The Eureka Springs Highlanders are headed back to the regional tournament.
Junior Drew Farrar’s layup off an assist from classmate Kenner Leavell with 9.2 seconds remaining lifted the Highlanders to a 42-40 victory over Alpena in the 2A-1 district tournament on Monday, Feb. 17, at Highlander Arena.
When the remainder of the tournament was canceled because of heavy snow and icy roads, the Highlanders advanced to the regional tournament as the No. 4 seed from the 2A-1.
Eureka Springs faced tournament host Hackett in a first-round game at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Hackett High School.
Just two years removed from a regional championship and an appearance in the state tournament quarterfinals, the Highlanders have spent the past two seasons rebuilding with a young and undersized squad. Coach Brian Rambo said Eureka Springs has had to “be creative” to match up with larger teams.
“We’re having to do a bunch of trapping the ball in the post and doubling the ball once it gets in the post,” Rambo said. “It takes a lot of work, but we’ve done a good job as of late just keeping the ball out of the paint and figuring out a way to box out, rebound and keep teams to one shot per possession. That’s been a struggle all year, but we’re kind of figuring it out at the right time.”
Rambo said Eureka Springs has allowed a total of 66 points in its past two games.
“Any time you give up 66 points in two games that you have to win, I think that’s pretty important for our teams in terms of just finding an identity and figuring things out. It’s exciting.”
Leavell, who saw some time in postseason play as a freshman two seasons ago, is the Highlanders’ leader.
“He really has been doing a great job,” Rambo said. “He’s so athletic and can handle the ball and beat guys. He made a great play at the end of the game (against Alpena). He’s done a great job for us handling pressure and being able to be a leader in that regard.”
On the game-winning play against Alpena, Leavell split two defenders to drive into the lane. When a third defender left Farrar to stop Leavell’s penetration, Leavell hit Farrar with a perfect pass for the winning basket.
Rambo also praised sophomore guard Cole Wolfinbarger.
“He’s really, really played well,” Rambo said. “He’s not very big. He’s had to take on the onus of guarding teams’ biggest player every game. He’s super athletic, super strong, has a great basketball IQ. We’ve kind of been leaning on those two guys all year.”
The Highlanders faced a tall order against Hackett, the No. 1 seed from the 2A-4. That game tipped off after the deadline for this issue of the Times-Echo.
“I think they’re 263,” Rambo said. “It’ll be a big game for us on the road, but it’s free basketball. It’s an opportunity for us to go out and compete and get better and figure out who we are and hopefully use that to get to the state tournament next year. The pressure’s on them. We’re going to go over and play loose and play hard and if we make some shots, make it a ballgame.”
