 1 15 15.0
Tyler Tutt, Springdale High 1 14 14.0
Collin Jones, Rogers High 1 14 14.0
Alex Scharlou, Springdale High 1 13 13.0
Reed Hill, Rogers High 1 13 13.0
Keifer Holt, Rogers High 1 13 13.0
Hayden Greenway, Rogers Heritage 1 12 12.0
Brendan Cook, Springdale High 1 9 9.0
Braxton Jester, Springdale Har-Ber 1 9 9.0
Austin Haggard, Bentonville 1 9 9.0
Tyler McCullough, Fayetteville 1 8 8.0
Caleb Waitsman, Fayetteville 1 8 8.0
Brandon Buccheri, Springdale Har-Ber 1 8 8.0
Xavier Thomas, Rogers Heritage 1 8 8.0
Aaron Ward, Bentonville 1 8 8.0
Reece Goddard, Siloam Springs 1 7 7.0
Raul Leyva, Siloam Springs 1 7 7.0
Dylan Gray, Siloam Springs 1 7 7.0
Tre Boyd, Fayetteville 1 7 7.0
Jawan Smith, Fayetteville 1 7 7.0
Nick Seliga, Siloam Springs 1 6 6.0
Josiah Wymer, Springdale High 1 6 6.0
Jordan Johnson, Springdale High 1 6 6.0
GIRLS
TEAM OFFENSE
SCHOOL G PTS AVG
Bentonville 1 57 57.0
Springdale High 1 54 54.0
Springdale Har-Ber 1 53 53.0
Rogers Heritage 1 50 50.0
Siloam Springs 1 49 49.0
Rogers High 1 49 49.0
Fayetteville 1 48 48.0
Van Buren 1 33 33.0
TEAM DEFENSE
SCHOOL G PTS AVG
Bentonville 1 33 33.0
Rogers Heritage 1 48 48.0
Springdale High 1 49 49.0
Springdale Har-Ber 1 49 49.0
Fayetteville 1 50 50.0
Siloam Springs 1 53 53.0
Rogers High 1 54 54.0
Van Buren 1 57 57.0
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
PLAYER, SCHOOL G PTS AVG
Baily Cameron, Siloam Springs 1 22 22.0
Taylor Lee, Bentonville 1 20 20.0
Brittany Jurgens, Springdale High 1 19 19.0
Bailey Schalk, Springdale Har-Ber 1 16 16.0
Ashley Ward, Rogers Heritage 1 16 16.0
Brittany Ward, Rogers Heritage 1 16 16.0
McKinzie James, Rogers High 1 13 13.0
Ellen Lundy, Rogers Heritage 1 13 13.0
Morgan Miller, Siloam Springs 1 12 12.0
Javunda Daniels, Springdale High 1 12 12.0
Ellie Breden, Fayetteville 1 11 11.0
Cassandra Trexler, Rogers High 1 11 11.0
Julia Garrard, Bentonville 1 11 11.0
Caylee Wright, Springdale Har-Ber 1 10 10.0
Tayleah Neal, Springdale Har-Ber 1 10 10.0
Maria Santillana, Van Buren 1 9 9.0
Lauren Schuldt, Fayetteville 1 9 9.0
Taylor Strickland, Rogers High 1 9 9.0
Alexa Howard, Fayetteville 1 8 8.0
Aubrey Edie, Fayetteville 1 8 8.0
Baiyinnah Taylor, Springdale High 1 8 8.0
Kindal Coleman, Bentonville 1 8 8.0
Kaylee Sheppard, Van Buren 1 7 7.0
Michelle Faucher, Van Buren 1 7 7.0
Karen Perez, Springdale High 1 7 7.0
Haley McCarver, Springdale Har-Ber 1 7 7.0
Hannah Hawley, Rogers High 1 7 7.0
Makenzie Glassco, Van Buren 1 6 6.0
Taylor Gay, Siloam Springs 1 6 6.0
Jaylah Prude, Fayetteville 1 6 6.0
Samantha Warren, Rogers High 1 6 6.0
Samantha Weber, Springdale Har-Ber 1 6 6.0