Hardwood Rivalry In The Spotlight

Throw in the conference title at stake for added fuel to an already intense rivalry between Farmington and Prairie Grove.

The 4A-1 crown was on the line when the neighboring schools hooped it up on the hardwood at Prairie Grove’s Tiger Den gymnasium in the girls basketball regular season finale Friday. Records are often disregarded when it comes to rivalry games, but this time the records meant something.

Prairie Grove (23-1, 14-0) which has competed in consecutive 4A state title games, owned the conference this season, going undefeated in the 4A-1, including a 58-44 road win at Farmington on Jan. 13. Yet, for all the Lady Tigers’ accomplishments, they were not assured of a conference crown without a second victory in the rivalry.

Farmington’s home win over Pea Ridge on Feb. 7 put the Cardinals in position to challenge for the conference regular season title at Prairie Grove on Friday.

“We punched our ticket to regionals when we beat Shiloh (on Feb. 3),” said Brad Johnson, Lady Cardinal coach, but there was one more hurdle for Farmington (20-5, 12-2).

Coming into the season, Johnson said one of the Farmington goals was to have a chance to win a conference championship.

“With one game to go, we certainly have a chance to do that,” Johnson said, adding that he knew his team would have to play well on the road.

“It will be a good atmosphere. It will be loud and rowdy,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the keys to the game for Farmington would be to rebound well, noting Prairie Grove does a great job of going to the glass.

“We have to limit dribble penetration and keep them off the freethrow line,” Johnson said.

Those were the two game issues that beat the Lady Cardinals. Prairie Grove made only one field goal in the fourth quarter, but went 16-for19 at the charity stripe to hold off Farmington after they closed within 52-50 with 23 seconds to go.