Myers Has Keys to KHS Victory

In its first-ever trip to the Bertha Frank Teague Mid-America Classic, Kingfi sher won the tournament championship.

Nearly 30 years later, the Lady Jackets have an opportunity to duplicate the feat.

Behind 21 points from senior Abbie Myers, KHS knocked off Keys 45-34 on Tuesday in the tournament semifinals at the Kerr Activities Center in Ada.

That placed Kingfisher into Wednesday’s championship game against top-seeded Washington. (Note: The game was after press time of this edition due to an early printing schedule.)

Washington, the reigning Class 3A champ, disposed of Lomega 63-34 in the other semifinal. (See related story).

The Lady Warriors are making their third straight appearance in the title game.

Kingfisher last appeared in the championship in 1988 when it beat Dale for the title during the 6-on-6 era.

That team went on to win the Class 3A state championship.

This version of Kingfisher won its fourth straight game, all by double digits, since being dealt a 46-37 setback by Washington in the semifinals of the tournament at Dale.

The Lady Jackets rode the scoring of Myers, who carried momentum over from Monday’s quarterfinal win against Howe.

There, she scored 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter as KHS emerged by 10.

Against Keys, the eighthranked team in 3A, Myers heated up much more quickly.

She scored 8 in the second quarter and had 12 points by halftime as the Lady Jackets staked a 2420 lead.

Keys wouldn’t go away, but the Lady Jackets wouldn’t surrender their lead.

Reese Roof’s bucket less than a minute into the fourth gave her team a 3732 lead and Kingfisher rode out the win.

Part of it was at the free throw line. Kingfisher didn’t attempt a foul shot in the first half, but was 10 of 12 for the game.

That included going 6 of 8 in the fourth.

Taitym Walker made both of her attempts with 1:47 left to push Kingfisher to a seven-point advantage.

Keys couldn’t come back because it couldn’t score. The Lady Cougars managed just two points in the fourth.

Those came from Payton Zodrow, but she also later missed a pair of free throws and finished with 14.

Her sister Paizlee Zodrow added 10 before fouling out in the final minutes.

Myers also had a gamehigh 7 rebounds.

Mattie Slezickey and Roof scored 7 apiece while Ela Hartman scored 6.

Walker finished with 4 as Kingfisher improved to 7-2.

The 3-pointer is generally a big part of Kingfisher’s success, but the Lady Jackets won despite making just 3 of 14 (two by Slezickey).

However, Keys was 0 for 9 from long range and just 14 of 36 overall for the game.