Har-Ber fends off Greenwood rally

BOYS SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 52, GREENWOOD 42

SPRINGDALE — A dominating first half turned out to be much needed as Springdale Har-Ber held off Greenwood 52-42 Friday night in Wildcat Arena.

After limiting Greenwood to nine points in the first half, the Wildcats (5-2) were torched for 33 in the second half, but still managed to claim the win.

Greenwood (4-5) clawed to within seven points in the second half before Har-Ber sealed the deal in the closing minutes.

“We got tired, we didn’t play with any sense of urgency, we felt like the game was over,” Har-Ber Coach Tommy Deffebaugh said. “Didn’t rebound, didn’t guard. All those in a nutshell.”

Har-Ber junior Clay Arney led the Wildcats in scoring in the first half with nine points, matching Greenwood’s total. He went scoreless in the second half as junior Miles Rolfe finished with a team-leading 11 points for the Wildcats.

Greenwood racked up 10 fouls in the first half compared to its nine points while Har-Ber-had six fouls. The teams cleaned up their act in the second half, with Greenwood committing seven to Har-Ber’s three.

Greenwood cut its deficit to 45-38 with about four minutes left. A layup by Rolfe made it a nine-point advantage, and the Wildcats were safe the rest of the way.

“[Greenwood] Coach Donnie [Husband] did a good job of getting his guys ready to play in the second half. They had a lot to play for,” Deffebaugh said. “I told our guys what was going to happen in the second half. They’re going to come out, they’re going to give you one more good shot, see how we respond, and we didn’t respond very well.

“Didn’t manage the clock. Got a shot clock violation, didn’t take care of the ball, got tired.”

Greenwood’s comeback attempt was fueled by six three-pointers in the second half. Three of them came from senior Caleb Ligon, who finished with a teamhigh 15 points. Greenwood’s second-leading scorer was senior Braden Stein with eight points.

Har- Ber will next host Rogers Heritage on Friday, and Greenwood hosts Bentonville on Monday.