Lady Jackets push defending champs
KHS leads #1 Anadarko at half, falls short at end
KHS SENIOR Melody Wilfong came off the bench last Friday to knock down three 3-pointers in the first half at Anadarko. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
The scoreboard read that No. 1 Anadarko defeated the Kingfisher Lady Jackets 47-39 last Friday night.
And, if you’re wondering, KHS girls head coach Gerrett Spears said he’s not big into moral victories.
However, the fact remains the Lady Jackets led the defending state champs at halftime, trailed by just two points after three quarters and made the Lady Warriors work for every bit of the win they picked up.
Essentially, KHS opened some eyes in defeat and Spears said that’s a sign his team continues to evolve during his first season.
“I do believe that game can propel us into great things because it showed our young team is getting better with experience,” Spears said. “I see it as a huge confidence builder for each player moving forward.”
The Lady Jackets played with confidence from the start.
They used a 6-0 run to build a 9-5 lead and then scored four straight to end the first quarter on top 13-5.
It helped Anadarko was struggling from the field.
The Lady Warriors shot just 20 percent in the first quarter and 22 percent for the first half.
Meanwhile, Jenni Beebe scored six points in the first quarter and Melody Wilfong emerged from the bench to bury three big first-half 3-pointers.
That helped KHS lead 21-19 at the half.
That lead continued for much of the third quarter.
Allison Green’s 3-pointer at the 4:44 mark put KHS on top 29-22.
It was still a three-point advantage late in the quarter before Anadarko went on a 5-0 spurt to take the lead.
The Lady Warriors never lost the lead in the fourth, although they couldn’t pull away.
Averi Zinn made two big 3-pointers and scored eight of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. Her sister, Layni Zinn, went 4 of 4 from the foul line.
That helped keep KHS from keeping up although a Beebe putback with 1:04 to go got the Lady Jackets within 43-39.
Anadarko went to 19-1 with the win while KHS dropped to 12-7.
Records, said Spears, didn’t matter to his team going into the contest.
“They were excited to play,” he said. “We knew there was nothing to lose.”
The 39 points was the most scored against Anadarko in a dozen games, dating back to its 56-51 win against Newcastle. It’s the fourth-most the Lady Warriors have given up all season.
KHS, which shot 37 percent overall, got 10 points from Beebe, who also had nine rebounds and five assists.
Wilfong finished with nine points.
Ally Stephenson scored six points while Green scored five and Rayland Garner had 12 rebounds to go with her four points.
Kingfisher had 39 rebounds to 25 for Anadarko.
Still, KHS did turn it over 23 times against the relentless Anadarko pressure. Those miscues turned into 22 points for the home team.