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Walker’s shot caps dramatic Lady Jacket finish

February 15, 2023 - 00:00
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  • Walker’s shot caps dramatic Lady Jacket finish
    Xavier Ridenour Photo by Chris Simon

Peyton Walker got the game-winner.

Pretty much the entire team contributed to the dramatic victory.

Walker’s coast-to-coast march on Friday night ended with her shot finally falling through the hoop after the buzzer sounded to give Kingfisher a 47-45 victory at Elgin.

The win appeared improbable at best when KHS missed a pair of free throws with 53 seconds remaining to still trail the Lady Owls by a point.

It became a three-point deficit when Elgin’s Danika Pendley made two free throws with 38 seconds left.

The comeback was still in doubt when Walker was freed up for a 3-pointer, but her shot from the corner hit only the back iron.

That’s when things finally started falling Kingfi sher’s way.

Freshman Abbie Myers grabbed the backside rebound, took two dribbles and found Addy Matthews at the top of the key.

The junior drilled the game-tying 3-pointer as a defender rushed her way.

The frantic moments continued as KHS was out of timeouts and Elgin quickly tried to answer.

They got the ball to Kelby Carter in the high post, but the freshman was quickly guarded by Raegan Snider.

Carter shuffled her feet before dribbling and was called for a travel with 6.9 seconds to go.

Emily Myers quickly inbounded the ball to Walker, who raced up the floor and avoided all potential defenders.

Her shot from the middle of the lane hit the back of the rim and then twice on the front before making its way to the bottom of the net, sending the Lady Jackets rushing onto the floor.

The bucket was Walker’s only points of the game.

It also ended a see-saw battle that saw both teams make a run and command the lead.

KHS fell behind 15-10, but led 16-15, helped by both Snider and Kadyn Daugherty knocking down second-quarter treys.

But Elgin made a run and led 24-10 at the half.

Carter and Pendley had 17 of their team’s points at the break.

It was Kingfisher’s turn early in the third as Matthews finally was able to free up for some open looks.

She scored five and Snider seven as the Lady Jackets reclaimed the lead, 35-34, after three quarters.

Matthews made one of two free throws with 2:08 to play to give KHS a 4240 lead.

The Lady Jackets didn’t score again until her 3-pointer with time running out in the game.

Carter scored 18 for Elgin while Pendley added 15.

Snider scored 17 to lead the Lady Jackets, who improved to 17-4.

Matthews scored 13, all in the second half while Abbie Myers netted seven off the bench.

Jackets take down Owls with different looks

Jared Reese had some new toys to play with at Elgin.

It wasn’t new players, just some newly-implemented plays. They did the trick against Elgin’s zone as KHS strolled to a 55-27 victory.

“They’re really not bad on the defensive side, so we tried some things we put in the day before,” Reese said of his different looks.

“For the most part they worked pretty well. Even if we didn’t make the shot, we got the look we wanted.”

It certainly worked early as Kingfisher jumped to a 22-8 lead on the Owls.

Drake Friesen and Xavier Ridenour accounted for three 3-pointers and 18 points in the quarter.

By halftime, KHS had three players in double figures. Nobody for Elgin reached that benchmark in the game.

Friesen had 14 of his game-high 17 at the half.

Ridenour had 13 at the break and finished with 15.

Caden Kitchens had 10 points at the break.

He ended his night with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Jackets out-rebounded the Owls 32-18 and held them to 29 percent shooting.

Kingfisher was 18-3 after the victory.