HIGH SCHOOL BOYS: Bulldogs use size advantage

— Fayetteville opened the third quarter with 13-2 run to pull away from North Pulaski in a 57-30 victory on Tuesday at the Wampus Cat Invitational.

Fayetteville (5-0) raced out to a 20-10 lead after one quarter. The Bulldogs - with 6-10 Tyler McCullough, 6-7 Caleb Waitsman and 6-6 Malik Fields across the front line - put their height advantage to use against the undersized Falcons.

“I think our size kind of overwhelmed them,” Fayetteville Coach Kyle Adams said. “We were able to throw the ball over the top [for baskets inside]. Size just overpowers you sometimes. Our big men did an outstanding job passing the ball and scoring.”

Leading 35-16 at halftime, Fayetteville quickly put the game out of reach in the third quarter. Waitsman made a steal and took it in for a layup, then added a free throw to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead, 48-18. North Pulaski got not closer than 25 points the rest of the way.

The Bulldogs are off to a hot start after winning a tournament in Springfield, Mo., last weekend, and are benefiting from many underclassmen playing significant minutes last season.

“I think the guys are confident,” said Adams, in his second season as head coach. “Their expectations are high, but in Fayetteville they’re always high. We gained a lot of experience playing young kids last year.”

Jawan Smith led a balanced Fayetteville scoring attack with 13 points.

Waitsman added 10, while Stephen Graves had nine and Brandon McCall eight.

The Falcons (1-6) were led by Jeremiah Hollis’ nine points. At 6-7, Hollis is North Pulaski’s tallest player.

“We’re not really big, so we tried to speed them up,” North Pulaski Coach Roy Jackson said. “Their guards did a good job of beating that pressure, and they wore us down when we got in the half-court. Every day we are improving. It’s just the little stuff that is hurting us right now.” GIRLS CONWAY 67, SPRINGDALE 38

Conway started with a 14-0 run and never looked back in a lopsided victory over Springdale in the first round of the Wampus Cat Invitational in Conway.

Senior Courtnie Miller led the Lady bulldogs (2-4) with 16 points, and senior Sierra Dickard had eight.

Springdale committed 30 turnovers and trailed 39-20 at halftime before scoring 10 points in the third quarter.

Sports, Pages 20 on 12/07/2011

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