Fayetteville Basketball Grows Up Despite Setback

Last Friday night after the Fayetteville boys basketball team had just finished beating the Bentonville Tigers 60-48 clinching their fifth conference win they were given a shocking statement: because they had played the semester with an academically ineligible player, they were forced to forfeit all previous conference games. With this violation of the rules Fayetteville was forced to forfeit their first four conference games which dropped the Bulldogs from 15-2 overall and 5-0 in conference to 11-6 overall and 1-4 in conference.

While Fayetteville has now dropped from the first overall seed in the state to the fifth seed in the conference they haven’t dropped off much, if at all, talent wise.  A state newspaper had them ranked first in the state even with the four losses they picked up.  However, they are currently ranked fifth in the standings. So the question that Fayetteville has to answer is, what’s next?

While they now have four blemishes on their conference record and sit at fifth in the conference they still have their original goals in mind. Will they be able to focus on the task at hand by staying on their original path? Or will this situation derail them from their goal of winning the state championship?

Coach Kyle Adams said, “They’ve taken a bad situation and rallied together.”

They still realize that even with those losses added onto their record they will still be able to accomplish their goal of the state championships. They just have to put this behind them.

Fayetteville athletic director, Barry Gebhart, said, “Our coaches and our players are working hard to look forward rather than backwards and make the absolute best out of the situation.” He continued, “Their goal of the state championship is out there in front of them.”

Adams continued, “they’ve stepped up and they are taking a committed approach to winning.”

While the team is moving on in search for that state championship at the end of the season the athletic department is taking measures to make sure that this sort of thing never happens again at Fayetteville.

Gebhart said, “It’s just making sure that everyone is clear on the rules and that’s mainly going to be better communication.”

While most high school age kids would get angry in this type of situation the Bulldogs have banded together to continue their winning ways.

Adams said, “They’ve helped me more than I’ve helped them. They have stepped up and acted in a classy matter.”

This Bulldogs team hasn’t let this situation rattle them. They have their heads in the game and aren’t allowing this to effect their play on the court. They are continuing to practice, play and dream big for their goals.

“They [the players] have all had a positive attitude. This is a situation where they have all stepped up,” said Gebhart.

One thing can be certain, if Fayetteville makes it to the state championship, the adversity that the team will have overcame is one that will not be overlooked