Cards Hold Onto First Place

FARMINGTON PICKS UP TOUGH WIN OVER BERRYVILLE

FARMINGTON — Farmington (18-4, 10-1) endured a third quarter surge and held off Berryville (13-10, 4-7) down the stretch to post a 53-46 win on Jan. 29.

The Cardinals forged an early lead with Chase Garner scoring twice off plays in the paint and a Jackson Stevens trey. Josh Mueller stole a pass and blew by Berryville’s Josh Morrell, in the open court to record a layup and a 9-5 Cardinal lead.

Rick Porter’s 3-pointer trimmed the score to 14-12 but Matt Brackett tipped in a Garner miss. Again Berryville closed the gap with Donny Hoppe’s 3-pointer making it, 18-17, but Stevens fed Garner in the post for a 3-point play and Farmington went up, 21-17, at the end of the first quarter.

Garner scored 8 points in the second to keep Farmington ahead. The Cardinals went into the lockers with a 33-23 advantage.

“I’m not sure anybody can guard Chase Garner 1-on-1 in our league,” said Farmington coach Beau Thompson. “Alex Dellett and Matt Brackett are doing a good job of cleaning up the mess, that’s what we concentrate on - hitting those lanes when the shot goes up.”

Berryville outscored Farmington 17-6 in the third quarter to take a 40-39 lead going into the final frame but Brackett elevated to snap a jumper with an offensive rebound and Dellett scored on the baseline, then added a pair of free throws after getting an offensive rebound to restore the Cardinal lead.

“In the second half I was going to be a lot more aggressive,” Dellett said. “I’m really confident on the free throws.”

A familiar sight at the end of the game for Cardinal fans is Farmington point guard, Josh Mueller, controlling the ball with the dribble and getting to the free throw line. After Berryville closed to within,

48- 44, on Hoppe’s pullup jumpshot with 1:19 left, Mueller extended the lead to 51-44 at the charity stripe.

Mueller has developed his upper body strength, which he said makes holding onto the ball easier and uses his quickness as an advantage to get past a defender.

“It’s mainly quickness, you get the first step on them, then they have to chase you,” Mueller said.

Mueller said he learned to concentrate on free throw shooting because of his height. Mueller is 5-foot-8.

“Being a short player about all the shots you get are free throws.”

Farmington won 53- 46 to retain first place in the conference standings with one week left.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Berryville’s Donny Hoppe tries to retain possession as Farmington’s Matt Brackett makes a play on the basketball. The Cardinals defeated Berryville, 53-46, on Jan. 29.