Union girls finish season with 63-47 win over Muskogee

BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Saturday, February 16, 2013
2/16/13 at 4:53 AM

Union's girls didn't want to endure another basketball loss like the 23-point shellacking they took at Muskogee last month.

"They put it on us, but we're a better team now than we were then," Redskins senior forward I'mani Davis said.

The second-ranked Roughers would second that. Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds Friday as the 11th-ranked Redskins ended the regular season on a roll, racing to a 63-47 win in the return game at the UMAC.

"We were ready tonight," junior forward Kensley Fox said. "I feel like we've come a long way since we played down there. We keep getting better and better."

Fox made four 3-pointers and scored a season-best 18 points as the Redskins (14-9, 9-5) won a share of the Frontier Conference. They also finished the regular season with eight wins in their final nine games.

"It's a good time of the season to be getting things figured out," head coach Jim Stacy said.

Muskogee (18-5, 9-5) had already clinched a share of the conference title, despite losing three of its final four games. Jenks also claimed a share with a 59-45 win over Sand Springs and Bixby was playing for a share at Sapulpa. But Broken Arrow missed out on a title share with its 63-58 loss at Owasso. Taylor Koelsch led the Rams with 29 points on Senior Night.

Union's 12th-ranked boys also finished the regular season on a high note, pulling away in the second half to blister Muskogee 58-39 behind Jeffery Mead's 16 points.

Union 63, Muskogee 47 (girls): The Redskins revved up the defense with Davis holding Rougher scoring leader Kelsey McClure to 14 points, her second-lowest total of the season and nine fewer than her season average.

Muskogee scored its fewest points since a season-opening loss to Sapulpa.

"They picked up their defense and they're peaking at the right time, playing good basketball," Muskogee coach Doyle Rowland said of the Redskins.

Rowland said the Roughers need to get back to playing the kind of defense that carried them to 17 wins in their first 19 games before postseason play opens Feb. 21 for both teams. Union plays Stillwater at Bixby in a first-round regional game and Muskogee hosts a regional and plays Moore in the first round.

Union 58, Muskogee 39 (boys): The Redskins (14-9, 9-5) led 26-20 at halftime and scored the first six points of the third quarter and led by double digits for most of the remainder.

Muskogee was within 41-32 early in the fourth quarter, but Union scored 11 straight points to put the game out of reach.

Josh Palmer chipped in 14 points for the Redskins, who won four of their final five regular-season games while Muskogee (8-15, 4-10) lost its final six.

The same teams square off in first-round regional action at Stillwater Feb. 22.

UNION 63, MUSKOGEE 47 (girls)

Muskogee	19	12	7	9	-	47
Union	11	21	15	16	-	63

Muskogee (18-5, 9-5): McClure 14, Alexus Wilson 10, Aaliyah Wilson 8, Jackson 8, Carter 5, Rozell 2.

Union (14-9, 9-5): Davis 22, Fox 18, Christon 9, Udoumoh 6, Hill 4, Christon 2, Climpson 2.

UNION 58, MUSKOGEE 39 (boys)

Muskogee	13	7	7	12	-	39
Union	14	12	13	19	-	58

Muskogee (8-15, 4-10): Beasley 15, Ivy 11, King 3, Ashley 2, Cherry 2, Givens 2, Reed 2, Whiacker 2.

Union (14-9, 9-5): Mead 16, Palmer 14, Meier 9, Barton 8, Davis 7, Olden 2, Rodriguez 2.

Original Print Headline: Union girls finish strong with win

Mike Brown 918-581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com