Jones derails KHS title bid at Wheat Capital
PEYTON WALKER was named to the all-tournament team, but her Kingfisher team fell short of claiming the Wheat Capital championship against defending champ Jones. [KT&FP Staff Photo]
A dominant third quarter helped Jones lock up another Wheat Capital crown and keep Kingfisher from a title that’s eluded it since 2009.
The Lady Longhorns used a 14-4 run to open up its double-digit lead and maintained it the rest of the night in a 48-34 victory in the championship game at Chisholm High School.
Kingfisher erased a six-point lead in the first half and led near the end of the second quarter before Jones staked a 18-17 lead at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Jones, which has won the last three Class 3A state championships.
Sofi Woodson scored nine points, including a three-point play, while Kingfisher’s offense went stagnant.
The Lady Jackets didn’t have a field goal in the quarter until Mattie Slezickey’s 3-pointer with 1:00 left.
By that time, Jones had built a double-digit lead it wouldn’t lose.
Kingfisher had its best scoring quarter in the fourth - 13 points - but Jones was able to make 12 of 18 free throws to hold off KHS.
Woodson finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Jones was led by Kneah Smith’s 19 points. She added eight rebounds.
Jones won the rebound battle 34-23.
Peyton Walker scored 12 points to pace KHS.
Raegan Snider added 11.
Both were named to the all-tournament team.
It was Snider who led the team in scoring in Friday’s 48-43 victory against Perry.
This time it was Kingfi sher who used a big burst in the third quarter to grab the lead.
Trailing 21-19 at the half, KHS started the third with an 8-0 run and didn’t trail again.
Snider was a big part of it as she scored 13 of her team-high 15 points in the second half.
Walker scored 11 while Slezickey and Addy Matthews scored eight apiece.
The balance helped Kingfisher offset Perry’s Kennedy Hight.
The senior Northwestern Oklahoma State University signee led all scorers with 27 points.
She and Sara Davison combined for all but one of Perry’s first-half points, but KHS was able to keep Davison scoreless in the second half.
The runner-up finish was Kingfisher’s fifth since 2018 at the Wheat Capital.
The Lady Jackets were runners-up to Woodward that year and also took second in 2020, 2021 and last season.
Saturday’s loss snapped a four-game win streak as Kingfisher fell to 6-4.