Bethany stops KHS upset bid

Kingfisher was able to hang tough.

The defending champs had just a bit too much.

Bethany closed out the game on a 12-3 run Tuesday to knock off the Lady Jackets 49-34 at the APB.

The visiting Lady Bronchos returned essentially their entire roster from last year’s Class 4A state champion.

That includes senior guard Zya Vann, who has signed to play at the University of Oklahoma, and junior forward Keziah Lofton, a Sooner commitment.

But it was Kayten Donley who led the Lady Bronchos with 17 points as she made both of her 3-point attempts and went 7 of 8 from the free throw line.

She scored five in the first quarter to help Bethany hold off Kingfisher’s frequent trips to the bank.

Raegan Snider made one 3-pointer off the glass and another long two-pointer as well.

Then, with just under 30 seconds to play in the first, freshman Maya Haney also banked in a 3-point shot to pull the Lady Jackets within 14-13.

Bethany extended its lead to five by halftime as Donley scored five more points.

But the Lady Jackets managed just three field goals in the second half as the visitors slowly pulled away.

Two of those were 3-pointers from Addy Matthews, including Kingfihser’s lone field goal in the fourth.

Abbie Myers scored six in the third quarter and 11 for the game. She was 8 of 9 from the foul line.

But KHS couldn’t overcome Bethany’s length and athleticism, which caused 20 turnovers that led to 22 points.

Snider joined Myers in scoring 11 while Matthews scored nine.

Matthews and Myers led the team with five rebounds each and Matthews also had five assists.

Vann had seven points, eight rebounds and four steals while Lofton scored 14 to go with five boards and four assists.

The loss dropped KHS to 1-1 on the season. The Lady Jackets host Tuttle on Tuesday night.

(Editor’s note: The KHS girls are not in the tournament this weekend with the Kingfisher boys team. The Lady Jackets will play Dec. 28-30 in the Bertha Frank Teague Mid-America Classic in Ada.)