Skip to main content

Versatile Farmington too much for Prairie Grove in Region final

Farmington took all three of the rivalry games this season.

By Steve Andrews

FARMINGTON – The host Farmington girls basketball team has now defeated archrival Prairie Grove three times this season, but none bigger than Monday night’s 61-42 victory over the Lady Tigers in the 4A North Region championship game.

It was the 19th straight win for the Lady Cardinals who will enter this week’s state tournament with a nearly perfect 31-1 record.

“I thought our kids played phenomenal and they played tough, which you have to do when you play Prairie Grove,” Farmington coach Brad Johnson said. “I thought we got off to a great start and got some early separation, and that was big in a game like this.”

Farmington jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a pair of buckets from each, senior Carson Dillard and junior Jenna Lawrence. Prairie Grove finally got on the board with a free throw from senior Trinity Dobbs with 3:45 to play in the first quarter.

A 3-pointer from senior Megan Hernandez quickly extended the Lady Cardinals’ lead to 10-1.

“For me, it’s always been about rebounding and defending as hard as I can, but this year I have been able to expand my range and shoot some threes,” Hernandez said afterward. “Coach gives me the green light to shoot when I’m open. But I still view myself as a grinder who goes in there and battles them for rebounds and putbacks.”

The 6-foot-3 Lawrence, a University of Arkansas commit, got rolling early and connected on consecutive shots, a three from the wing and a layup on a dish from sophomore point-guard Reese Shirey. Lawrence scored 11 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 23.

Dillard, who finished with 16 points, drained a three to open the second quarter before Hernandez drove for a layup to put the Lady Cardinals up 22-6.

“It was so exciting out there tonight, and It was so intense and loud with so many people,” Hernandez said. “It was great to be a part of it.”

Dobbs scored 8 of her team-high 14 in the first half, and kept Prairie Grove within striking distance, but Farmington’s offense continued to prove too versatile.”

“I thought we moved the ball well and got some really good inside-outside touches,” Johnson said. “We had a lot of kids doing a lot of really good things tonight, and I’m real proud of every one of them. We’ve just got a group of special girls who are unselfish and don’t care about who gets it done, as long as we get it done. And you see that, night in and night out, with this team.”

A short jumper by junior Kenleigh Elder got the Lady Tigers back within 13 early in the third period, but another Hernandez triple from the wing capped an 8-2 Farmington run that put the Lady Cardinals in front 41-22. Hernandez tallied 12 points in the contest.

Lawrence proved to be too strong late, scoring 12 of Farmington’s 18 points in the final quarter and sealing the win. 

“We don’t think that we have peaked yet,” Johnson said. “I think we are still getting better every game, and we’re finding new things to try and improve on every night. We’re definitely continuing to climb the ladder, and that’s what you want to be doing this time of the year.”

As her prep career winds down, the state tournament berth is even more special for Hernandez and her classmates.

“This is special being my senior year, and I am so thankful to be here at this point of my life,” she said. “I have put in a lot of summer work and a lot of training, and I am just so happy to be where I’m at right now.”

2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9261
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9269
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9278
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9297
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9333
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9356
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9365
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9368
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9396
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9399
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9421
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9427
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9446
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9421
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9427
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9446
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9449
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9452
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9465
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9473
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9476
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9482
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9483
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9491
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9495
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9511
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9512
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9513
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9534
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9547
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9574
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9575
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9580
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9583
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9588
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9612
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9622
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9640
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9644
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9670
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9675
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9681
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9700
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9700
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9727
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9732
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9799
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9800
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9839
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9841
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9864
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9870
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9877
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9883
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9902
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9907
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9911
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9953
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9964
2022_02_28 Farm v PG VG BB-9971