Lady Jackets pick themselves up after district loss
KHS SOPHOMORE Rayland Garner helps up teammate Britt Taylor during their team’s 62-43 win Thursday against Cushing. The two combined for 27 points. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
If there was any question as to how Kingfisher would answer the bell after an upset loss, the Lady Jackets had an early answer.
KHS extended its season at least one more day Thursday with a 62-43 victory over Cushing in a Class 4A regional consolation game at the APB.
Coming off last Friday’s loss to Elk City in the district championship, the Lady Jackets scored the game’s first 10 points and held Cushing scoreless for more than half of the first quarter.
“They definitely showed up this afternoon,” said KHS head coach Gerrett Spears.
“Lots of girls played their role and refused to lose. I’m very proud of the way they responded.”
Kingfisher played Clinton Friday night (after press time) in yet another consolation game. The winner of that plays at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the regional consolation championship and the right to advance to area.
Senior Jenni Beebe was among those intent on making sure Thursday wasn’t her final high school game.
She scored eight first-quarter points as part of that big early push.
Kingfisher did give up an 8-2 run to end the quarter, but outscored Cushing 16-8 in the second.
It was capped by Beebe’s banked-in 3-pointer at the buzzer as Kingfisher led 28-16.
After a sluggish start by both teams in the second half, Kingfisher began to heat up…and never cooled off.
Beebe made her third trey of the contest and Melody Wilfong chipped in another as Kingfisher extended its lead to 42-24.
Wilfong added two more 3-pointers in the fourth while Britt Taylor contributed two of her own.
While Cushing had - by far - its best offensive stretch in the final eight minutes, the Lady Tigers still couldn’t keep up with KHS.
On top of the 3-pointers, Rayland Garner finished strong underneath for four more points.
Garner ended her night with 17. She had 12 in the first half.
Beebe also scored 17 while Taylor added 10.
Wilfong scored nine points, all on 3-pointers.
One game after going 2 of 18 from 3-point range, the Lady Jackets sank 10 of 22 against Cushing, which saw its season end with a 12-13 record.
Kingfisher entered Friday’s game with a 15-9 mark.