Fast Start Lifts Farmington To Regional Title

STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA 
Tichina Scales of Farmington drives down the court Saturday during the 4A North Region championship game against Ozark at Lincoln High School.
STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA Tichina Scales of Farmington drives down the court Saturday during the 4A North Region championship game against Ozark at Lincoln High School.

— It took Tichina Scales only five seconds to show Farmington coach Brad Johnson that there was still enough energy left to win the Class 4A North Region girls basketball title Saturday night.

That's how long it took the senior guard to score after the opening tip, giving the Lady Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 56-46 victory over Ozark in Saturday's championship game.

Class 4A North Region Tournament

Farmington 56, Ozark 46

Farmington^15^11^14^16^—^56

Ozark^9^12^13^12^—^46

Farmington (23-5): Scales 18, Maxwell 16, Tayton Hopkins 12, McPherson 5, Hamley 4, Smith 1.

Ozark (26-5): Ladd 16, Melton 15, Gragg 5, Heffington 3, A. Helmert 3, Allred 2, Schaffer 1, L. Helmert 1.

The win gives Farmington (23-5) the region's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye into the Class 4A State Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Lonoke.

"I'm really proud of how they came out with the energy they had," Johnson said. "Friday's game against Berryville was so physical. There were bodies on the floor, and we were pretty beat up.

"I wasn't too sure how much energy we had. For us to start like we did, I'm proud of them."

Farmington's quickness in its guard play was more than enough to overcome Ozark's size advantage. The Lady Cardinals went on from Scales' quick layup to build their biggest lead, 21-9, on Tayton Hopkins' bucket with 5 minutes, 14 seconds left before halftime.

Ozark (26-5) cut the lead for four on four occasions, but couldn't get any closer. The final time came when Olivia Melton's two free throws pulled the Lady Hillbillies within 50-46 with 1:24 remaining before Farmington sealed the win with six free throws.

Scales finished with 18 points to lead a trio of Farmington players in double figures, followed by Haley Maxwell with 16 and Hopkins with 12. Kylie Ladd led Ozark with 16 points, while Melton chipped in 15.

Berryville 36, Prairie Grove 34

Aleksei Smith hit two free throws with 32 seconds remaining, and Berryville knocked off 4A-1 Conference rival Prairie Grove in the third-place game.

Ally Teague had 12 points to lead Berryville, who was missing leading scorer Brittny Smith after she was injured in Friday's game against Farmington. Abby Smith and Macie Kultgen paced Prairie Grove with nine points apiece.

Sports on 03/03/2014

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