Fayetteville’s Defense Dominates

Lady Bulldogs Clamp Down On Defense For Victory

— After a disappointing 7A/6A-West Conference opener last Friday, Fayetteville pressured Van Buren relentlessly the entire game, forcing 22 turnovers in a 49-33 girls basketball conference victory at Clair Bates Arena Tuesday night.

After Friday’s overtime loss to Rogers Heritage, Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said the win was much needed.

“This win will make practice a lot easier Wednesday,” Rimmer said. “We had a difficult practice Sunday and Monday because we were so disappointed to have lost that game. We had a hard time getting motivated. But getting a win, especially on the road is big for us.”

Though the Lady Bulldogs (5-10, 1-1) led by just 25-15 at halftime, they forced 16 turnovers and the Lady Pointers struggled just to get the ball past half court against full-court man pressure.

“We wanted the game to be sped up because we cannot let them set up in the half court and get the ball to their post threat (6-2 center Maria Santillana),” Rimmer said. “When she gets the ball she scores a lot of points. I thought our guard play defensively was fantastic.”

Fayetteville led 8-3 after a quarter, but Van Buren rallied as a Marla Burgos basket followed by a 3-pointer by Jessica Smith tied the game 90 seconds into the second quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs then went on an 11-0 spurt over the next three minutes, six from Jaylah Prude, to open up its first double-digit lead at 19-8.

Though Van Buren got back to within 19-13, Fayetteville again got a pair of Aubrey Edie layups off turnovers for its biggest lead of the half at 25-13.

 Once the double-digit lead was established, the Lady Pointers were forced to play a more up-tempo game that the Lady Bulldogs wanted. Though it got the deficit under 10 points a couple of time in the third period, Van Buren never really could get back into the game.

“I was all about creating tempo tonight,” Rimmer said. “We missed some easy shots, but we kept playing hard.”

Santillana led all scorers with 14 points.

Though only Vanessa Matlock was the only Lady Bulldogs in double figures with 10 points, the scoring was balanced as Prude and Edie each had 8 and Catara Robinson added 6.

FAYETTEVILLE 49, VAN BUREN 33

Fayetteville 8 17 9 15 — 49

Van Buren 3 12 7 11 —  33

Fayetteville (5-10, 1-1): Matlock 10, Prude 8, Edie 8, Robinson 6, Howard 4, Schuldt 4, White 2, Crockett 2, Austin 2, Conley 2, Breden 1.

Van Buren (4-7, 0-2): Santillana 14, Sheppard 6, Burgos 4, Faucher 3, Smith 3, Outlaw 3.

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