Comeback bid falls short against ‘Darko
HOPE STAFFORD drives to the bucket during Kingfisher’s 5040 loss to Anadarko last week. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
Kingfisher didn’t win.
But the Lady Jackets also didn’t wilt.
KHS lostits third straight game last Friday when 4A No. 2 Anadarko visited the APB and left with a 50-40 win.
It was only the fourth time Anadarko (16-2) had given up at least 40 points this season. The others were against Piedmont (No. 3 in 5A), Mustang (No. 5 in 6A) and Weatherford (No. 4 in 4A).
“I thought we competed really well and proved we could play with them,” KHS head coach Gerrett Spears said after the Lady Jackets dropped to 12-7.
The Lady Jackets’ last five games - and nine of the last 11 - have been against ranked teams.
Anadarko won the 4A title in 2019 and was ranked No. 1 heading into last season’s state tournament before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Lady Warriors have been ranked No. 1 or No. 2 all season and entered with a 12-game win streak.
They jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first quarter and although they never surrendered it, Kingfisher kept it in single digits the entirety of the first half.
Anadarko began to open it up in the third and led by as many as 18 points early in the fourth quarter.
But KHS didn’t fold.
Allison Green knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and Ally Stephenson another as the deficit was cut in half.
Kingfisher got as close as eight points and had possession, but couldn’t get closer.
The Lady Jackets out-scored Anadarko 17-11 down the stretch.
“We were able to break their press much better than most and scored more than Spears said.
“And I feel like we contained them on the other end, too.”
Kingfisher did have 17 turnovers, but still largely was able to handle Anadarko’s full-court pressure.
The Lady Jackets shot 7 of 15 (47 percent) from both two-point and 3-point range and held Anadarko to 35 percent shooting overall.
The visitors were led by Layni Zinn’s 26 points. They also got 10 points and 11 rebounds from Lexi Foreman.
Green scored 16 points and had five rebounds before fouling out in the fourth
Stephenson scored nine points and added eight rebounds and four assists while Britt Taylor scored seven.