Watonga nabs Coyle titles from Okarche
JALIE ROTHER scored 19 points for Okarche, but the Lady Warriors couldn’t overcome Watonga for a third time this season in the finals of the Coyle Invitational. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
The third time was the charm for Watonga.
After two losses to Okarche, the Lady Eagles broke through Saturday in the finals of the Coyle Invitational Tournament.
Watonga used a big third quarter to stake a seven-point lead, then held on for a 55-52 victory over the Lady Warriors, handing Okarche just its second loss of the season.
Okarche won at Watonga in December and then again two weeks ago in the Three Rivers Conference Tournament championship, both by double digits.
“We just didn’t play as well this time,” coach Haley Mitchel said after her team dropped to 19-2 on the season.
“We missed too many open shots underneath and had too many careless turnovers and Watonga is good enough to make you pay for that.”
Okarche led 27-23 at halftime, but Watonga scored 21 points in the third quarter to build its lead.
The Lady Warriors clawed back into it to trail by a single point and had possession with under 30 seconds to play.
However, that possession ultimately led to a turnover and Watonga was able to score with two seconds remaining to push its lead to three.
Jadyn Rother’s desperation 3-pointer was off the mark.
Natalie Carmona scored 14 to lead Watonga while Landri Hussey scored 13.
Jalie Rother led the Lady Warriors with 19 points while Emma Stover scored 11 and Sophie Vandendriessche 10.
Okarche was without Tyson Endres, who is generally the first player off the bench.
“She’s someone we rely on in physical games like that,” Mitchel said.
However, Endres suffered a gash to her forehead in Friday’s 76-37 win against Southwest Covenant.
The injury ultimately required six stitches, leaving her unavailable for Saturday’s game.
Jalie Rother hit five 3-pointers in that Friday win and scored 17 points.
Stover scored 16, 13 of which came in the first quarter as Okarche built a 23-9 lead.
Vandendriessche added 14 points, nine in the fourth quarter.
Eagles topple Okarche for boys title
Watonga made it a clean sweep at the Coyle Invitational after the Eagles knocked off Okarche 56-44 in the boys championship game.
The Eagles built some breathing room with a 21-13 spurt in the third quarter, then kept pace with Okarche in the fourth quarter.
It was Watonga’s second win over the Warriors this season and snapped Okarche’s four-game winning streak.
Statistically, the teams were neck and neck.
However, Okarche committed 26 turnovers and Watonga turned those into 23 points.
The Eagles were led by Deondre Dunn’s 16 points.
Okarche got 14 points and 11 rebounds from P.K. Harris, one of two Warriors with a double-double.
He was joined by Brayden Stover, who had 10 points and 10 boards.
Wyatt Pinkerton also knocked down 10 points for Okarche.
The Warriors made their way into the championship with Friday’s 64-57 win against Coyle.
Down one at halftime, Okarche outscored Coyle 21-15 in the third and then maintained the lead late.
Stover had yet another double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Harris led the team with 15 points.
Hunter Mueggenborg scored 11.
This time, Okarche took advantage of the opponent’s turnovers. The Warriors forced 25 of them and scored 28 points off the miscues.
Okarche was 15-6 overall after Saturday’s loss.