That’s more like it: KHS dominates

This was more of what Taylor Young envisioned the first two meetings with Weatherford.

Kingfisher dominated its regional championship game Saturday night as the fifth-ranked Lady Jackets throttled No. 15 Weatherford 56-21 at the APB.

The win moved Kingfi sher into this week’s area championship game and has the Lady Jackets one win from state.

They’ll play No. 3 Fort Gibson at 6 p.m. Friday in Stroud for that area title. The loser will get another opportunity Saturday night.

It’s the first time in Young’s four years to claim a regional championship. Despite making it to state twice and the area consolation finals last year, KHS has lost twice in the regional semifinals and once in the regional final in Young’s tenure.

And, if Kingfisher’s first two matchups with Weatherford were any indication, winning this one wasn’t going to be easy.

The Lady Jackets escaped Weatherford 46-45 on Jan. 25 when Marley Teasley, needing two free throws to tie the game with 1 second remaining, missed the first.

The Lady Eagles avenged that defeat on Feb. 4 by downing KHS 53-47 in Weatherford.

Guard play was a huge factor in all three contests.

In the first two matchups of the season, Kingfisher’s Reese Roof and Mattie Slezickey combined for 12 points. Roof had a majority of it with her nine-point outing in the tournament final.

Weatherford’s combo of Shayla Navarre and Braelee Epp were the root of that with their disruptive defense.

Meanwhile, the combo combined for 18 points in the first meeting then erupted for 28 total points in the February matchup.

The roles reversed on Saturday.

Slezickey navigated the Lady Eagles’ defense and had just two turnovers on the night.

Meanwhile, she picked her spots and managed to drop in eight points as well.

She also made sure Roof got the ball and the junior - and former Lady Eagle delivered.

After Kingfisher staked a 13-10 lead in the first quarter, the Lady Jackets took control with a 19-5 run in the second.

Roof did her damage with three 3-pointers and 11 points in the quarter.

She had 17 by halftime as KHS led 32-15.

Teasley was the only reason the score wasn’t more lopsided.

The senior scored 13 of Weatherford’s points in the first half, a trend that mostly continued in the second half.

She eventually scored 21 points.

Navarre scored four while Epp was scoreless in the game.

Teasley was 8 of 14 from the field. The rest of the team was 3 for 32.

Talyn Payne, who averout ages double figures, was also held scoreless.

Roof nearly matched Weatherford’s production by herself.

The junior scored 19 points on the night, but was only one of three Lady Jackets in double figures.

Raegan Snider scored 11 points, 10 in the second and third quarters when KHS outscored the Lady Eagles a combined 31-11.

Abbie Myers chipped in 10 points.

Snider also had nine rebounds while Myers pulled in seven.

Kingfisher out-rebounded Weatherford 31-16 overall and had 16 assists to the Lady Eagles’ five.

Roof led the team with five assists while Myers added four.

Kingfisher will enter the area tournament with a 21-5 record.

Ft. Gibson is 23-3. The Lady Tigers downed No. 14 Oologah-Talala 6655 in their regional championship game.

The program made the state tournament 19 consecutive years before falling short last year.