Lady Jackets fall 1 win short

In each of the three games against Weatherford this season, the Kingfisher girls basketball team was “right there” with Class 4A’s fourth-ranked team.

There was a stretch in each of those previous three losses where struggles in one aspect or another ultimately cost KHS the game.

That stretch also bit Kingfisher in their fourth and final meeting with the Lady Eagles.

After being tied at the half, Weatherford outscored KHS 12-2 in the third quarter and went on to a 46-37 victory in their Class 4A area consolation championship game Saturday at Stillwater High School.

The win propelled Weatherford into the state tournament while the loss kept KHS one victory shy of that goal.

The Lady Jackets’ season ended with a 19-10 record. They had won five straight elimination games after falling to Elk City in their district championship game.

That included a 53-35 thumping of the Elkettes in Friday’s area consolation semifinal.

In their first meeting of the playoffs, KHS went 2 of 18 from 3-point range against Elk City.

This time around, Alli-son Green made two in the first quarter alone, though her team led by just two points.

The second quarter turned it in the Lady Jackets’ favor for good as they went on a 16-4 spurt They added a 13-5 run in the third.

Ray Garner scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in that decisive stretch.

Green added 13 points and Ally Stephenson scored seven.

Later Friday night, Weatherford fell short in its first shot at reaching state as it was dropped, 45-27, by No. 5 Victory Christian in the area championship game.

The Lady Eagles then went toe-to-toe with Kingfisher in the first half on Saturday.

Garner and Jenni Beebe had six apiece in the first half as the Lady Jackets kept pace.

But the pace was all on Weatherford’s side in the third quarter.

Garner provided Kingfisher’s only points as the Lady Jackets fell behind by 10.

“It’s difficult to win a game like that when we go on a stretch like we did,” coach Gerrett Spears said.

“Our defense kept us in it, but we just couldn’t get it going offensively in the third.”

Green knocked down two 3-pointers and Garner had a three-point play in the fourth, but Weatherford went 10 of 13 from the foul line to keep pace.

Addy Hoffman was 6 of 8 on those free throws and ultimately led her team with 17 points.

KHS got 11 from Garner, nine from Green and six apiece out of Stephenson and Beebe.

Spears said his team exhibited a lot to the rest of the state over the final two weeks of the season.

“This group came together late and overachieved,” he said. “They proved theybelonged with the best schools across the state.

“I couldn’t be more proud of their effort and grit they showed after the district loss.”