6A girls basketball: Bixby edges Bartlesville to gain state berth
BY JON POTTS World Correspondent
Friday, March 01, 2013
3/01/13 at 5:19 AM
Third-ranked Bixby edged fifth-ranked Bartlesville 45-42 in a Class 6A girls basketball area championship game Thursday night at the Will Rogers Activity Center.
The Spartans (19-7) advanced to the state tournament, beginning next Thursday in the Tulsa area at sites and times to be determined.
The Bruins (20-3) will face No. 14 Broken Arrow for another state tournament berth at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Catoosa. The Tigers (15-10) beat No. 20 Mustang 61-52 in Thursday's elimination game.
Bixby 45, Bartlesville 42: This was a rematch of the Port City Classic title tilt on January 26. The Spartans edged the Bruins 46-43. This game proved to be even more dramatic, considering what was at stake.
Christina Devers had a double-double, 18 points and 13 rebounds for Bixby. Teammates Mariah Knox and Stevi Parker finished with nine and eight points, respectively.
"Christina had a good night scoring and also did a good job of getting us set up," said Bixby coach Melody Stewart. "Stevi came up with a huge charge early that I thought really gave us some momentum."
Sierra Crow and Paige Wilson scored 13 points apiece to lead the charge for Bartlesville.
The Spartans were ahead most of the way, but the Bruins took their first lead since the first quarter at 42-40 after Crow made a pair of free throws with 2:10 left.
Knox tied the game at 42-all after a rebound and putback 25 seconds later. Devers then made the key plays down the stretch.
First she grabbed a rebound, raced down the floor, and converted a layup with 15 seconds remaining.
Bartlesville countered quickly and got a good look at a potential go ahead three point field goal with four seconds left.
The shot missed, however, and Devers secured the rebound and was fouled with one second to play. Devers hit the first foul shot and missed the second.
Crow grabbed the rebound off that second attempt, but her desparation full court heave was well short as the buzzer sounded.
"I am extremely proud and very blessed to coach these girls," said Stewart. "I feel like they are changing the face of basketball at Bixby. They certainly did that tonight."
Bixby made 3-of-4 three-point field goals en route to an 11-10 lead after the first quarter. The Spartans maintained that one point edge, 24-23 at the half.
Devers and Parker combined for 14 first-half points. Crow kept Bartlesville close as she scored ten points on a perfect 5-of-5 field goal shooting.
Bixby was on top 35-31 after three periods. The Bruins didn't score in the third quarter until Wilson made a pair of free throws at the 3:10 mark. That set the stage for the dramatic final frame.
"These kids have really matured all around," said Stewart. "We can really see their growth and development at the end of games."
Broken Arrow 61, Mustang 52: Toree Thompson finished with a game-high 23 points for the Tigers. Teammates Darian Jackson and Alexis Gaulden, both freshmen, scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Mallory Brothers and Taylor Stewart finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively for the Broncos (11-14).
Broken Arrow held a slim 10-8 edge after the first quarter. Mustang hit a three pointer to open the second period but the Tigers scored the next 13 points and did not trail again.
Broken Arrow was eventually on top 26-13 at the half. Gaulden's three point field goal at the buzzer gave the Tigers that margin.
The Broncos got the first four points of the second half but were still down double digits, 36-25 after three periods.
Broken Arrow built its advantage to 56-40 midway through the final quarter. Jackson had a couple of key buckets after nice passes from Thompson.
Mustang tried to make things interesting as it closed within single digits on a couple of ocassions late.
The Tigers, however, had enough of a cushion to hang on.
BIXBY 45, BARTLESVILLE 42
| Bixby |
11 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
- |
45 |
| Bartlesville |
10 |
13 |
8 |
11 |
- |
42 |
Bixby (19-7): Devers 18, Knox 9, Parker 8, Williams 5, Alvstad 5
Bartlesville (20-3): Crow 13, Wilson 13, G. Culver 6, Tucker 5, O. Culver 5
BROKEN ARROW 61, MUSTANG 52
| Mustang |
8 |
5 |
12 |
27 |
- |
52 |
| Broken Arrow |
10 |
16 |
10 |
25 |
- |
61 |
Mustang (11-14): M. Brothers 14, Stewart 13, Maxwell 9, K. Brothers 9, Lawson 5, Moseley 2
Broken Arrow (15-10): Thompson 23, Jackson 11, Gaulden 10, Erdmann 6, Stanley 4, A. Dennis 4, McBride 3
Original Print Headline: Bixby edges Bartlesville
