Consolation Comeback

Sometimes you give up 10-point leads.

Sometimes you overcome them.

The Kingfisher girls did the latter on Wednesday as they came back to defeat Piedmont 37-34 to claim the consolation championship of the Mustang Holiday Classic.

KHS spotted 5A’s 12thranked Lady Wildcats the first 10 points of the game before mounting a comeback and then holding on late.

The win came two days after the Lady Jackets surrendered a 10-point lead to Putnam City North in the fourth quarter before losing in overtime in the tournament opener.

After taking care of business in Tuesday’s game with Class A Strother, KHS came out flat against Piedmont, which got seven early points from Macy Lee.

Kingfisher didn’t score for more than five minutes and didn’t get its first field goal until the 1:43 mark when Addy Matthews buried a 3-pointer.

That was the start of a quick 7-0 burst by the Lady Jackets as they slowly started to take control of the game.

Makina Frost scored four straight in the second quarter, including a pair of free throws at the 4:16 mark to give the Lady Jackets their first lead at 17-15.

Peyton Walker’s 3-pointer at the 2:40 mark of the third quarter put Kingfisher up for good, 26-25.

It was the start of an 8-0 run capped by a steal and layup from Emily Myers.

Walker had more big shots ahead of her.

She knocked down another 3-pointer with 5:28 left to give the Lady Jackets a five-point lead.

That also proved to be Kingfisher’s final field goal.

Still, the advantage grew to six with a Walker free throw, but Piedmont wouldn’t go away.

Crawford knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:07 left to get Piedmont within 35-32.

A pair of missed free throws by KHS kept it a one-possession game.

Still up three, Kingfisher fouled Crawford with 8.8 seconds remaining.

The junior made both free throws, but Kingfisher was able to get the ball to Walker on the ensuing inbounds play.

Walker was fouled and buried both free throws and Kingfisher’s defense held on the final possession.

Walker led the team with 13 points.

Myers scored eight.

“We were sloppy for about 3 1/2 quarters,” noted Kingfisher coach Taylor Young.

“But I’m happy with how they handled the situation at the end of the game.”

The Lady Jackets are now 8-2 on the season with four wins over ranked teams.

“If you would have told me we would be 8-2 after looking at our schedule for the first half of the season, I’d take it,” Young said.

They return to action Tuesday when they host Chickasha, but then get a week off while the KHS boys play in the Wheat Capital later next week.

The time off, Young said, will be well spent.

“I’m ready for us to get back to practice and get ready for conference play,” she said.