Lady Jackets complete big comeback

There are a couple of different versions of the Kingfisher girls basketball teams.

There’s one that doesn’t defend the 3-point line well, get defensive stops and thereby not able to get into a transition game.

And then there’s the one that does all of that well.

Both teams were on display last Tuesday as KHS returned to the court against 3A’s No. 3 Alva.

After falling behind by as many as 9 points in the first half, the Lady Jackets dominated the second in a 48-33 victory at the APB.

After surrendering five 3-pointers and allowed 26 points in the first half, the KHS girls gave up a grand total of one field goal and seven points in the final two quarters.

“We did a much better job of limiting them to one shot and taking away the 3-point line,” said coach Taylor Young of the difference in the halves.

“When we are able to pull rebounds and get out in transition, that’s when we are at our best.”

And Kingfisher looked its best in the final 18:12 of the game.

The Lady Jackets had already erased one ninepoint deficit in the first half, only to see Alva make three consecutive treys to build it back.

Then when the Ladybugs went on top 26-18 with 2:12 to play in the second quarter, Young called a timeout for the second time in the half.

KHS responded with a 5-0 run to close the half and carried the momentum into the second.

Abbie Myers scored with 4:34 to play in the third to put Kingfisher up for good, 30-28.

That was followed by Taitym Walker forcing a steal, diving on the floor to retrieve the ball, passing it off, then eventually scoring a layup on the offensive end.

Her bucket at 4:01 of the quarter capped a 9-2 run by the Lady Jackets and prompted an Alva timeout.

KHS didn’t quit running.

Reese Roof ended the third with a 3-pointer for a 42-31 lead.

Kingfisher then quickly scored four points to start the fourth, which elicited yet another Alva timeout.

Nothing worked. One reason was the Ladybugs’ production from 3-point range disappeared. Alva hit none in the second half.

The other was Alva’s inability to run its offense through standout post player Hadlee Ohm.

She managed only one field goal in the game and 5 total points. Alva’s attempts to get her the ball were thwarted mostly by Ela Hartman.

Kingfisher’s sophomore constantly deflected or flatout stole passes intended for Ohm on the interior.

Hartman, who helped Kingfisher begin its surge with two second-quarter 3-pointers, finished her night with 10 points, 6 steals and 10 deflections.

Myers was a consistent force on both ends of the floor and led Kingfisher with 17 points and 7 rebounds.

Walker scored 9 points for KHS, which improved to 10-2. She had 7 of those points in the second half.

Alva was coming off a championship at the Wheat Capital Tournament, one in which KHS didn’t defend its 2025 title due to playing in last month’s Bertha Teague Mid-America Classic.

The Ladybugs were led by Kaylen Woods, who scored all 11 of her points in the first half.

It was Kingfisher’s second win over Alva (11-5) this season. KHS beat the Ladybugs 59-38 in the third-place game of the Dale tournament in December.