Sharp-shooting Lions down KHS
CARTER KITCHENS scored seven points for a balanced KHS attack on Saturday, but 12 3-pointers by visiting Blanchard proved too much to overcome. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
Colby Connel called his team’s first outing against Blanchard one of - if not THE - worst games of the season for the Jackets.
His team was much improved against the Lions on Saturday night, but it still wasn’t enough to pull off an upset.
The eighth-ranked Lions made 12 3-pointers as part of their 60-41 victory in a Class 4A district championship at the APB.
The victory moved the Lions into the winner’s bracket at this week’s regional tournament.
Meanwhile, KHS drops to the consolation bracket. The Jackets’ season will be on the line at 2:30 p.m. Thursday when they play Sulphur in Blanchard.
Kingfisher’s first meeting with Blanchard was a 76-37 throttling on the road, one in which the Jackets were out of contention just minutes after the tip.
That wasn’t the case Saturday.
The Jackets twice took leads in the first quarter before the Lions closed strong for a 17-12 lead.
Still, Kingfisher was within 20-16 midway through the second.
But the longball was beneficial for the Lions.
In the first quarter, it was Jared Wrigley making three 3-pointers.
Jaxon Hull had two of his team’s four treys in the second.
By halftime, Blanchard had made eight 3-pointers and staked a 33-18 lead.
But Kingfisher also wouldn’t go away.
They got within 33-23 on a Coleman Gilles trey in the third quarter.
The team didn’t manage another field goal that quarter, however, as Blanchard began to get the distance it needed.
Treys by Carson Cooksey and Wrigley saw the lead get to 19 by the end of the quarter.
KHS got as close as 13 in the fourth, but couldn’t get it to single digits.
Blanchard was 12 of 19 from long range for the game, better than 63 percent.
It overshadowed one of Kingfisher’s better-shooting games. The Jackets were 6 of 15.
Jhett Birdwell had two of them, both in the first quarter.
He scored eight points, as did Jake Reagan. Birdwell led the team with seven rebounds.
Gilles led the team with 10 points while Carter Kitchens chipped in seven.
The Lions had four players in double figures, led by Wrigley’s 16. He made five treys.
Cooksey’s four 3-pointers accounted for all 12 of his points.
Jaxon Hull also scored 12 while 6-foot-6 center Ross Johnston scored 13.