PREP BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Lady Cardinals Prevail Without Coach

— Farmington’s offensive explosion in the second quarter Tuesday night made things a lot easier for girls assistant basketball coach Jessica McCullough.

McCullough filled in for Brad Johnson, who missed the Lady Cardinals’ 76-59 victory over Gravette because of an illness.

“I had the idea that I would have to do it (Monday) night,” she said. “Then it was confirmed Tuesday. We had about a day to prepare for it, but he already had the kids prepared.

“We already had the scouting report, and we just tried to make things as routine as they always are for them.”

Farmington (14-3, 5-0 4A-1 Conference) outscored Gravette 33-10 in the second quarter and turned a three-point deficit into a 48-28 halftime cushion. Tichina Scales and Haley Maxwell fueled the outburst with 10 points apiece during that stretch.

Maxwell had 22 points to lead four Lady Cardinals in double figures. Scales was next in line with 14, followed by Kristi Duchanois with 13 and Rene Scheyder with 10.

“We came out flat in the first quarter, and Gravette had a lot to do with that,” McCullough said. “I knew our kids would fight back and get us back in the game, and they did.

“We blocked out and rebounded well, and we really ran the floor well. We were able to execute our halfcourt offense, and that second quarter was definitely the difference for us.”

McCullough expects Johnson to be back on the bench Friday when Farmington travels to Prairie Grove in a huge 4A-1 showdown.

“I think I’m just 1-and-done,” McCullough said.

— HENRY APPLE

Tigers Off To Strong Start

West Fork boys basketball coach David Ferrell was concerned how a role change might affect his son Josh’s performance this season, but the senior guard hasn’t missed a beat.

Josh Ferrell has led the Tigers, averaging almost 23 points and seven assists per game, despite moving from shooting guard to point guard.

“He averaged 13 or 14 points a game last year,” David Ferrell said. “I was hesitant to put him at the point this year because he’s our best shooter. But he’s been a pleasant surprise, scoring more and doubling his assists.”

West Fork is 14-2 and 1-0 in the 3A-1 West Conference heading into Friday’s home game against Elkins.

Ferrell said the Tigers have been buoyed by the play of four seniors. Forward Leon Beasley, along with 6-foot-5 post men Trusten DeSoto and Robert Wingate have played key roles, along with Josh Ferrell.

“Our post play has improved,” David Ferrell said. “Both those kids started off and on for us last year.”

Beasley is averaging around 14 points per game this season.

— PAUL BOYD

Tigers Still Trying To Find Right Chemistry

Prairie Grove basketball roster looks a lot like its football one, and that has meant a big adjustment from the field to the court for the Tigers.

The Tigers (3-10, 1-4 4A-1 Conference) are still trying to mesh the players together after a long football season that stretched into December. On Tuesday, Prairie Grove was mercy-ruled by Pea Ridge, 60-26.

“We do have a lot of football players,” Tigers coach Steve Edmiston said. “I think we’ve started to turn the corner a little bit over the past couple of weeks. Basically, we ran into a buzz saw tonight.”

The Tigers fell behind early against the league-leading Blackhawks and never had a chance.

“Offensively, we just didn’t look like we were on the same page,” Edmiston said. “We looked like anything but a team on the offensive end.”

Prairie Grove has a chance to earn a big win Friday when it hosts longtime Highway 62 rival Farmington, which suffered its first league loss on Tuesday to Gravette.

“It’s always a big rivalry when we play Farmington, and hopefully it’s a game we’ll get up for,” Edmiston said. “And hopefully it’s a chance to get closer to where we want to be.”

— CHIP SOUZA

Lady Bulldogs Learning On Fly

DECATUR — Decatur is in the middle of a brutal stretch of four games in eight days and Lady Bulldogs coach Bill Niven said the current schedule is just another learning experience for his young team.

Niven took over at Decatur last spring and the Lady Bulldogs (3-10, 1-3 2A-4) have already won one more game than they did last season. Decatur’s conference win was against Hartford, and Niven feels there are several more winnable games left on the schedule.

“A realistic goal for us would be fourth or fifth in the conference,” Niven said. “You would play teams that are comparable to you at district and that gives you a chance to go to regionals. That is our goal.”

Decatur ended last season with six players, but the current roster has 12, including four seniors. Niven recently moved freshman Amanda Brenes from the junior high team to the varsity roster.

“She has done very well,” Niven said. “I really moved her up more for her than for the team. She has some potential to become a very good player and this will be good for her.”

— PAUL NIELSEN

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