Springboard Into State

FARMINGTON GIRLS CLAIM 5A WEST TITLE

FARMINGTON — Junior Madisyn Pense demonstrated a will to win that echoed throughout the Lady Cardinal lineup culminating in a 5A West tournament championship, 63-56, over Vilonia Friday at Cardinal Arena.

The sharpshooting junior has been hounded by defenses designed to limit her 3-point looks over the latter portion of the season, but Friday she took full advantage of what Vilonia’s defense gave her. Every bucket Pense made was like a dagger tearing the heart out of the highly-touted Lady Eagles, who came in ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, one notch above Farmington.

Pense was poised to help Farmington take care of that little oversight. She hit four 3-pointers and led Farmington with 18 points. She nailed her first trey from the right corner 40 seconds into the game to erase an early 2-0 deficit. Her second 3-pointer also put Farmington ahead, 13-11, when she pulled the trigger from the top-of-thekey before a defender trailing her could step out.

“Madisyn Pense hit some big shots, she didn’t just make shots, she had some timely shots,” said Farmington coach Brad Johnson. “You hope you can take a game against a really great opponent played in a really great atmosphere and use it as a springboard going into the state tournament. There are 16 teams in the tournament. There’s not a bad one. The teams that rebound well, play defense and make baskets are the ones that advance. Hopefully, we’ll recreate this and do it four more times.”

When asked who she wanted to thank after winning the district championship, talented Farmington sophomore point-guard Makenna Vanzant didn’t hesitate.

“Madisyn Pense, she’s the person I want to kick to every time when I’m driving if I get stopped,” Vanzant said. “She hit a lot of big shots tonight.”

Pense’s third trifecta was set up by the familiarity between the girls and lots of practice repetition. Vanzant drove into the lane, planted a foot, pivoted and threw a pass directly to Pense, who was spotted up right where Vanzant expected her to be. Pense promptly swished the 3-ball through the net, part of a crucial 8-0 second quarter Farmington run to help the Lady Cardinals build a lead they never relinquished.

“We work very well together,” Pense said. “It seems like when she’s on, I’m on. We’re just a very good combination.”

Vanzant began the spurt with a free throw to tie the game at 16-16 after an old-fashioned 3-point play by Vilonia’s Paige Kelly wiped away a 15-13 Farmington lead. Vanzant had assists to Camryn Journagan and Anthea Jones for layups to bookend her dish to Pense. Pense was quick to acknowledge individual scoring across the board. Vanzant had 15 points, Joelle Tidwell, 11; Alexis Roach, 8; Audrey Culpepper, 5; Jones, 4; and Journagan, 2.

“Offensively, it’s a team effort so I think having other people knock down shots put me in my role,” Pense said.

Pense notched 7 points in the fourth quarter. Her fourth 3-pointer from the left corner matched Farmington’s largest lead of a dozen points, 52-40, with 6:47 to play. Vilonia responded with an 11-3 run to pull within, 55-51, with 4:18 left. Freshman guard Lauren Patterson caught the Lady Cardinals by surprise going left and converted a 3-point play.

Pense answered at the other end, beating the man-to-man down the lane for a layup. Patterson came back with an 18-feet baseline jumper, but Pense again took a defender off the dribble and went to the basket scoring, easily pushing the lead back to six, at 59-53, with the clock down to 2:37.

Farmington only yielded three points in the final two minutes and went on to claim a 63-56 victory, marking the second time Johnson has guided a team to the 5A West tournament crown in the Lady Cardinals’ four seasons as a 5A school. Next year Farmington reverts to 4A status for basketball.

Farmington began state tournament play yesterday against DeQueen, the No. 4 seed from the south. The winner of that game advances to Friday’s quarterfinal at 1 p.m.

FARMINGTON 63, VILONIA 56

Vilonia 16 9 15 16 — 56 Farmington 16 18 13 16 — 63 Vilonia (24-5): Paige Kelly 12 11-15 35, Lauren Patterson 3 2-3 8, Kenna Beaty 2 0-0 6, Aaliyah Cash 1 1-2 4, Laney Mears 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 14-20 56.

Farmington (25-5): Madisyn Pense 7 0-0 18, Makenna Vanzant 2 10-12 15, Joelle Tidwell 4 3-5 11, Alexis Roach 2 4-5 8, Audrey Culpepper 2 0-0 5, Anthea Jones 2 0-1 4, Camryn Journagan 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 17-23 63.

3-Point Goals — Vilonia 4 (Beaty 2, Mears, Cash). Farmington 6 (Pense 4, Vanzant, Culpepper).

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington junior Madisyn Pense launches a 3-pointer from the right wing during the 5A West Conference tournament hosted by Farmington at Cardinal Arena last week. Pense knocked down four 3-pointers and scored 18 points in the finals as the Lady...