East Central girls getting in sync after last start to basketball season
BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Friday, December 28, 2012
12/28/12 at 7:40 AM
Off to a late start this basketball season, the East Central girls are struggling.
They're trying to replace key contributors lost to graduation from last season and haven't rediscovered the chemistry that carried them to a third straight runner-up finish in the Class 5A state tournament.
But the second-ranked Cardinals feel they made a good start in Oklahoma's Tournament of Champions by pulling away to a 79-44 win over Class A No. 4 Dewar in Thursday's first round at the Mabee Center.
"We're getting used to playing better as a team," senior forward Bria Pitts said. "This is probably the best we've played as a team."
Pitts scored 22 points, going 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and sophomore Marcia Reed added 21 as the Cards improved to 5-1 while handing Dewar its first loss. The Dragons won their first six games by an average margin of 37 points.
"We're not in sync yet, but we're gonna get there," said Reed, who was 9-for-10 from the foul line.
Two-time defending tourney champs, the Cards advanced to play at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals against 4A No. 3 Cushing, which survived Class B No. 7 Erick 43-36 behind Che'Ron Lewis' 20 points and 13 rebounds.
In other girls action, Jenks downed 3A No. 4 Verdigris 54-40 behind Jessica Washington's 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals. The Trojans will play at 8:30 p.m. Friday against 4A No. 1 Anadarko, which turned back 2A No. 5 Colbert 63-47.
Injuries and a late-arriving scheduled have worked against the Cards. With East Central's football team making a run to the 5A state final, the school's basketball coaches didn't schedule their season opener until Dec. 11.
"We finished our scrimmage schedule and went back to the practice gym for a month," girls head coach Samy Mack said. "Most teams have played eight, nine or 10 games. We've played six, and I basically played my (junior varsity) kids in one of those."
Injuries haven't cooperated. Pitts dislocated the ring finger on her left hand and Moncia White, the top sub off the bench, suffered a severe hamstring pull and was unavailable to practice for three weeks.
Jenks 54, Verdigris 40
The No. 16 Trojans (5-3) didn't score in the final 4:35 of the first quarter, but took control in the second, using a 13-1 run to build a 24-13 lead. Washington scored 11 of Jenks' points in that stretch.
Harper Peterson joined Washington in double-figure scoring with 12. Verdigris (8-2) was led by Baileigh O'Dell's 16 points and Courtney Risenhoover's 10.
The game was a capsule of the Trojans' season. Jenks started slow, but finished well.
"What impresses me most is: Every day they come to practice to get better and get better every game as a team," Jenks coach Mandy Nightingale said.
Cushing 43, Erick 36
In a tough defensive matchup, the Tigers improved to 11-0 while giving Erick its third loss in 14 games.
The Tigers came into the tourney allowing just 28.2 points per game. Erick was just the fifth team to score more than 30 against them.
Cushing led 33-23 after three quarters, but Erick pulled to within 35-31 on a flurry by Maranda Janz, who finished with 14 points. Lewis and Taylor took over after that, combining for the Tigers' final eight points.
"Erick is quick and had a good mindset," Lewis said. "I thought our girls showed up and played."
Anadarko 63, Colbert 47
Ashley Beatty tallied 16 points, got seven steals and six rebounds to lead Class 4A's No. 1 Warriors (8-1). Kelia Pahcoddy added 14 points, Cara Osceola managed 11 and Kylie Parker made 10.
Class 2A No. 5 Colbert (10-2) lost 36 turnovers, most coming from Anadarko pressure. The Beatty girls (Ashley and Lakota) combined for 12 steals.
Katherine Hair led Colbert with 14 points and hit three 3-point baskets. Ginavee Mowles added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The game started close with four ties and six lead changes, but a 16-3 run from the end of the second quarter to the midway through the third period proved too much for the Leopards to overcome.
EAST CENTRAL 79, DEWAR 44
| Dewar |
13 |
11 |
9 |
11 |
- |
44 |
| East Central |
19 |
17 |
23 |
20 |
- |
79 |
Dewar: C. Been 11, Nero 10, Simmons 9, Lane 6, Westmoreland 5, Howk 3.
EC: Pitts 22, Reed 21, Clark 8, White 8, Gritts 5, Winstead 4, Williams 3, Brown 2, Billie 2, Mack 2, McCall 1, Arnold 1.
JENKS 54, VERDIGRIS 40
| Jenks |
11 |
17 |
11 |
15 |
- |
54 |
| Verdigris |
12 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
- |
40 |
Jenks: Washington 22, Peterson 12, Halsmer 7, Sears 6, Chase 3, Hendrickson 2, Nissley 2.
Verdigris: O'Dell 16, Risenhoover 10, Payne 6, Beck 6, Collins 2.
CUSHING 43, ERICK 36
| Cushing |
9 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
- |
43 |
| Erick |
10 |
6 |
7 |
13 |
- |
36 |
Cushing: Lewis 20, Jackson 8, Hagler 7, Jones 4.
Erick: Maranda Janz 14, May 6, Kelly 5, Millar 4, Brinkley 4, Makenzie Janz 3.
ANADARKO 63, COLBERT 47
| Anadarko |
16 |
16 |
17 |
14 |
- |
63 |
| Colbert |
14 |
12 |
8 |
13 |
- |
47 |
Anadarko: A. Beatty 16, Ke. Pahcoddy 14, C. Osceola 11, Parker 10, King 6, L. Beatty 4, Ka. Pahcoddy 2.
Colbert: Hair 14, Mowles 10, Bradford 9, Weger 5, Lyons 5, Love 4.
World Correspondent John D. Ferguson contributed to this report
Tournament of Champions
At ORU's Mabee Center
BOYS
Thursday's games
Union 67, Weleetka 56
B.T. Washington 80, Dale 57
Edison 70, Arnett 44
Roland 79, Verdigris 58
Friday's schedule
Weleetka vs. Dale, 9 a.m.
Arnett vs. Verdigris, noon
Edison vs.Roland, 4 p.m.
Union vs. B.T. Washington, 7 p.m.
GIRLS
Thursday's games
Jenks 54, Verdigris 40
East Central 79, Dewar 44
Cushing 43, Erick 36
Anadarko 63, Colbert 47
Friday's schedule
Dewar vs. Erick, 10:30 a.m.
Verdigris vs. Colbert, 1:30 p.m.
East Central vs. Cushing, 5:30 p.m.
Jenks vs. Anadarko, 8:30 p.m.
Original Print Headline: East Central girls getting in sync
Mike Brown 918-581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Dewar's Shyla Lane and East Central's Ariel Williams chase a loose ball during the Tournament of Champions Thursday at the Mabee Center. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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