Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lady Cards Clear Muddy Waters
FARMINGTON WIN SOLIDIFIES DISTRICT SEEDING
PRAIRIE GROVE — Once more in the storied girls basketball rivalry between Farmington and Prairie Grove the regular season finale came with a conference championship on the line.
Farmington prevailed, 46-40, in a tough nail- biting game that kept fans on the edge of their seats on Friday.
A Lady Tiger victory in a series they have dominated in recent years would have created a logjam of a threeway tie for first place in the 4A-1 between the U. S. 62 rivals and Ozark.
“That would have muddied the waters a bit,” said Farmington coach Brad Johnson, who was not underestimating Prairie Grove, especially on their home court.
With the outcome settled, Farmington ( 21- 4, 13- 1), Ozark (22-3, 12-2) and Prairie Grove (17-6, 11-3), finish as the top three teams in the league with the byes and automatic berths in the Regional tournament going to Farmington and Ozark.
“We will have to win a game in the district tournament to make it to Regionals,” said Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud. “This team can do that. We just have to get our heads back up and go back to work.”
The Lady Tigers did not go quietly. Farmington had to outscore them 15-9 in the final frame to put the game away after Lacey Beeks took a steal coast-to-coast to force a 31- 31 tie at the end of the third quarter.
Prairie Grove could have taken the lead but turned the ball over on their first possession of the fourth quarter and Tayton Hopkins curled all the way around the world before coming off a pick to nail a long-range trifecta and a 34-31 Farmington lead.
Macie Kultgen, who led the Lady Tigers with 13 points, tied the game at 34-all and Abby Smith came away with a steal but again the Lady Tigers lost the ball at the other end on a double-dribble violation.
At the 5: 28 mark, Kultgen’s baseline jumper that would have put Prairie
“To beat Prairie Grove you’ve got to be able to match them board-for-board. Prairie Grove did a great job of limiting our opportunities to get to the rim but Tayton Hopkins is pretty unflappable.” Brad Johnson Farmington coach
Grove in front was short and Tahlon Hopkins, whose work on the defensive boards kept Farmington in the game, rebounded.
Prairie Grove took the lead briefly 1: 06 later on a Kultgen pull- up jumper but after Tayton Hopkins brought Farmington even at 36- 36, a charging foul against the Lady Tigers erased another opportunity and Tayton Hopkins nailed another deep 3- pointer to continue an 11- 4 Lady Cardinal run to end the game.
Farmington coach Brad Johnson said he feels Prairie Grove has been underrated this season.
“They have not given them the credit they deserve. I think they are a serious contender to win the whole thing.”
“To beat Prairie Grove you’ve got to be able to match them board- for-board. Prairie Grove did a great job of limiting our opportunities to get to the rim but Tayton Hopkins is pretty unflappable. She doesn’t get caught up in the moment. She never flinched.”
“This was one of our goals to win a conference championship,” Johnson said. “At the same time we’ve got other goals we’re working on going into the district tourney. To come in here and beat a really good team on their home floor and win the conference championship, I’m really proud of our kids.”