ES to face defending Class 2A champions

The Eureka Springs Highlanders are going back to the regional tournament.

The Highlanders clinched a regional bid with a 66-45 victory over Yellville-Summit in the second round of the 2A-1 district tournament Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Highlander Arena.

After losing to Ozark Mountain 54-45 in a district semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 16, Eureka Springs is a No. 4 seed in the 2A West regional. The Highlanders will face defending state champion Lavaca in a first-round game at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Hector.

Eureka Springs defeated Lavaca in the championship game of last season’s regional tournament on the Highlanders’ home floor, but the Golden Arrows bounced back to win the state tournament.

The Highlanders advanced with a surprisingly easy victory over Yellville- Summit in the district tournament.

The teams split their two regular-season meetings this season, with Eureka Springs hanging on for a two-point victory in Yellville and the Panthers winning by 18 points at Highlander Arena in mid-December.

But everything went the Highlanders’ way in the district tournament.

“It was one of those games where we got ahead of them early,” Eureka Springs coach Brian Rambo said. “They actually made a bucket right at the end of the first quarter to tie it, but we always felt like we were in control of the game. That was pretty odd because the first time we played them, we kind of got on our heels a little bit and had to play catchup and then at their place it was just back and forth. So we were expecting the game just to be a slugfest and a tight game. But it just never felt like we weren’t comfortable at any point in the game. It was a really nice feeling.”

Senior Dylan Johnson led the Highlanders with 24 points while classmate Shane Holloway added 22. Junior Michael Lester scored nine and senior Elijah Williams chipped in five points.

Eureka Springs’ girls lost to Cotter 57-30 in the second round of the district tournament, ending the Lady Highlanders’ season.