The final week of Northwest Arkansas Conference play will go a long way in determining who has momentum going into the 7A West regional tournament in Siloam Springs next week.
Fayetteville Woodland is at the top of the standings in both boys and girls, but has to clear one final hurdle in Springdale Southwest.
“Both teams are very balanced,” Woodland girls coach Marilyn Bauer said. “Both teams will be bringing their best game forward and I assure you, with so much on the line for both teams, anything can happen. Now is the time of year that you must be playing your best or your season is over.”
The Lady Cougars are undefeated in league play, but Woodland has already gotten the better of them twice earlier this year in tournaments.
Coach Cameron Walker is hoping the third time is the charm for his team, which with a win on the road tonight, would clinch
STANDINGS
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS CONFERENCE
BOYS
School * Overall W-L * Conf W-L
Fayetteville Woodland 15-5 7-1 Bentonville Gold 10-8 6-2 Springdale Southwest 13-5 5-3 Fayetteville Ramay 12-6 5-3 Springdale Lakeside 9-8 5-3 Bentonville Black 13-9 5-4 Springdale Central 9-10 3-4 Rogers High 11-9 4-5 Springdale George 4-12 2-5 Siloam Springs 7-12 1-6 Rogers Heritage 2-18 0-7
TODAY’S GAMES
Heritage at Black Lakeside at Central Ramay at George Siloam Springs at Gold Woodland at Southwest
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Central at Ramay George at Woodland Gold at Heritage Rogers High at Siloam Springs Southwest at Lakeside
GIRLS
School * Overall W-L * Conf W-L
Fayetteville Woodland 19-0 8-0 Springdale Southwest 12-4 7-0 Rogers High 15-7 6-2 Fayetteville Ramay 13-5 5-3 Springdale Central 10-8 4-3 Bentonville Gold 12-5 4-4 Bentonville Black 8-12 4-4 Springdale George 6-9 3-5 Rogers Heritage 5-12 1-6 Siloam Springs 4-16 1-6 Springdale Lakeside 0-17 0-8
TODAY’S GAMES
Black at Heritage Central at Lakeside George at Ramay Gold at Siloam Springs Southwest at Woodland
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Ramay at Central Woodland at George Heritage at Gold Siloam Springs at Rogers High Lakeside at Southwest
Southwest’s first conference title in 24 years.
The Lady Cougars are averaging 50 points a game courtesy of a very balanced scoring effort, which includes Khanni Shannon’s 14 points per game.
Savanna Collins, Maci Mains and Krislyn Smith are all averaging 10 points per game, while AJ Powell is contributing six points and six rebounds a contest.
“I’m proud of our kids and the efforts they’ve given so far this season,” Walker said. “We’ve played together and managed to win in several different ways. It will take another tremendous collective effort tonight.”
Woodland boys made up a game Saturday with Bentonville Black, winning 53-35, and will have a short turnaround as they make the trip to Southwest tonight.
“It’s a big game in many ways,” Woodland boys coach Jeff Boogaart said. “Playing Southwest anytime, you know they are extremely well coached, very disciplined, and will shoot it really well at their place.”
Boogaart mentioned that his Cowboys continue to get stellar guard play out of Barrett Banister, Taylor Powell, Tyler Roth and Nick Scalise.
“If we can win at Southwest, we will clinch at least a share of the conference championship,” Boogaart said.
Southwest’s boys are a game behind Bentonville Gold for second, and a win at home over Woodland would help secure a higher seed in the regional tournament.
“Woodland is always one of the top teams in the conference,” Southwest coach Steve Price said. “Very skilled and deep. If you don’t play well, they can embarrass you. We hope to play our best game of the year.”
The top four teams advance to the regional tournament, squaring off against the top four teams from the River Valley Conference.
If the season ended today, Woodland, Gold, Southwest and Fayetteville Ramay would clinch a spot on the boys side, while Woodland, Southwest, Rogers High and Ramay would secure a spot on the girls side.