FARMINGTON -- Trinity Johnson's eyes got as big as saucers, then she calmly went about her business like this was old hat as Farmington beat Greenbrier 76-42.
Her father, Farmington head girls basketball coach Brad Johnson, was telling her he was subbing her in to play the important position of lead guard during the 5A West tournament Monday, Feb. 19. Trinity, along with several other freshmen, had just been promoted to varsity for postseason play.
"Her eyes were about that big when I looked at her and told her I wanted her to go in and play the one spot," Brad Johnson said.
Trinity, who wears No. 32 -- the jersey her dad's best friend, O.J. Woods, wore in high school at Dardanelle, admitted she was nervous, but she never allowed that to show.
Trinity literally is an extension of the coach on the floor and she didn't disappoint her sweet daddy or her teammates, who looked to her to bring the ball up. Playing with a lot of confidence Trinity wasn't timid. She didn't slow down or hesitate when given the ball on a fast-break. With Greenbrier defenders backpedalling Trinity put the pedal to the metal playing the role of ball distributor. She passed to Audrey Culpepper filling the wing, who dribbled in for a layup and added a free throw.
"That's what I was taught to do so whenever I go in I just try to follow (starting point-guard) Makenna's (Vanzant) footsteps," Trinity Johnson said. "
Seconds later the Lady Cardinals were on the run again. This time Trinity took the ball to the hoop. Absorbing a foul didn't phase her. She made the layup and converted a 3-point play of her own much to the delight of Lady Cardinal fans.
"It was awesome," Trinity said of the basket and one that put Farmington ahead, 72-35, at the end of the third quarter.
That wasn't all. Seeing more minutes in the fourth quarter, Trinity spotted sophomore Tamia Harper ahead of the pack and passed over retreating Greenbrier defenders enabling Harper to get her first career varsity field goal after recovering from an ACL injury over the summer and working through the unexpected death of her mother over Labor Day weekend.
The Johnson's opened their home and hearts and took Harper in to fulfill her mother's expressed wishes so that Harper could continue to attend Farmington High School and play basketball for the Lady Cardinals. Like a good sister, Trinity Johnson got the ball to Harper in perfect position to score and the crowd of Farmington fans familiar with Harper's story roared to express their appreciation of the play.
"Seeing my teammates score is a big thing for me," Trinity said. "I know that was big time for her."
A third Lady Cardinal, Tori Kersey, also got her first varsity bucket with 23 seconds to go.
The biggest celebration of the moment was the victory secured Farmington's place in the State 5A tournament last week at Maumelle. The Lady Cardinals tipped off 2018 state tournament action beating No. 4 south seed DeQueen, 70-59, on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Farmington's starters and key reserves set the stage of Trinity's heroics by blasting Greenbrier. The lead was 37 points after three quarters assuring bench players of getting in during the fourth quarter.
Vanzant led the Lady Cardinals with 24 points. Alexis Roach added 12. The Lady Cardinals sizzled from beyond the 3-point arc making eight total. Vanzant had four to offset seven 3-pointers by Greenbrier in the first half.
Hannah Donham and Naylor led Greenbrier with 12 points apiece.
Farmington 76, Greenbrier 42
Greenbrier^13^16^6^7^--^42
Farmington^26^24^22^4^--^76
Greenbrier (3-24): Arden Naylor 4 0-0 12, Hannah Donham 5 0-1 12, Breleigh Simmons 2 0-0 5, Blysse Harmon 2 0-2 4, Haleigh Moss 2 2-2 4, Tess Gordon 1 0-0 3, Kayla Gilpin 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 2-5 42.
Farmington (24-5): Makenna Vanzant 7 6-7 24, Alexis Roach 6 0-0 12, Madisyn Pense 4 0-0 9, Audrey Culpepper 3 1-1 8, Camryn Journagan 2 2-2 7, Eliza Ball 2 0-0 5, Joelle Tidwell 1 2-2 4, Trinity Johnson 1 1-1 3, Tamia Harper 1 0-0 2, Tori Kersey 1 0-2 2. Totals 28 12-13 76.
3-Point Goals -- Greenbrier 8 (Naylor 4, Donham 2, Simmons, Gordon). Farmington 8 (Vanzant 4, Ball, Pense, Journagan, Culpepper).
Sports on 03/07/2018