The Benton girls basketball team won its first district title in four years as the Cardinals beat their cross-town rival Lafayette, 37-31, in the Class 4 District 16 championship at Lafayette High School.

Benton improves to 18-8 and they’ll play either Liberty North or Lincoln Prep in a Class 4 Sectional game at Staley High School on Wednesday.

The Cardinals led the Irish after one quarter, 8-4, and then extended their lead to seven points in the second before Lafayette scored the final five points of the half and BHS led 15-13 at the break.

Lafayette took a 21-19 lead late in the third quarter before Benton scored five straight points to close the quarter, including a three-pointer at the buzzer from Maleah Lankford.

The Cardinals never trailed again.

Benton extended its lead to ten points in the fourth quarter and Lafayette never got closer than six the rest of the way.

The Cards’ Mallory McAndrews led all scorers with 13 points, while Lindsay Doolan added 10.

Lafayette ends its season 17-9 and they were led by Ashlyn Dotson’s eight points.