Bixby defeats B'ville in Port City Classic 46-43
BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 27, 2013
1/27/13 at 4:24 AM
CATOOSA - Five seconds left, nursing a one point lead.
This is supposed to be nervous time, but Bixby junior guard Lexi Williams had icewater in her veins as she stepped to the foul line.
She didn't hesitate when the official handed her the ball. Her first shot was in, and so was the second, following a timeout.
Williams' points provided the final margin as her 6A No. 2 Spartans knocked No. 3 Bartlesville from the unbeaten ranks Saturday night with a 46-43 triumph in the girls final of the Catoosa Port City Classic.
Bartlesville had one last chance after Williams' free throws, but Bruin standout Paige Wilson had the ball stripped along the sideline, and her teammates couldn't get off a shot before time expired.
"We shoot free throws in practice every day. If I had taken time to dribble, I probably would have over-thought it," said Williams, who was 4-for-4 from the line in the fourth quarter.
Christina Devers had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven steals and Williams added 13 for the Spartans (14-3). Wilson and Hailey Tucker scored 17 and 12 to pace the Bruins (13-1).
Bartlesville, which struggled early in Friday's semifinal win over Verdigris, started cold again and Bixby ran off the game's first 15 points.
But the Bruins had the deficit down to seven by halftime (29-22) and tied at 33 on Olivia Culver's 3-pointer with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
Neither team gained controlled until Williams' foul shots broke a tie at 38 with 2:38 left. Devers' baskets sandwiched a Tucker 3-pointer and Bixby's lead was 44-41.
Wilson's foul shots narrowed the margin with 49 seconds left, but the Bruins were forced to foul when they couldn't trap Devers, and Williams made the shots that made it a three-point game.
Verdigris 76, Cascia Hall 52 (girls): Baileigh O'Dell scored a career-high 31 points to go with five steals and three assists, pacing the 3A No. 5 Cards in the third-place game.
Cascia Hall played without point guard Reagan Derr, who sprained her ankle in Friday's semifinals, and the Cards took advantage by wearing down the 4A No. 6 Commandos (14-5) with a fullcourt press.
The Cards led 37-35 at halftime and Stacia Payne scored 14 of her 21 points in the third quarter, helping break open the game.
Liesl Spoerl scored 18 to pace the Commandos.
Memorial 60, Owasso 58: Devin Perez drained a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left, capping a frantic final half minute and lifting the 5A No. 2 Chargers to a 60-58 win over 6A No. 6 Owasso in the boys championship game.
Owasso trailed 57-54 with 35 seconds left, but Jaylen Lowe scored after a steal and scored again with 14 seconds left, racing for a layup after grabbing a loose ball in a scramble under the Memorial basket.
That made it 58-57, but Perez swished a jumper from the left wing and after a timeout, Lowe's 55-foot heave hit the right side of the backboard as time expired.
