Re-Coyle: Okarche teams sweep tournament again

New coach.

Same result. The Okarche Lady Warriors have had different head coaches in each of the last three years they’ve participated in the Coyle Invitational.

But each year, they’ve still come home with the championship trophy.

This year saw Okarche put the defensive clamps on Southwest Covenant in a 49-27 victory in Saturday’s championship.

Up 21-18 at the half, Okarche only surrendered nine points in the final two quarters, including just three in the fourth.

Katie Parham did more damage than that on her own.

The sophomore guard scored 13 points - including three 3-pointers - during the second half that saw Okarche pull away.

She made two treys and scored eight points in the third quarter as Okarche outscored Southwest Covenant 18-6.

Parham ended the night with a game-high 19 points.

Harper White scored six while Avery Schieber contributed five.

It was much more of a nail-biter in Friday’s semifinal that saw Okarche emerge 43-41 over Three Rivers Conference rival Crescent.

The Lady Tigers outscored Okarche 14-7 in the third quarter to tie the game and held a lead in the final 30 seconds.

But Parham’s 3-pointer - with an assist from Scout Payne - with about 15 seconds to play proved to be the game winner.

Okarche got a stop on Crescent’s final possession to secure the victory.

Parham was held to just two points through three quarters, but ended her night with seven.

Payne made three 3-pointers and led the team with nine points.

Callie Cramer scored eight while Logan White joined Parham in scoring seven points.

Okarche led 11-5 after a quarter and was up 23-16 at the half.

Aja Adams-House scored nine of her 13 points in the third quarter to help get Crescent back in it.

Okarche has now won the Coyle Invitational three straight years.

Warriors ‘pushed’ for first time this season

By the standards they’ve set this season, the championship game of the Coyle Invitational was a virtual nail-biter for the Okarche Warriors.

The top-ranked team in Class A won the tournament yet again by downing sixth-ranked Southwest Covenant 73-60 Saturday night for the title.

The point total was Okarche’s lowest of the season and the margin of victory was the smallest - with 26 being the previous low.

“I thought early on, our press was really good,” said coach Aaron West, whose team jumped on top 3119 by the end of the first quarter.

“But late in the game, we gave up too many open looks. It’s something we need to work on. We will and, hopefully, we’ll keep getting better.”

Though seeking the need for improvement, West ac- knowledged his team met one of its goals for the season.

“We accomplished one of our goals and that’s to win three regular season tournaments,” said West. “That’s really hard to do. I’m proud of these guys for achieving that.”

It didn’t happen last year. Despite winning the state title, Okarche won just two of its three regular season crowns.

The loss was Southwest Covenant’s first of the season. West said he’s ranked the Patriots fourth all season as they mix a combination of a tall front court and a solid backcourt.

The Patriots made 10 3-pointers against the Warriors, including four from Brady Robertson.

Lyndon Behymer and Tripp Niles made three apiece.

Hunter Mueggenborg, Colin Hendrickson and Jett Mueggenborg made two apiece for all of Okarche’s treys.

The Warriors made up the difference - and then some - by forcing 31 turnovers and scoring 32 points off of them.

Jett Mueggenborg poured in 34 points and had 12 rebounds.

He helped the Warriors build an 18-point lead going into the fourth quarter before Southwest Covenant closed the gap.

Easton Roby delivered 11 points while Hunter Mueggenborg and Hendrickson scored 10 apiece.

The Warriors beat Oklahoma Christian Academy 79-45 in Friday’s semifinal.

Jett Mueggenborg had yet another double-double with 27 points and 10 boards.

Hunter Mueggenborg added 19 points.

Okarche was 20-0 after the championship.

Dating back to last season, Okarche has won 29 straight games.