Verdigris boys, Adair girls win 3A area titles
BY MIKE MOGUIN World Correspondent
Saturday, March 02, 2013
3/02/13 at 6:04 AM
FORT GIBSON - Verdigris and Sperry played close battles during their regular-season meetings, but their encounter Friday night in the boys Class 3A Area Championship at Harrison Fieldhouse told a different story.
It started close, but the No. 4 Cardinals (23-4) took over with a 16-3 run in the second period to roll in a 71-43 victory over the No. 5 Pirates (22-4), earning a trip to the state tournament next week in Oklahoma City.
"It was one of those nights where everything went right for us for the most part," Verdigris coach Randy Upshaw said.
They crashed the boards, thrived with outside shooting and took advantage of second-chance opportunities throughout the game.
Verdigris finished with 11 treys on the night.
Cade Upshaw led the Cardinals with 14 points. Peyton Pratt led Sperry with the same amount.
Adair 37, Verdigris 35 (girls): Adair withstood Verdigris' pressure and hung on with defense of its own to take the girls 3A Area Championship at Harrison Fieldhouse.
With the win, Adair earned its eighth straight visit to the state tournament, which will be next week in Oklahoma City.
The fourth-ranked Warriors (27-0) were led by sophomore guard Kylie Looney's 16 points.
Senior guard Stacia Payne, who did most of her scoring late in the opening session, led the Cardinals with 11 points.
Verdigris has another chance to make state as it takes on Eufaula in the area consolation final at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Verdigris 71, Sperry 43
| Verdigris |
16 |
16 |
23 |
16 |
- |
71 |
| Sperry |
18 |
3 |
11 |
11 |
- |
42 |
Verdigris (23-4): Upshaw 14, Monroe 13, Bryant 9, Battenfield 8, Brasher 6, Brockup 6, Jones 4, Hundley 4, Payne 3, Combs 2, Skatnik 2.
Sperry (22-4): Pratt 14, Mullins 13, Cole 7, Teel 3, Simmons 3, Brooks 2, Jobe 1.
Adair 37, Verdigris 35 (Girls)
| Verdigris |
11 |
7 |
12 |
5 |
- |
35 |
| Adair |
11 |
10 |
9 |
7 |
- |
37 |
Verdigris (23-4): Payne 11, Risenhoover 7, O'Dell 6, Hanslovan 5, Collins 4, Anderson 2.
Adair (27-0): Looney 16, Kerr 7, B. Stephens 6, Campos 3, Rogers 3, A. Stephens 2.
Original Print Headline: Verdigris rolls past Sperry
