Bentonville's offense too much for West

BENTONVILLE -- Even after a 70-point performance in a win over Springdale, Bentonville High's girls had more than enough offensive firepower to spare Friday night. Maryam Dauda scored 22 points to lead a trio of Lady Tigers in double figures as Bentonville closed out the first half of 6A-West Conference play with a 63-29 romp of Bentonville West in Tiger Arena. "I was a little concerned going in because we played so well Tuesday night," Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier said. "It was going to be tough to repeat that, and I thought our girls came really, really close. "The girls were very unselfish and passed the ball around, and they played without the ball. They were really aggressive, and with this being a rivalry night. I was really proud of them." Bentonville (17-3, 6-1) briefly trailed 3-2 after an Anna Kash 3-pointer in the opening minute, but that lasted only 17 seconds. Avery Hughes' bucket started a string of nine unanswered points, with Natalie Smith's pair of 3-pointers giving the Lady Tigers a 12-3 lead with 5 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first quarter. Dauda, the 6-foot-4 sophomore post, took control of the offense in the second quarter with 10 points as Bentonville owned a 30-17 halftime cushion. The Lady Tigers then blew the game open when they started the second half with 16 unanswered points -- nine by Hughes -- and stretched their lead to a 46-17 margin midway through the third quarter. "They shot the ball extremely well," West coach Randy Richardson said. "It's hard to guard them. They have Maryam inside, and you're trying to double on her; then they're firing 3-pointers. They hit those 3s in the third quarter. "Bentonville is just a good team. I'm proud of what our girls have accomplished so far, but hats off to Tom and his staff. They have a good squad." Hughes added 17 points and Smith 11 for Bentonville. Kash had eight to lead West (9-11, 3-4), which had a three-game win streak snapped. West 7 10 6 6 -- 29 Bentonville 18 12 24 9 -- 63 West (8-11, 3-4): Kash 8, Wilson 6, White 5, Renick 5, Mahone 3, Wood 2. Bentonville (17-3, 6-1): Dauda 22, Hughes 17, Smith 11, Kultgen 5, Skidmore 3, Sanders 2, Irlenborn 2, Johnston 1.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bentonville West High School Athletics

BENTONVILLE'S OFFENSE TOO MUCH FOR WEST

HENRY APPLE

Arkansas Online | 1/28/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Goff