FARMINGTON -- Beau Thompson turned to a familiar strategy that resulted in a stunning upset Friday night in 5A-West Conference play.
Last season, the Cardinals won a number of games by putting the ball in sophomore Matt Thomas' hands late in games. Thomas has a knack for getting to the rim or drawing fouls and is almost automatic from the free-throw line.
Boys
Farmington 59, Maumelle 56
Maumelle^18^12^13^13^—^56
Farmington^11^13^12^23^—^59
Maumelle (16-5, 7-1): Minix 18, Tremont Robinson 15, Tyshun Robinson 7, Johnson 6, Connor 3, Edmond Robinson 3, Burton 2, Waits 2.
Farmington (12-8, 3-5): Thomas 22, Wilson 13, Barnes 10, Oxford 4, Spears 4, Mueller 3, Osnes 3.
Girls
Farmington 71, Maumelle 32
Maumelle^9^8^2^13^—^32
Farmington^23^20^24^4^—^71
Maumelle (4-18, 0-8): Summons 10, Woods-Gray 6, Colquitt 6, Thompson 6, Lockhart 2, Hopson 2.
Farmington (16-4, 6-2): Tahlon Hopkins 18, O’Connell 13, Duchanois 10, Hamley 8, McPherson 6, Tevebaugh 5, Smith 4, Tayton Hopkins 3, Brown 3, Dutton 1.
It was a ploy that worked to perfection again in Friday's 59-56 win over previously undefeated Maumelle in Cardinal Arena on Color's Day.
Thomas scored nine of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter, including 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. He scored his team's final seven points as the Cardinals (12-8, 3-5 5A-West) avenged a 20-point loss to the Hornets in their first meeting.
"Coach Thompson always preaches free throws win games," Thomas said. "It gets annoying, but he's right."
Farmington, which moved into its new arena just a few weeks ago, earned the program's biggest win since moving up to Class 5A by refusing to wilt after trailing by 11 points in the first half and 16 in the second half. Maumelle (16-5, 7-1) raced out to a 22-11 lead with 6 minutes, 52 seconds left in the second quarter. The Hornets' swarming half-court trap defense gave the Cardinals fits early on.
"I admit I had my doubts the way we were turning it over in the first half," Thompson said. "We went through a stretch in the second quarter where we held them six straight times without scoring, but we kept turning it over and couldn't score.
"We thought we were doing good to be down six at halftime."
Maumelle led 30-24 at the break and increased the lead to 16 points, 43-27, on a JB Minix layup with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. Minix led the Hornets with 18 points.
The Cardinals refused to go away, and slowly chipped away at Maumelle's lead. Thomas hit a pair of free throws, and the Cardinals ended the third quarter on a 9-0 run to close to within 43-36 at the end of the quarter.
Sophomore Matt Wilson, who scored 13 points for Farmington, opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, then followed that with a steal and layup and Farmington was within 43-41. Later in the quarter, Farmington senior Jeremy Mueller, who was held scoreless to that point, drove the lane and hit a layup and was fouled with 4:42 left. Mueller's free throw tied the score at 47-47.
"I thought Mueller's and-one in the fourth quarter was big," Thompson said. "He was in foul trouble all night, but he got to the block and hit a big shot there."
It was a back-and-forth game the rest of the way. Farmington's Skyler Barnes, who scored 10 points, gave the Cardinals their first lead on an offensive put back, and Farmington never trailed again. Jarred Osnes also hit a big 3-pointer for the Cardinals for a 52-49 lead with 2:12 left.
Maumelle tied the game at 54-54 on Tremont Robinson's off-balance layup, but Thomas was money down the stretch, getting a three-point play, and icing the win with a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds left. Maumelle missed a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
"He's a real good option," Thompson said of Thomas' clutch play. "He played a great fourth quarter with four fouls. Not many players are savvy enough to do that."
Girls
Farmington 71, Maumelle 32
The Lady Cardinals cruised to a mercy-rule rout as Tahlon Hopkins scored a game-high 18 points.
Trish O'Connell added 13 and Kristi Duchanois 10 for Farmington (16-4, 6-2).
Kamri Summons led Maumelle (4-18, 0-8) with 10.
Sports on 02/07/2015