FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Har-Ber and Fayetteville boys basketball are coming into Saturday's match up at the top of the state rankings.
"We both have to take care of business and in this league that's difficult," said Fayetteville head coach Brad Stamps.
Part of what has made both teams successful is depth. For the Wildcats, all eyes have been on top recruit junior Courtland Muldrew but head coach Tommy Deffenbaugh said watch out for two other player makers: juniors Jaxon Conley and Hayden Wood.
"[Jaxon] leads us in every statistical category but one," said Deffenbaugh. "Courtland outscores. He's our leading scorer, but Jaxon Conley does every thing else that stats don't always show. Hayden Wood. I call him the quiet assassin."
The Bulldogs are far from short of their own talent and that starts with 6'7 sophomore D.J Hudson.
"His best skill set as faculty loves to be coached," said Stamps. He looks you in the eye when you're coaching him, and he wants to make you proud."
Working quietly along side him is junior Jaxson Jorgensen.
"A guy that's been kind of our unsung hero," said Stamps. "He played a lot of JV and a little bit of varsity last year, but he's just steady."
The Wildcats believe victory comes down to executing the basics.
"In this conference, winning on the road is very, very difficult," said Deffenbaugh. "When you continue to rebound, you don't turn the ball over, you get to the free throw line. you're shooting at a high clip like we can you can win games on the road."
The one thing they do have in common, both teams are coming into Saturday ready to win.
"We know it's going to be a challenge," said Deffenbaugh. "We know what we're up against."
"We look forward to the challenge," said Stamps.
Har-Ber visits Fayetteville Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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