Bentonville Earns Key Win Over Springdale

STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA
Maddie Brittain of Bentonville drives to the hoop Tuesday during the first half against Springdale High at Tiger Arena in Bentonville.
STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA Maddie Brittain of Bentonville drives to the hoop Tuesday during the first half against Springdale High at Tiger Arena in Bentonville.

— Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier didn't talk to his team about the significance of Tuesday's game against Springdale High.

At least not until the Lady Tigers had all but wrapped up a crucial 60-46 home win, that is.

How They Scored

Girls

Bentonville 60, Springdale 46

Springdale^8^4^15^19^—^46

Bentonville^10^11^21^17^—^60

Springdale (14-10, 8-5): Goodsell 16, Daniels 12, Mack 11, Owens 4, Kahn 3.

Bentonville (18-7, 9-4): Martin 16, Taylor 15, Hargus 7, Adkins 7, Brittain 5, Whidbee 4, Coleman 4, Johnston 2.

Bentonville (18-7, 9-4 7A/6A-West Conference) moved into second place with the win, while knocking Springdale (14-10, 8-5) to fourth and ensuring the Lady Tigers would finish no worse than third in the conference.

"The girls didn't even know that until 30 seconds left in the game and we were up by 12," Halbmaier said. "We didn't want to put added pressure on them. We just wanted them to win. If we win by 10 or more, then that's a bonus."

Jordan Martin scored 16 points and hit two key third-quarter 3-pointers as the Lady Tigers' shot a blistering 7-of-13 from 3-point range in the win.

"Our girls got into that rhythm, got into that transition and found the shooters," Halbmaier said. "Jordan hit those back-to-back 3s and sparked us to start the third quarter, then Deanna (Adkins) hit one in transition."

Bentonville took control of the game by ending the first half on a 21-4 run to take a 21-12 lead into intermission.

Springdale jumped out to an early lead as Ryann Goodsell scored six points in an 8-0 run to open the game with Bentonville starting a rarely-seen lineup that included four seniors. But the Lady Tigers answered with a 12-0 spurt and never looked back.

"Bentonville started making a lot of shots," Springdale coach Heather Hunsucker said. "I think that's been their pattern the last few games. They've been a really hot team, playing really well. All the sudden we started missing shots. We got the same looks. We just started missing shots."

Springdale didn't pull any closer than nine after halftime and trailed by double digits for most of the second half as Bentonville widened the gap by hitting five 3-pointers in the third quarter. Lady Bulldogs ophomore post Ryann Goodsell had 16 points and five rebounds, but the Lady Bulldogs lost their second straight game without point guard and leading scorer Kierra Lang (knee).

"She definitely makes everybody elses job easier," Hunsucker said of Lang. "(Ja'Vonda Daniels) has much easier looks. The whole team does. When you lose your point guard, that should be what you're saying. But at the same time, I still believe we got some good looks."

Sports on 02/26/2014

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