Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington’s Defense Shuts Down Clarksville
FARMINGTON — Farmington’s 57-35 triumphant win over Clarksville in Thursday’s semifinal of the 5A West girls basketball tournament held at Cardinal Arena showcased outstanding execution of a defensive game plan.
To fully comprehend Farmington’s success on defense or Clarksville’s lack thereof on offense insights can be gleaned from two other games.
Worthy Opponent
Farmington head girls basketball coach Brad Johnson wasn’t taking Clarksville for granted, despite having swept the season series or the Lady Panthers’ below .500 winning percentage.
Johnson didn’t consider Clarksville’s 55-49 win over Morrilton (18-10) that earned the Lady Panthers a spot in this week’s State 5A girls basketball tournament at Maumelle a true upset because they like several 5A West teams never faced each other during the regular season due to the blended conferences mixing 5A and 6A schools into combined leagues.
Johnson described that contest as a “bloodbath” because of the extreme physicality. Sophomore Emmaline Rieder had a trio of early baskets to help Clarksville get off to an 18-7 lead against Morrilton. The 6-1 center added a free throw among her seven first quarter points. Grace Dougan hit a 3-pointer and added another field goal and Alexie Tibbs chipped in six points.
Johnson noted Clarksville’s offense was effective in three dimensions with point-guard penetration, outside shooting and
a strong inside game. The Lady Panthers led 43-34 after three quarters and withstood Morrilton’s efforts to overtake them in the fourth. Dougan led Clarksville with 19 points. Rieder finished with 13 points.
Prepared Defense
When the Thursday semifinal began at the 5A West Tournament at Cardinal Arena, Johnson’s girls were more than prepared. In a Feb. 7 meeting, Clarksville’s top five scorers: Tibbs, Dougan, backup 6-3 center K.K. Phillips, Rieder, and Maegan Payne were a combined 16-of-30 from the field producing 43 points. On Thursday, they shot 7-for-22 and were limited to 22 points. Payne led Clarksville with 9.
Farmington built an early 12-3 lead and outscored Clarksville 20-4 in the second quarter to gain separation. Clarksville had only one 3-pointer in the entire first half and produced merely a singular field goal and two free throws in the second quarter.
Offensively, Farmington’s starting center Joelle Tidwell provided a spark with 7 first quarter points. She drew five shooting fouls and made 6-of-9 free throws mostly by driving to the basket against taller defenders. Makenna Vanzant had 8 of her team-high 13 points in the second quarter while Tidwell added 4 free throws as the Lady Cardinals built a 37-14 halftime lead. Tidwell had 11 for the game.
In the third quarter Alexis Roach, who finished with 12 points, scored on a long outlet after Vanzant’s steal and later got free cutting to the bucket for a 3-point play. Audrey Culpepper also chipped in 12 points by draining four 3-pointers in the second half. With the victory Farmington advanced to Friday’s finals against Vilonia.
FARMINGTON 57, CLARKSVILLE 35
Clarksville 10 4 11 10 — 35 Farmington17 20 14 6— 57 Clarksville (14-15): Maegan Payne 4-10 0-0 9, Emmaline Rieder 2-3 2-5 6, Sara Wilkins 1-5 2-2 0, Paige Harp 1-2 0-1 3, Kayla Miller 1-3 0-0 0, K.K. Phillips 1-1 1-2 3, Alexie Tibbs 0-4 2-2 2, Grace Dougan 0-4 2-2 2, Zoie Harvey 1-6 0-2 2, Brittany Tucker 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 11-39 9-17 35. Farmington (24-5): Makenna Vanzant 4 4-4 13, Joelle Tidwell 3 6-9 12, Alexis Roach 4 4-5 12, Audrey Culpepper 4 0-0 12, Madisyn Pense 2 2-2 6, Eliza Ball 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 16-20 57. 3-Point Goals — Clarksville 4-17 (Harp 1-1, Payne 1-3, Miller 1-3, Wilkins 1-4, Tucker 0-1, Dougan 0-2, Harvey 0-3). Farmington 5 (Culpepper 4, Vanzant).
Rebounds — Clarksville 24 (Rieder 8). Assists — Clarksville 7 (Payne 2, Miller 2). Steals — Clarksville 1 (Dougan). Turnovers — Clarksville 13.