Bentonville High 66, Bentonville West 51

Connor Deffebaugh had 16 points to lead four Bentonville players in double figures as the Tigers knocked off West in Tiger Arena. Bentonville (16-4, 6-1) fell behind 5-0 early but ran off nine unanswered points -- five by Brayden Freeman -- and took a 12-7 lead. The Tigers never let that go and briefly had a double-digit cushion before Jonas Higson's bucket pulled West (7-13, 1-6) within 27-18 at halftime. The Wolverines pulled within 29-27 on Dawson Bailey's 3-pointer with 4:52 left in the third quarter, but Deffebaugh's 3-point play and back-to-back 3-pointers by Josh Smith helped the Tigers extend their lead back to double digits. Michael Shanks then scored 8 points in the fourth quarter, and two Deffebaugh free throws gave the Tigers their biggest lead, 55-36, with 4:14 remaining. "I thought our guys made some big plays, but it was the balance of our scoring," Bentonville coach Dick Rippee said. "You can't focus on just one person, and even Josh Smith or Sawyer Price or Thane Spencer -- those guys, we feel like, can come in and do some things offensively. "I don't think any of our guys are out looking for baskets. I think they are just playing and letting the game come to them. Our guys are doing a great job of being selfless and making the extra pass." Shanks and Colton Simmons finished with 13 points apiece for Bentonville, while Freeman chipped in 11. Bailey was the only West player in double figures with 26. West 12 6 15 18 -- 51 Bentonville 15 12 18 21 -- 66 West (7-13, 1-6): Da. Bailey 26, Hardiman 9, Swoboda 7, Di. Bailey 4, Allen 3, Higson 2. Bentonville (16-4, 6-1): Deffebaugh 16, Shanks 13, Simmons 13, Freeman 11, Price 6, Smith 6, Pankau 1.

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BENTONVILLE HIGH 66, BENTONVILLE WEST 51

PAUL BOYD

Arkansas Online | 1/28/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Bentonville West Athletics