Lady Jackets fall in Bertha Teague opener
Shooting struggles, McAlester board dominance too much in 45-36 defeat
KINGFISHER SOPHOMORE Abbie Myers (3) attempts to drive on McAlester’s Jada Ponce during Thursday’s matchup at the Bertha Frank Teague Mid-America Classic. McAlester won the game 45-36 as Myers scored 11 points for the Lady Jackets. [KT&FP Staff Ph
Kingfisher couldn’t overcome long stretches of scoring droughts or McAlester’s rebounding prowess in a loss on the opening day of the Bertha Frank Teague Mid-America Classic.
Class 5A’s Lady Buffaloes held KHS to 29 percent shooting and doubled up the Lady Jackets in rebounding to grab a 45-36 victory Thursday at the Kerr Activities Center on the campus of East Central University in Ada.
After tying the game at 2-2 early in the first quarter, KHS gave up an 8-0 run.
The Lady Jackets never let the game get out of reach, but never got within one possession the rest of the afternoon.
McAlester, which won the Class 5A championship two seasons ago, battered KHS on the boards and built its early lead with a bevy of second-chance opportunities.
Offensive putbacks helped McAlester stake a 15-6 lead after a quarter and a 23-15 advantage at halftime.
The Lady Buffs didn’t get their first double-digit lead until the third quarter.
KHS answered quickly with a 3-point bucket by Abbie Myers and a basket in the lane by Raegan Snider to cut the deficit to five.
But the Lady Jackets got no closer.
Kingfisher made just 13 of 45 (28.9 percent) from the floor, which included going 3 of 15 (20 percent) from 3-point range.
McAlester was identical in its long-range shooting, but was 14 of 26 (53.8 percent) inside the arc.
The Lady Buffs peppered Kingfisher with balance as Tori Kilburn led the way with 12 points, Katie Allen scored 10 and Jada Ponce eight.
Kilburn also led her team with 10 rebounds.
Three Lady Buffs had seven or more rebounds on the day as they won the rebound battle 33-16.
Eleven offensive boards turned into 13 second- chance points.
That helped McAlester offset 17 turnovers against Kingfisher, which gave it back 10 times.
Snider led the Lady Jackets with 15 points and six rebounds.
Myers scored 11 and had four steals, second only to Mattie Slezickey’s five off the bench.
Kingfisher had 12 steals total, but only scored three points off McAlester’s multitude of turnovers.
The loss dropped KHS to 2-3 on the season and into the consolation bracket.
The Lady Jackets played Hartshorne on Friday afternoon (after press time).
Hartshorne, ranked 10th in Class 2A, was defeated 64-57 by Class 3A’s top-ranked Washington on Thursday.
Other first-round games saw Merritt beat Byng 6239 and Carl Albert topple Bethel 52-37.