Top 2 set for high-stakes rematch

SPRINGDALE — Prior to practice Sunday afternoon, Springdale Har-Ber Coach Tommy Deffebaugh wrote on the team’s board in the locker room the number of conference championship teams he’s been associated with.

In a career that has spanned the high school and college coaching ranks, he listed just three, including the Har-Ber team of 2019-20.

The Wildcats (25-2, 13-1), ranked No. 1, can win another conference title this week. But it will likely take two wins, beginning tonight as Har-Ber hosts No. 2 Fayetteville (25-3, 13-1) at Wildcat Arena.

Deffebaugh said he told his team what a special opportunity is in front of them.

“It’s something you’ll always have with you the rest of your life,” he said. “It’s something that’s really special and a special opportunity, but it’s also a hard opportunity.”

For Har-Ber, it’s also a chance at redemption after losing at Fayetteville 77-65 on Jan. 20. At the time both teams were undefeated in conference play and Fayetteville moved into first place with the win.

Since then, Har-Ber has won seven straight with the average margin of 25.5 points.

Fayetteville, meanwhile, won three games after beating Har-Ber before losing 54-49 at Springdale on Feb. 6 for its only conference loss. The Bulldogs have won three consecutive games since then, including a pair of tight games at Bentonville and at home against Fort Smith Northside last Friday.

“Since the first time, both of us have kind of taken care of business and it hasn’t been easy,” Fayetteville Coach Brad Stamps said. “In this league it’s hard to win. It’s hard to beat a team a second time because of scouting reports and taking everybody’s best shot.”

In the first meeting at Bulldog Arena, Fayetteville got 64 points combined from Ornette Gaines, Xavier Brown and Derrick “DJ” Hudson in the win over the Wildcats.

Courtland Muldrew scored a game-high 32 points to lead Har-Ber while freshman DeMarion Lee had 13.

Deffebaugh said the Wildcats need the right frame of mind and right focus going into tonight’s game, adding they can’t worry about the first meeting with Fayetteville.

Just like at Fayetteville in the first meeting, a large crowd is expected tonight at Wildcat Arena.

With a victory, Fayetteville can clinch the No. 1 seed from the 6A-West, while Har-Ber can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win tonight and a win at Springdale on Friday in what will be the last game at Bulldog Gymnasium. Springdale is set to open its new arena this spring.

Deffebaugh, who played at Bulldog Gymnasium as a player for Fayetteville and has coached there many times, said the atmosphere Friday between rivals will be fun.