FAYETTEVILLE — Bentonville’s 7A/6A-West Conference win Friday may have looked easy at times. But over the course of an entire game, the Lady Tigers had to work hard to fight off Fayetteville 44-37 in Bulldog Arena.
BENTONVILLE 44, FAYETTEVILLE 37
Bentonville 17 8 10 9 — 44
Fayetteville 11 8 6 12 — 37
Bentonville (18-2, 6-1): Lee 12, Mabeus 10, Casey 9, Secrest 5, Garrard 4, Coleman 4.
Fayetteville (7-13, 3-4): Edie 8, Brewer 6, Schuldt 6, Crockett 5, Prude 4, Breden 3, Howard 3, Austin 2.
“The first quarter we came out and we’re hitting some quick shots, and then the last quarter and half it was just a typical conference game,” Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier said. “It was a grind and we’re just glad to get a win, no matter how it looks.”
Bentonville (18-2, 6-1 7A/6A-West) built a 7-0 lead early and got the transition game going in building a 17-11 lead after one quarter. But the hot streak didn’t last as Fayetteville held the Lady Tigers without a field goal in the second quarter and pulled even at 25-25 quickly after halftime.
That’s when Bentonville turned from fast-pace offense to lockdown defense to pull away from the Lady Bulldogs, running off 12 straight points to take command early in the fourth.
“The third quarter started the way we wanted,” Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said. “Aubrey (Edie) comes out and hits those two big threes. Then the lid got back on the bucket for some reason.”
Fayetteville would get no closer than seven points in the final quarter as Brooke Mabeus and Rashaun Chasey helped seal the win with seven combined frees throws down the stretch.
“The drive to the basket is what they were giving us, so that’s what we did,” Halbmaier said. “But Fayetteville made us work to get every shot.”
Taylor Lee scored 12 and Mabeus added 10 for the Lady Tigers. Edie finished with eight to lead the Lady Bulldogs.