It didn't matter that Bentonville's boys basketball team faced its most difficult schedule this season, with games against nationally recognized programs.
The Tigers were going to do things they had never done before, and coach Jason McMahan made sure they were going to succeed.
"This year, he was way harder on everybody -- me included," junior guard Malik Monk said. "Last year, he was sort of laid-back and not really yelling that much, but this year he was on us.
"It helped a lot. It shows the players that he cares for us, and it was good for us."
Bentonville almost accomplished what it set out to do this year under McMahan, who completed his sixth season as coach.
The Tigers played three teams that are currently ranked in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 -- St. Louis Chaminade, Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler, and High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian -- and finished the season with a 20-8 record. Bentonville then won their first outright 7A-West Conference title, clinching the crown with three games left in the regular season.
Bentonville then reached the Class 7A state title game for the first time in school history after reaching the semifinals the previous two state tournaments. The Tigers then led North Little Rock 53-47 through three quarters of play before falling to the Charging Wildcats in the championship game.
McMahan is this year's All-NWADG Boys Coach of the Year.
"I think coach Mac did a great job with the whole team in keeping us focused," Monk said. "He said we were going to win conference, and we did that. He also said we were going to make it to the state championship, and we did that too.
"He kept his word and kept us focused for everything and made everybody better this year. We fell short, but it was nice to make it."
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Sports on 03/29/2015