Coyle ends Lady Longhorns’ run in regional

The season is over for the Dover basketball team.

While that’s a sad reality in the small Kingfisher County town, there’s reason for optimism in the future.

That phrase hasn’t been uttered in a number of years.

Coyle held off Dover 39-37 Tuesday in their Class B regional consolation championship game at Agra.

The Lady Longhorns were just one win shy of reaching the area tournament for the first time since 2009.

Down three entering the fourth quarter, Dover had a chance to tie late in the game, but couldn’t connect on the shot.

Coyle’s Aubrey Taylor made two free throws with a handful of seconds left on the clock to give her team a lead.

“Our girls fought hard all day and left everything out there,” said head coach Brett Pitts. “We just couldn’t get any shots to fall today.”

Dover’s best run came in the second quarter.

The Lady Longhorns entered it trailing 104, but notched 14 points to take a

Five different Lady Longhorns scored in the frame, including five points from Kamree McNulty.

Coyle held Dover to eight points in the third and got seven points from Taylor. That allowed the Lady Jackets to take back the lead going into the final eight minutes.

Taylor was 6 of 6 from the free throw line in that fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 23 points.

Karlee Harviston and Kamree McNulty scored 10 points apiece for Dover.

Karlee McNulty and Katelyn Harviston added six points each.

Dover finished its season with an 8-13 record, but got half of those wins in February and three of them since the McNulty twins were able to join the team in the one-point halftime lead.

The McNultys and the Harvistons are among the returnees next year.

“With the experience we got this year and the pieces we’ll have coming back next year,” Pitts said, “I really think we’ve got a chance to continue improving and be a good team.”