Springdale Wins, Earns 3 Seed

SPRINGDALE -- Springdale High presented each of its five seniors with flowers and a framed senior photo on Senior Night in Bulldog Gym on Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs also sent the seniors out with another historically significant win.

Springdale 51, Van Buren 30

Van Buren^8^2^6^14^—^30

Springdale^13^9^22^7^—^51

Van Buren (5-20, 0-14): Santillana 9, Snowden 7, Goodwin 6, Sheppard 6, Glassco 2.

Springdale (15-10, 9-5): Owens 13, Daniels 10, Mack 6, Goodsell 6, Dederich 6, Sysavanh 3, Taylor 2, Perez 2, Long 2, Kahn 1.

Springdale earned a 51-30 mercy-rule home win over Van Buren in the regular-season finale, clinching the West No. 3 seed for the state tournament and wrapping up the Lady Bulldogs' best conference record since 2003.

Springdale (15-10, 9-5 7A/6A-West) will enter the 7A state tournament with momentum after winning for the seventh time in nine games and sending the seniors out on a high note in their final home game.

"It was special for our seniors," Springdale coach Heather Hunsucker said. "I was hoping that came with a win on senior night. They deserve it. It was just kind of one of those nights for us."

Sophomore Chasidee Owens had a game-high 13 points and impacted the game in multiple ways as 10 Springdale players scored in the rout, including seniors Ashley Dederich, Karen Perez and Baiyinnah Taylor.

Springdale led 13-8 after the first quarter, then opened the game up by only allowing two points in the second quarter as it stretched its lead to 22-10 at halftime. The Lady Bulldogs turned up their defensive intensity, forcing six second-quarter field goals and holding Van Buren (5-20, 0-14) to the one field goal.

"Springdale played well tonight," Van Buren coach Merrill Makin said. "They really came out and got after us. You've got to give them credit."

Springdale will open the state tournament with a first-round matchup against Fort Smith Southside on Thursday at 1 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs moved up to the No. 3 seed with their win coupled with Springdale Har-Ber's loss at Rogers High. They get an extra day of practice, which should be beneficial as sophomore point guard Kierra Lang (knee) gets ready to play after missing three games with a knee injury.

"The extra day of practice to heal up some bumps and bruises and give Kierra that extra day, I think is very, very big," Hunsucker said.

Sports on 03/01/2014

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