Lady Warriors grind out regional title win

The Okarche road to state was long and winding a year ago.

The Lady Warriors - thus far - are taking a much shorter route.

They find themselves one win shy of getting back to Oklahoma City after surviving No. 12 Mooreland 41-38 in a Class A regional championship game Saturday at home.

The fifth-ranked Lady Warriors will take on No. 4 Amber-Pocasset in the area championship at 6 p.m. Friday at Enid High School.

A win there lands Okarche at state. A loss would still give the Lady Warriors another opportunity on Saturday night.

The Lady Warriors a season ago had to withstand five elimination games and the birth of coach Brett Tahah’s fourth child before making it to the “last dance at the Big House.”

They were in danger of getting sent to the consolation bracket against Mooreland as the visitors used a 15-4 run in the third quarter to stake a four-point lead.

It was still a four-point deficit with just over 5:00 to play when Okarche made its move.

It started with a steal and layup by Emory West with 5:02 to play to get the Lady Warriors within 32-30.

The sophomore, who watched last year’s magical run from the bench with a torn ACL, then gave her team the lead for good with a 3-pointer with 3:46 remaining.

Okarche then went 8 of 12 from the free throw line in the final 2:33 to keep clinging to its lead.

West was 3 of 4 during that stretch and scored all 8 of her points in crunch time.

Mooreland managed to pull within a point, but never could tie the game back up.

Callie Cramer made two free throws in the final minutes as well and led Okarche with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Logan White scored 10 points and Katie Parham scored 7.

Okarche was up 12-5 in the first quarter and led by 9 at the half, which tied its biggest lead of the game.

Am-Po beat No. 16 Waukomis in a regional final. The Lady Panthers beat Okarche 33-27 earlier this season on their home court.