SILOAM SPRINGS - Basketball fans packed Panther Activity Center at Siloam Springs High School on Friday to get a glimpse of one of the state’s top players.
Malik Monk didn’t disappoint.
Monk, a 6-3 sophomore and the 7A/6A-West Conference’s leading scorer, scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half as Bentonville rolled to a 72-51 victory over Siloam Springs as the Tigers (18-3, 12-0) clinched at least a share of the 7A/6A-West Conference championship.
Bentonville jumped on the Panthers (10-13, 4-8) right from the start.
Tyrik Dixon made a jump shot and Monk had a dunk to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Monk banked in a shot on Bentonville’s next possession and then hit back to back three-pointers for a 15-3 lead as the Tigers forced several turnovers and the Panthers struggled to score.
“Bentonville came out and did just enough defensively to where we couldn’t get comfortable on offense,” Siloam Springs Coach Tim Stewart.
Bentonville Coach Jason McMahan said the Tigers were aware of Siloam Springs’ rally last week against Springdale, when the Bulldogs led by more than 10 points early and wound up losing. McMahan said keeping up the intensity was important.
“We knew that was going to be key,” said McMahan, who improved to 3-1 against his former school. “With [Siloam Springs] having three of the top 10 scorers in the league, if we let them get into a rhythm they could come back.”
Monk drilled two more three-pointers and had another dunk in the second quarter as the Tigers pulled ahead 35-14 going into halftime.
Monk was quiet offensively for most of the third quarter before hitting a three-pointer late to give the Tigers a 53-30 lead.
Bentonville’s Trent Carter hit a three-pointer to give the Tigers a 58-32 lead with 6:18 left in the fourth.
Dixon finished with 11 points while Carter had nine and Mason McNee eight.
Dylan Gray led Siloam Springs with 16 points, while Avery Benson had 12.
Sports, Pages 22 on 02/22/2014