Mounties end long streak

Rogers High wins after losing 20 conference games

NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER Wayne Herren, Rogers High head coach, celebrates Friday with junior Milacio Freeland as the final buzzer sounds in the Mounties’ upset win over Springdale High in Rogers. See more photos at nwadg.com/photos.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER Wayne Herren, Rogers High head coach, celebrates Friday with junior Milacio Freeland as the final buzzer sounds in the Mounties’ upset win over Springdale High in Rogers. See more photos at nwadg.com/photos.

ROGERS -- Rogers High guard Milacio Freeland had just one thought when he went to the free-throw line with 34.3 seconds left in the Mounties game with Springdale High. The junior had the same thought 26 seconds later when he returned to the line.

It was the Mounties 20-game 7A-West Conference losing streak and Freeland had been in uniform for every loss.

How They Scored

7A-West Conference

Boys

Rogers High 46, Springdale High 40

Springdale^5^6^8^21^—^40

Rogers^6^8^14^18^—^46

Springdale (8-11, 3-4): Owens 12, Gause 11, Mahar 9, Keeling 3, Carachure 3, Norris 2.

Rogers (1-6, 6-14): Salvador 14, Heffley 13, Allen 7, Freeland 6, McCullough 4, Cooper 2.

Girls

Rogers High 41, Sprimgdale High 37

Springdale^6^8^17^6^—^37

Rogers^10^8^9^13^—^41

Springdale (10-10, 1-6): Owens 9, Daniels 7, Mack 7, Brown 4, Goodsell 4, Lang 4, Dougan 2.

Rogers (7-13, 1-6): Randels 17, Sagely 14, Sandor 4, Repella 3, Richmond 3.

Freeland made sure that streak is now a distant memory. Freeland hit four free throws the final 34.3 seconds as the Mounties defeated the Bulldogs 46-40 in King Arena. Rogers (6-14, 1-6) made 11 of 14 free throws the final 4:43 of the game.

"Ending this losing streak is huge for us," Rogers coach Wayne Herren said. "I'm so proud of our guys' defensive effort. They played hard the whole game, and it would have been easy to fold with everything that has happened to us. Everybody contributed."

Freeland's first two free throws gave Rogers a 42-40 lead and he made a return trip with 7.8 seconds left after being fouled while coming up with a steal as the Bulldogs attempted to tie the game. Freeland made both for a 44-40 lead and Harrison Heffley added two more with less than a second left to cap the victory.

"0-20 hurts and I knew these free throws would get us over the hump," Freeland said. "I was thinking, 'This is it, this is our season right here.' It feels really good to get this one."

Daniel Salvador led Rogers with 14 points and the junior hit three 3-pointers in the second half as the Mounties led by as many as 11 points. Heffley added 13 points for the Mounties.

Springdale was just 8 of 32 from the field the first three quarters but Chris Owens scored nine of his team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs tied the game at 40-40 on a layup by Treyshawn Gause, who finished with 11 points.

But the Mounties would make a six free throw attempts the rest of the way to finally find the 7A-West win column.

"We were not mentally in tune to where we needed to be," said Springdale coach Brad Stamps. "Rogers deserved to win this basketball game. From the opening tip, they were the more aggressive team. The credit goes to Rogers."

Girls

Rogers High 41, Springdale 37

Elise Randels scored 17 points and the sophomore gave Rogers a 41-37 lead with two free throws with 9.6 seconds left as the Lady Mounties defeated the Lady Bulldogs. Brooke Sagely added 14 points for Rogers (7-13, 1-6).

Chasidee Owens led Springdale (10-10, 1-6) with nine points, including seven in the second half.

Sports on 01/31/2015

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