Lady Jackets sent to consolation bracket
Plainview defense stifles KHS in 35-23 loss
ABBIE MYERS (3) tries to split Plainview defenders during Thursday’s regional semifinal in Blanchard. Myers paced KHS in scoring, but the Lady Jackets struggled as a whole in a 35-23 loss. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos. smugmug.com]
Kingfisher has been in this position before.
It doesn’t mean the Lady Jackets intended to be there again this season.
The team’s worst offensive performance of the year came at the most inopportune time Thursday in a 35-23 loss to Plainview.
The defeat in the Class 4A regional semifinal sent 10thranked KHS into the consolation bracket of the playoffs and one loss from elimination.
KHS needs two wins in as many days to advance to area and five straight wins to get back to state for a third straight year.
That’s a feat Kingfisher accomplished two seasons ago when it was upset in the regional semifinal by Woodward.
The Lady Jackets last year won three straight consolation games in area to get back to the state tournament.
This year’s quest began Friday night against Byng (after press time).
Thursday’s loss snapped a 14-game win streak while unranked Plainview (22-3) won for the 10th straight time.
The Lady Indians almost completely shut down Kingfi sher’s offense with their 3-2 zone.
KHS scored first on a fast break in the opening minutes, but didn’t score again until midway through the second quarter.
KHS had just two field goals in the entirety of the first half.
Fortunately, the Lady Jackets’ defense was solid as well.
Plainview led 9-2 after a quarter and it was just 13-7 at the half.
But the second half didn’t spell relief for Kingfisher.
The Lady Indians’ Marya Southerland made a 3-pointer a minute into the third to start a 10-2 run.
It was 23-9 entering the fourth before Kingfisher found its lone glimmer of hope.
Raegan Snider scored a bucket at the 7:00 mark and Addy Matthews - playing for the first time since spraining her ankle Feb. 6 - made a 3-pointer with 6:30 to play to get the Lady Jackets within single digits.
But Southerland answered again with four straight points andlatermadeanother3-pointer to put the Lady Jackets away.
Southerland scored 15 for Plainview, which advanced to play Tuttle Saturday for the regional title game.
Abbie Myers led KHS (205) with nine points.
She scored all five of Kingfi sher’s second-quarter points.
Snider added eight. The game also marked the return of Peyton Walker, who hasn’t played since the first quarter against Elk City on Feb. 9 with an injured foot.
Walker started and played most of the game.
Matthews came off the bench in her return.
Byng staved off elimination Thursday by beating Ada 4834 on its home floor.
The winner of Friday’s game will play the Broken Bow-Blanchard winner at 1 p.m. Saturday for the regional consolation title and the right to advance to area.