Davis delivers in clutch to lift Springdale to win

SPRINGDALE — Marquesha Davis turned to the Springdale High student section and motioned for them to hold it down while she tried to win the game for the Lady Bulldogs.

Then, she did.

Davis made two free throws with 0.4 seconds left to give Springdale a 37-36 victory over Carl Junction, Mo., Tuesday at the Bulldog Gymnasiums.

The clutch free throws completed an impressive performance by Davis, who had 21 points to lead all scorers. Davis was especially hot from the floor in the first half when she had 16 of Springdale’s 24 points. Her total after two quarters was one less than Carl Junction, which had 17 points at halftime.

Davis’ scoring pace slowed in the second half, but she was still able to secure the victory for Springdale from the free-throw line after being fouled on a rebound.

“I told them to be quiet so I could focus and make the shot,” Davis said. “I was a little bit nervous but I was still able to make the shots.”

Davis was supported on offense by senior guard Sarah Vogel, who made three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points. Davis contributed two 3-pointers and their combined effort was enough to outlast a Carl Junction team with two 6-foot-2 sisters on the inside. Senior Megan Scott scored 16 points while sophomore Katie Scott added eight.

Carl Junction rallied from a 19-6 deficit in the first half to tie the game 35-35 on a 3-pointer by Megan Scott with 1 minute, 3 seconds left in the game. Katie Scott made a free throw to put Carl Junction ahead 36-37 but she missed the second one to set up a final attempt for Springdale.

Davis almost lost the ball at midcourt, but she was able to get the rebound after a missed shot and was fouled. She converted both shots to give Springdale the win and some momentum heading into the holiday break.

“Coming off last season, we all knew free throws was an area Marquesha needed to improve on,” Springdale coach Heather Hunsucker said. “To see the look on her face when she stepped up and made both was the best part of that game. It shows how much she’s grown as a player.”

Carl Junction .........4 13 9 10 — 36 Springdale ...........11 13 7 6 — 37

Carl Junction (9-1): M. Scott 16, Winder 10, K. Scott 8, Hughes 2

Springdale (7-4): Davis 21, Vogel 11, Sysavanh 3, Turner 2

Farmington 58,

Bentonville West 51

Madisyn Pense had 27 points as Farmington had to hold off a late Bentonville West charge to claim a non-conference win in Wolverine Arena and extend its winning streak to seven games.

The Lady Cardinals (8-1) started the fourth quarter with a 46-36 lead, but the Lady Wolverines (6-4) whittled that down to a 51-48 margin after an Anna Kash steal and layup with 2:37 remaining. Farmington, however, turned Makenna Vanzant’s steal into a layup by Alexis Roach and used late free throws to seal the win.

Greenwood 61, Rogers High 44

The Lady Bulldogs used a big second half to pull away for the nonconference win Tuesday night.

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