Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lady Cards State Semifinalists
FARMINGTON — Hot Springs was making plays only to realize Farmington kept coming back until the Lady Cardinals finally ran out of time as a desperation potential game-tying 3-pointer missed.
Tayton Hopkins rebounded a missed Hot Springs free- throw and jetted down the court but her hurried shot bounced off the back iron and sailed off into gravity returning to the hardwood without finding its mark and closing the books on Farmington’s far-ranging foray deep into the state girls basketball tournament. Farmington, one of the smallest schools in 5A, competed well during their first season after being bumped up in classification ending the year with a 24-5 record, 5A West Conference championship, and appearance in the state semifinals.
“I’m very proud of our players and our assistants. We had a tremendous run that included a 5A West conference title and another final four appearance,” said Farmington coach Brad Johnson.
“To move up in classification
and compete the way our kids did was inspirational. I am proud of their accomplishments but what I’m most proud of is the way they approached each day, each practice, and each game. Their preparation was second to none and they worked very hard to be the best they could be each day down to the smallest detail. Throughout it all they competed as a team, did it with class, and character and represented our school and community with pride. They are certainly a group that will be remembered for a long time here in Farmington and I feel fortunate to be a part of it and be their Coach.”
Multiple times during the latter stages of the contest Hot Springs built at least a two-score lead then watched as a will-to-succeed sparked a Farmington rally each time. The Lady Trojans were in front, 43-39, with four minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the fourth but Farmington reduced the margin to 45-42 just over a minute later. Hot Springs again stretched out their advantage to 47-42 but Tahlon Hopkins hit both shots on a trip to the line at the 1:14 mark and Trish O’Connell’s steal generated two more free-throws which she hit pulling Farmington within a single-point at 47-46 with 32 seconds to play.
Hot Springs coach Mark Upshaw was discovering a lot of confidence in 5-feet-4 freshman Imani Honey, a former member of a national third place AAU squad with Team Arkansas Elite. Earlier in the tournament, Hot Springs held off Greenbrier, 57-52, after leading just 54-52 with 30 seconds to go in that game. Upshaw had Honey in his lineup and she sealed the game with a pair of foul shots. Against Farmington Upshaw employed a similar strategy and Honey and senior Berniezha Tidwell combined to sink 4 of 4 freethrows pushing the Lady Trojans ahead, 51-46, with 17 seconds showing.
Hot Springs nearly didn’t get out of the woods fouling Tayton Hopkins with Farmington in the double bonus and stopping the clock with 10.3 seconds left. Tayton Hopkins scored 9 points in the fourth and made both with a Farmington timeout in between. With their lead cut to three, Hot Springs in-bounded and Farmington fouled. This time Tidwell could not convert from the foul line with 5 seconds remaining giving Farmington one last chance but Tayton Hopkins’ 3-point shot would not go down and Hot Springs walked off with a 51-48 win.
O’Connell led Farmington with 14 points and was joined in double figures by Tahlon Hopkins ( 12) and Tayton Hopkins (10). Tahlon Hopkins also accounted for 9 rebounds.
Kennesco Hunter and Tiauhna Watkins scored 14 points apiece to pace Hot Springs, which came up big offensively during key stretches. Hunter also had 12 rebounds. The Lady Trojans outscored Farmington 6-3 over the final 3:30 of the first quarter to move ahead, 11-10; and replicated the feat in the last 20 seconds of the first half to wipe out a 16-13 Farmington lead and tie the game, at 19-all.
Hot Springs achieved one more run of 13-9 over the last 4:20 of the third to break away from a 24-24 tie and capture a 37-33 lead at the end of the third.