SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber coach Sandy Wright can identify with someone trying to start an old car on a cold winter morning.
She's having the same problem with her basketball team.
7A-West
Girls
Fayetteville 50, Springdale Har-Ber 36
Fayetteville^10^16^13^11^—^50
Har-Ber^5^6^19^6^—^36
Fayetteville (18-6, 10-1): Crockett 14, Holmes 10, Morgan 9, Schuldt 8, P. Jones 5, B. Jones 4
Har-Ber (18-7, 7-4): Schalk 11, Higgins 8, Bohannan 5, Whaley 4, Hornor 4, Redmond 2, Chancellor 2
Boys
Fayetteville 56, Har-Ber 51
Fayetteville^12^13^16^15^—^56
Har-Ber^13^12^14^12^—^51
Fayetteville (18-5, 6-4): Willis 17, Wymer 11, Breathitt 10, Carlson 5, O’Grady 5, Scott 3, Paslay 3, Brown 2
Har-Ber (16-7, 7-4): Benson 15, Eckwood 11, Brandon 7, Knight 6, Cline 5, McNee 5, Toomer 2
Har-Ber started slowly again and lost 50-36 to Fayetteville Wednesday in 7A-West action Wednesday at Wildcat Arena. It was the second consecutive home defeat for the Lady Wildcats, who fell behind 37-18 at halftime to Bentonville and lost 69-60.
"We've had trouble scoring and normally that's not our issue," Wright said. "We couldn't score and give credit to Fayetteville for their defense. We still had some pretty good looks, but they weren't falling."
Fayetteville (18-6, 10-1) was humming fro the outset, leading 10-5 after one quarter and 26-11 at halftime. Har-Ber finally began to hit some shots and got to within two points by outscoring Fayetteville 19-13 in the third quarter. But Fayetteville kept the lead behind senior Sydney Crockett, who finished with 14 points and slowed Har-Ber's comeback attempt with three 3-pointers in the third quarter. Crockett made a 3-pointer and a fast break layup as Fayetteville ended the first quarter with a 9-1 surge.
Sophomore Lauren Holmes added 10 points for Fayetteville, which is tied for the league lead with Fort Smith Northside.
"Har-Ber scored 19 in the third quarter and Crockett had nine by herself, which was huge," Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said. "That's the kind of reliable player she's become for us. When we need something, she gets it done."
Har-Ber (18-7, 7-4) looked like a different team in the third quarter, when the Lady Wildcats used good ball movement and shot selection to score eight consecutive points. Bailey Schalk scored to pull Har-Ber to within 28-26 to begin the fourth quarter before the Lady Wildcats again went cold from the field.
Har-Ber finished with six points in the second and fourth quarters and six in the first quarter. Schalk finished with 11 points for Har-Ber, which will try to regroup at Fort Smith Southside on Friday.
BOYS
Fayetteville 56, Har-Ber 51
Payton Willis scored 17 points and made eight consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter to lead Fayetteville past the Wildcats.
Four of Willis' free throws came in the final 50 seconds when Har-Ber was threatening to take the lead. Har-Ber still had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but C.J. O'Grady partially blocked a 3-point attempt by Mason Cline.
Drake Wymer added 11 points and Josh Breathitt 10 for Fayetteville (18-5, 6-4), which led 41-39 after three quarters. The loss spoiled a standout performance by sophomore Avery Benson, who scored 15 points to lead the Wildcats (16-7, 7-4). Benson kept Har-Ber in the game after he took over at point guard for Tereke Eckwood, who scored 11 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Fayetteville finished 17-of-24 from the line while the Wildcats were 11-of-19.
Rick Fires can be reached at rfires@nwadg.com or on Twitter at NWARick
Sports on 02/19/2015