ROGERS -- After a tough loss earlier this week to Fayetteville, Bentonville's 56-22 win over Rogers on Friday night was just what his team needed, Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier said.
The Tigers (13-4, 2-2) kept the Mountaineers scoreless in the first quarter, while Avery Hughes opened up the scoring for Bentonville, chipping in the first seven points of the game, on her way to a team-high 18 points. The junior went six-of-14 from floor and four-of-six from the free-throw line to pace the offense.
"She has that shooter's mentality. She has that aggressiveness and that confidence," Halbmaier said. "That's what we need."
Rogers' (9-9, 2-2) struggled to find the basket early in the game, which ended with the team making just three-of-27 from the field in the first half.
Bentonville's duo of Fess Hawkins and Maryam Dauda led the Tigers defensively, making scoring even more difficult for the Mounties. They gave up only three baskets in the paint while they were on the floor.
Dauda and Hawkins also contributed heavily on the boards, keeping Tigers' possessions alive either by securing the offensive rebound or tapping it to one of their guards. At the half, Bentonville had 29 rebounds with 14 of them coming on offense, with most of those coming from the freshman and senior, respectively.
"It took a lot of easy points away from them," Halbmaier said. "Maryam is a difference maker inside the paint. She does a great job of, not only blocking, but altering. Then you got Fess on the other hand who comes in and is a beast on the boards and is just a fantastic rebounder."
The Mountaineers were led on offense by Amber Covington who had nine points off the bench. The junior scored every point for Rogers in the fourth quarter to cap off a strong performance that saw her go 4-7 from the field.
Bentonville's matchup defense proved to be another difference maker in the game. The Tigers forced double-digit turnovers
"I was very pleased how quick we jumped out on them," Halbmaier said. "I loved our defensive intensity we had. I think tonight was just an overall very good team performance."
Bentonville 56, Rogers 22
Bentonville 16 17 14 9 -- 56
Rogers 0 8 7 7 -- 22
Bentonville (13-4): Hughes 18, Dauda 11, Sanders 8, Hawkins 5, Wagner 3, Skidmore 3, Spear 2, Hernandez 2, Johnston 2, Irlenborn 2
Rogers (9-9): Covington 9, Storey 3, Hatch 3, Loyd 3, Carr 2, Figenskau 2
Boys
Bentonville 60, Rogers 53
Bentonville (11-4, 2-2) staved off a Rogers' comeback attempt to come away with the 60-53 win on Friday night.
The Tigers outscored Rogers (7-10, 0-4) in every quarter except the fourth, riding the backs of Michael Shanks and Asa Hutchinson who each had 17 points. But Rogers' Drew Miller kept the Mountaineers in the game, scoring a game-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers.
"They play the game, they don't play the score," Bentonville coach Dick Rippee said. "You get up on them 10 or 12, and you think you get a little separation and here they come right back."
Miller hit four threes in the fourth quarter alone, which jump-started a run for the Mountaineers that got them as close as close as five points. But Hutchinson kept them at bay, hitting a three and converting three of four free throws.
"You try to win every possession, and tonight, we won a few more than they did," Rippe said.
Bentonville 60, Rogers 53
Bentonville 11 15 14 20-- 60
Rogers 5 14 10 24 -- 53
Bentonville (11-4): Shanks 17, Hutchinson 17, Deffebaugh 9, Simmons 7, Baggett 6, Freeman 4
Rogers (7-10): Miller 24, Lacewell 7, Early 7, J. Uecker 5, Paschal 3, K. Uecker 3, Jones 2, Dake 2
Preps Basketball on 01/20/2018