SPRINGDALE -- One major season goal was wrapped up for Farmington on Friday. Today, the Lady Cardinals turn their attention to the ultimate prize.
Farmington entered its first year in the 5A-West Conference as a team to watch in the girls' basketball race. Halfway through the league round-robin, however, coach Brad Johnson and his Lady Cards were two games behind in the standings. Thanks to a 46-28 win Friday against Vilonia on Senior Night at Cardinal Arena, Farmington was able to complete a perfect run through the second half of the conference schedule to rally past Vilonia for the 5A-West Conference championship.
"We've got a lot of respect for the 5A-West, the players and coaches in this league," Johnson said. "I use the term 'meat grinder' because you're in a fight for your life to survive.
"For our kids to come back from basically two games back and win the league, I'm awfully proud of them."
Farmington (24-4) has tightened its defense over the past few weeks, while using its balanced attack offensively to win seven consecutive games entering the Class 5A Tournament which begins today at Greene County Tech High in Paragould.
The Lady Cardinals get 13 points and six rebounds per game from senior post players Tahlon Hopkins, nine points and six boards from Kristi Duchanois, eight points per contest from Trish O'Connell and 7.5 points and three assists from point guard Tayton Hopkins.
"If there's one thing an opponent tries to take away from us, it's difficult," Johnson said. "Our kids have stepped up and we've asked them to do different things on different nights.
"We don't have one player going for 30 points but we have a bunch of kids who know their roles."
Farmington, the No. 1 seed from the 5A-West, plays 5A-South No. 4-seed Magnolia in today's first-round game at 7 p.m.
"Magnolia is long and rangy and athletic," Johnson said. "They'll have three players over 5-foot-10 in their lineup and they'll press some. We really need to value the basketball and make the most of our possessions."
A win would set up a quarterfinal round game for Farmington on Friday. Johnson indicated the plan for his team would be to come home Wednesday and then return to Greene County Tech on Thursday evening if they advance.
Vernon Tarver can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAVernon
Sports on 03/03/2015