Prep Basketball Report

BOYS

THE NEW SCHOOL

Cougars growing up

The Cougars may be only in their second full season as a varsity program, but veteran coach David Ferrell said they have definitely grown up in that short period of time.

The New School rallied from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn a hard-fought 63-62 road win over Deer on Tuesday. That left the Cougars and Jasper currently in a tie atop the 1A-1 Conference. The two teams face off Tuesday in Fayetteville.

Ferrell said last year's team, which finished 28-9 and qualified for the state tournament, might not have been mature enough to handle that environment. The Cougars (20-1, 5-0 1A-1) return four starters off that team.

"The experience of last year probably helped us win that one," Ferrell said. "Last year's team probably doesn't win that game. This team's got some grit."

The Cougars' only loss this season came to Blue Eye, Mo., in the Border Shootout at North Arkansas Community College. But they have won six straight since that 53-47 defeat in mid-December.

Senior guard Chase Ammons, who hit the game-winning shot on Tuesday, is the team's top scorer. He recently surpassed 1,000 career points in only a season and a half.

The quartet of Ammons, Jan Sturner, Tysen Barbour and Ayden Barbour have started every game for in the school's short basketball history. They will be remembered for their part in establishing a foundation for the program, Ferrell said.

But he said depth has been the key difference between the two teams.

Senior Filip Obradovic moved into the starting lineup this year. But freshmen Will Sturner, Tanner Barbour and Machael Hardimon have given them a boost off the bench they didn't have a year ago.

"The bench is really the difference, Ferrell said. "We were scared to death to go to our bench last year. This year, we're happy going eight or nine deep."

BENTONVILLE HIGH

Tigers welcome Freeman back

The return of Brayden Freeman to Bentonville's lineup came a few days later than expected.

The senior forward played Tuesday night for the first time since he suffered a broken bone in his foot and a sprained ankle during a game against Farmington last month. Bentonville coach Dick Rippee said Freeman would have played Friday night against Van Buren had the game not been postponed as storms rolled through the area.

"The broken bone healed quicker than the sprained ankle," Rippee said. "I'm really proud for him. He's been a steady performer, and he's the heart and soul of our team. His experience will help so much as we go through conference play because he's been through the battles."

Rippee said Freeman played "about three-quarters of the game" and pulled off a double-double. He scored 12 points -- sharing the team lead with Colton Simmons and pulled down 10 rebounds in Bentonville's 42-35 victory over Rogers Heritage in Tiger Arena.

"He's been able to do shooting drills, but no lateral drills," Rippee said. "His shot looked good, but his timing looked a little bit off."

While Freeman has been out, sophomores Harrison Hicks and Abel Hutchinson had shared the starting duties. Both of them are now coming off the bench as the Tigers have four sophomores in their top eight players.

"One of the things we did was challenge them to do what they were doing while Brayden was gone," Rippee said. "They don't need to let Brayden do all the scoring. We improved some Tuesday night, and we're hoping they continue to get better and better with each game."

-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

WALDRON

Bulldogs focused on recovery

Waldron is no longer undefeated in conference play after losing badly, 82-51, at Charleston on Tuesday.

Brayden Ross scored 32 points and Jordan Fenner 31 for Charleston (7-5, 4-0), which outscored the Bulldogs 20-9 in the second quarter to gain control. Payton Brown had 25 for Waldron (15-4, 4-1) after scoring 59 and 42 points in games the previous week.

Charleston is now tied for first place in the 3A-1 West Conference with Elkins (16-1, 4-0), which beat Lincoln 67-52 on Tuesday.

Charleston shot 58 percent from the floor Tuesday and held Waldron to 6-of-24 shooting from the 3-point line, which is usually a strength for the Bulldogs.

"It was the perfect storm," Waldron coach Josh Brown said. "They shot out of their minds and we didn't play well at all. Brayden Ross went off outside and Fenner was really good inside. On the flip side, we didn't shoot like we usually do."

Waldron can now only gain a split this week heading into tonight's home game with Elkins, a fast-paced team with balanced scoring. Caden Vaught had 22 points and Paxton Barnett 21 in the win over Lincoln.

"We've got to bounce back," Brown said. "It's kind of like a player on the floor. You can't let one mistake lead to another, then another, and another. We can't let Tuesday's game effect what we do (tonight)."

-- Rick Fires • @NWARick

LAVACA

Arrows pointed in right direction

Lavaca coach Renner Reed has a luxury few teams in any classification can enjoy with 11 seniors on the roster. That experience factor has paid huge dividends for the Arrows (20-3, 5-0 2A-4 Conference).

"They all have a role and they play their roles very well," said Reed. "These guys are always pushing us to get better. It's a special group and they hold each other accountable."

Lavaca played a tough 14-game nonconference schedule to prepare for a deep postseason run, said Reed. The Arrows have beaten Greenwood, Lamar, Waldron and Shiloh Christian, and lost close games to Pea Ridge and Bergman. Elkins, one of the best boys teams in the region this season, handed Lavaca its only big loss.

Matt Melton, a 6-foot-2 senior, leads the team in scoring and rebounding, but the Arrows are very balanced.

"Matt is a tough matchup because he can play inside or outside," Reed said.

Jayger Wagner, a 5-8 guard and Andrew Wright, a 5-9 guard, provide Lavaca with a swarming defense, and 6-4 post Mark Miller is a lock-down defender.

Lavaca also has a rim protector in 6-6 Cayden Hearn.

"Cayden is getting better every game," Reed said. "He doesn't have a lot of court time, but he is learning and doing more things for us."

"We've been very balanced and had a lot of guys contribute for us," Reed said. "We do the little things right, like blocking out. And guys off the bench have also been big contributors."

-- Chip Souza • @nwachip

GIRLS

ROGERS HIGH

Lady Mounties coming together

Lady Mounties coach Preston Early said his team doesn't depend on any one player to be successful.

Instead, it's been more of a group effort most of the time when Rogers High (11-5, 2-1 6A-West) has been successful this season.

"When we've played well, we're getting contributions from all five spots," Early said. "Whether that's scoring, high assist numbers. We're also getting good rebounding from our fours and fives.

"We don't have one that can carry the load by themselves. But together they can do it."

The Lady Mounties bounced back from a loss at Fayetteville with a big 57-25 win over Bentonville West on Tuesday. Rogers high 12 3-pointers on the night, including seven by senior Kate McConnell, who tied her own school record.

McConnell leads the Lady Mounties averaging 10.7 points per game, but looking over the Rogers stat sheet Early's assessment is an accurate one as five other Lady Mounties average between 8.6 and 5.2 points per game. Gracie Carr and Kate Miller top the rebounding charts, both averaging more than five per game.

"It's really the most unique team I've had," Early said. "If we're going to be our best it's going to be when we have multiple double-figure scorers."

The veteran coach acknowledged with seven players playing volleyball in the fall, the development process may have been slowed.

"At the end of December, I saw us improve another level," Early said. "We've just had a lot of them improve in a lot of areas."

CHARLESTON

Lady Tigers enjoy home court

Charleston was pleased to finally be home Tuesday and it showed in a 56-26 victory over Waldron.

Payton Rucker had 16 points to lead the Lady Tigers (14-2, 5-0), who are undefeated in 3A-1 West Conference play.

"It was our first home game since November," Charleston coach Jason Rucker said. "We were fired up and we shot the ball well."

Charleston is a traditionally strong defensive team and that aspect of the game showed up again on Tuesday.

"We've always emphasized defense in the 15 years I've been here," Rucker said. "That gives you a chance every night, even when you don't shoot well. Offensively, we're unselfish and a balanced team with eight or nine kids capable of scoring."

Tuesday's game began a string of seven consecutive home games for Charleston. The Lady Tigers host Mansfield (5-9, 1-4) tonight before a big game on Tuesday with Elkins (11-4, 3-1) which is second in the conference standings.

-- Rick Fires • @NWARick

PEA RIDGE

Lady Blackhawks become 'road warriors'

Pea Ridge coach Heath Neal refers to his team as "road warriors" so far this season since the Lady Blackhawks have played only four of their first 18 games on their home floor.

Road games helped Pea Ridge (15-3, 2-2) get back on track in the 4A-1 Conference race this week after opening league play with two heartbreaking losses at home. The Lady Blackhawks earned a 48-26 win Monday at Prairie Grove in a game that was originally scheduled for last Friday, then held on to knock off Shiloh Christian 44-40 in Tuesday's regularly scheduled game.

"I have talked with a lot of our coaches, and we feel like we have the best conference in the state," Neal said. "There is no night that will be easy. The way our schedule works, we have one conference game before Christmas, and it's hard to get fired up for a game on a week when we also have to prepare for finals.

"Gentry played really well, and that was probably our weakest performance of the season. Then against Farmington last week, we have a four-point lead with 20 seconds left to play and we couldn't slam the door shut."

As opposing teams try to come up with ways to stop junior Blakelee Winn, Neal said other players have done their part in helping Pea Ridge's cause. Aiden Dayberry had 10 points in Monday's win over Prairie Grove, while Allisa Short -- the Lady Blackhawks' only senior -- had nine in the first quarter against Shiloh Christian and finished with a team-high 15.

"We've had to make a few adjustments during games," Neal said. "We're getting quality minutes from players, and we could easily have gone from 2-2 to 0-4 in league play, and we would be in trouble.

"It's hard enough to play at Prairie Grove, and we see a diamond-and-one defense that is trying to limit Blakelee's possessions. We have to prepare for those kinds of things, and our girls know how to respond when it comes."

-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

CLARKSVILLE

Lady Panthers on a roll in 4A-4

Clarksville coach Randy Talley ran his team through a tough nonconference gauntlet to prepare them for the rigors of conference play and beyond. A quick glance at the Lady Panthers' 9-9 record is not impressive until you consider the teams Clarksville has faced.

Springdale Har-Ber (twice), Vilonia, Greenbrier and Bentonville High are all elite teams. To say the Lady Panthers have had a baptism by fire would be accurate.

"We knew that our nonconference schedule was going to be tough," Talley said. "Some of the teams we lost to, we didn't compete as well as we'd hoped, but we learned and are better because of it."

The Lady Panthers are 5-0 in the 4A-4 Conference after their 40-37 win against Ozark on Tuesday.

Senior Emmaline Rieder, a 6-1 post, leads the way for Clarksville, averaging 12 points per game. But the Lady Panthers are balanced in their scoring with Autumn Miller averaging 9 ppg, and Kenleigh Rieder and Abby Domerese each scoring around 7.

"Emmaline could probably go out and get 20 a night, but she is so unselfish," said Talley. "She does a good job of sharing the ball."

Talley said improved play on the defensive end of the court has been the key to the team's success in conference play.

"Once conference play starts, you can scout your opponents a lot more and I think that has been another key for us," Talley said. "The schedule slows down and you know who you're going to play every night, so you can prepare a little more."

-- Chip Souza • @nwachip

Preps Sports on 01/17/2020