Lady Cardinals Ground Blackhawks

FARMINGTON — The Lady Cardinals outscored Pea Ridge 17-11 in the third quarter to pull away from a lowscoring game en route to a 47-31 victory Feb. 7.

Farmington coach Brad Johnson paid tribute to his seniors, playing the last game of their high school careers at home. Johnson started five seniors and sang the praises of all seven.

“They are all so very special. As a group, collectively, they have put this program back on the map to where it used to be,” Johnson said.

In a slow starting game, Farmington got a free throw from Anna Oxford and baskets from underclassmen, Tiffany Rhame (junior) and Haley Maxwell (sophomore) to take a slight, 5-4, edge after one quarter.

After misfiring on a pair of free throws early in the second, Rene Scheyder broke out of a shooting slump by hitting a trio of 3-point shots over the last three quarters. Rhame continued to set up her teammates for good shots, finding Breanna Jones for an open jumper. Jones scored again when she caught the ball in front of the rim.

Farmington led 14-8 at halftime, but pulled away with a 13-4 spree over the final 3:34 of the third stanza. Scheyder got it started with a trifecta, then Lexie Lewis took a pass from Maxwell and put it in the hoop. Lewis chased a wayward pass deep under the backboard and saved it which resulted in Jones hitting two foul-shots.

The Cardinal lead was stretched to 31-19 at the end of the third frame and the Farmington girls kept up the pressure in the fourth. Maxwell anticipated a pass and raced over from the backside between the Blackhawk guards. She took the steal all the way and scored a layup. Then Rhame hit one of those daggers, as she is often inclined, that takes the heart out of a team trying to make a comeback.

The trifecta off the dribble came with 6:07 to go and put Farmington out front, 36-22. Pea Ridge never threatened again and the Lady Cardinals posted the 47-31 victory.

Johnson described the Cardinal seniors as having really high character, adding he was proud to get the win and send them out the right way.

“I can’t say enough about how important the seniors are to the program and to me, personally,” Johnson said

Jones 5 6-6 16, Scheyder 3 0-2 9, Lewis 1 2-3 4, Rhame 3 0-0 7, Maxwell 3 0-0 6, Journagan 0 4-4 4, Oxford 0 1-2 1, Oliver 0 0-0 0, Ryan 0 0-0 0, Winkle 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 13-17 47.

Winn 4 3-3 12, Gibson 1 6-10 8, Hargiss 1 0-0 2, Cypert 3 00 6. Totals 10 9-13 31. Farmington 5 9 17 16 — 47 Pea Ridge 4 4 11 12 — 31

Three-point goals —

Farmington 5 (Scheyder 3, Rhame), Pea Ridge 2 (Winn).