Lady Eagles’ title bid falls short in finals

A smothering defense by Fairview denied Hennessey’s bid for the Three Rivers Conference Tournament title.

The top-seeded Lady Jackets held Hennessey to single digits in each of the first three quarters to claim the championship 52-34 Saturday at Watonga.

The loss was just the second of the season for Hennessey, which knocked off Watonga 46-42 in overtime in the quarterfinals, then stymied Okarche 37-31 in the semis.

But the Lady Eagles couldn’t slow down Harlee Hamar enough as the junior scored all 17 of her points in the first three quarters Saturday.

By that time, Fairview built up a 42-16 lead.

Hennessey’s offense more than doubled in the fourth quarter.

Clare Munroe scored 8 of her team-high 11. Leilie Vadder scored all 8 of her’s in the fourth.

Emma Copeland knocked down 14 points in the win over Okarche, but it was the defense that sealed the win.

The Lady Warriors scored a combined 30 points in the second and third quarters, but only had 1 point combined in the other two.

Hennessey was up 10-0 after a quarter as Copeland accounted for 6 of her points.

Callie Cramer and Katie Parham came alive for Okarche in the middle frames.

Parham scored 14 of her game-high 15 points and Cramer added another 13. They helped Okarche take a 30-27 lead into the fourth.

But Hennessey outscored the Lady Warriors 10-1 down the stretch.

Copeland scored 7 in the decisive quarter, including going 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

Joselyn Roman added 9 for Hennessey and Munroe had 8 in the win.

Okarche bounced back Saturday to down Cashion 34-25 in the third-place game.

Cashion led 9-4 after a quarter, but Okarche went on a 20-7 run over the next two frames.

Parham led the way with 13 points while Logan White scored 12.

Cashion got 8 points from Brooke Shafer.

The Lady Wildcats were downed 48-41 by Fairview in the semifinals.

Shafer scored 13 in that contest while Jaylee Harp added 10 and Tinley Meier and Kate Nabavi scored 9 apiece.