Despite being under the weather, Van Buren forward Beau Beckner stepped up Friday night to help extend a six-game 7A-West conference winning streak.

Beckner finished with a game-high 13 points, including a team-high seven points in the final quarter to lead Van Buren to a 35-25 victory against Bentonville West at Clair Bates Arena.
"He had the flu pretty bad and has missed three practices," Van Buren coach Austin Trembley said of Beckner. "We do run a lot of stuff through him. He fought and played hard. He wasn't himself, but we are thankful for what he gave us."

Van Buren held a 23-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter and pulled away with the help of Beckner. He scored six unanswered points with less than two minutes, 30 seconds left in the game to push the lead out to 33-22.

Bentonville West shot just one for 10 from the field in the final quarter and got its lone basket with 31 seconds left in the game.

"We just couldn't score the ball on the road and that's a sign of toughness," Bentonville West coach Greg White said. "You just have to get to the basket and attack the rim. We didn't do that. We missed open shots as well."

The Wolverines got their first point of the fourth quarter with 3:36 left in the game and then scored its lone field goal in the final seconds. Trembley was thrilled with Van Buren's defensive effort.

"I was proud of our defense," Trembley said. "I give Bentonville West credit making it tough on us. They take a lot of pride in their defense and make it hard to run your stuff."

Bentonville West (11-11, 3-5) was led by Cobe Muldrew and Gabe Hornsby, who scored seven points each. Caleb Salisbury added 12 points for Van Buren, including five of the team's nine first-quarter points.

The Pointers held an 11-4 lead after scoring the opening basket of the second quarter. But Van Buren then got its next basket with just 2:13 left in the quarter, allowing Bentonville West to tie the game at 11-11 with a 7-0 run, capped with a basket from Muldrew.

"There was some rust for whatever reason," Trembley said. "The last three games we have been clicking on offense. That didn't happen tonight. But give that team credit."

Beckner led the way in the second quarter for Van Buren by scoring six of the team's eight points to help retake the lead.

The Wolverines were limited to just 1-of-10 shooting in the first quarter, but bounced back in the second shooting 4-of-9 from the field.

Van Buren opened conference play with back-to-back losses to Bentonville West and Bentonville, buut the Pointers have not lost since.

"These kids are extremely coachable and come to practice and just want to get better," Trembley said. "When you got that, you are going to get better. We are playing together. We have a long ways to go, but we have improved."

