Okarche thumps 2A #1 Pocola
EMMA STOVER looks to make a pass during Okarche’s first round game at the Tournament of Champions. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
HALEY MITCHEL directs her team during play at the Tournament of Champions in Tulsa. Okarche wrapped up the tournament with a win over Class 2A’s top-ranked Pocola. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
TULSA – The 130-mile ride home to Okarche was considerably more enjoyable Friday for the Lady Warriors than it could have been.
Okarche salvaged a win in the Tournament of Champions earlier that day by dominating Pocola 56-40 in the seventh-place game of the girls’ bracket.
But it wasn’t just another win.
Pocola is the reigning Class 2A state champion and was the No. 1 ranked team in the class entering the tournament.
“Coming home was definitely a lot more relaxing after a win,” said Okarche coach Haley Mitchel.
The Lady Warriors were sent to the seventh-place game with losses to 6A No. 2 Bixby and 4A No. 5 Holland Hall (see Jan. 1 edition for stories on those games). That set up the showdown with Pocola, which entered the tournament undefeated and coming off a win over 2A No. 4 Howe.
But the Lady Indians never stood a chance.
Okarche never trailed and was up 22-5 after a quarter.
Pocola couldn’t recover. Sophomore standout Allyssa Parker scored 25 points, but was the only Lady Indian in double figures. Her teammates shot just 6 of 22 for the game.
Okarche’s pressure forced Pocola into 20 turnovers and the Lady Warriors turned those into 25 points.
Three different Lady Warriors scored in double figures.
They were led by Emma Stover, who went 9 of 14 from the field and scored a team-high 19 points. She also had seven rebounds and four assists.
Stover was named to the all-tournament second team and was the eighth leading scorer over the course of the tournament (47 points).
Jalie Rother knocked down 4 of 7 3-point shots and scored 15 points.
Jadyn Rother added 11 points and six rebounds.
Tyson Endres contributed six points and seven boards.
The fast start was necessary, said Mitchel, after falling behind early the two previous days.
“We learned that we have to start better so we don’t have to climb out of a hole the entire game,” she said. “Being more diligent about our start will help us the rest of the season and as we enter the playoffs.”
After taking double-digit losses against Bixby and Holland Hall, Mitchel said the Pocola win can offer a type of springboard for her team.
“It gave the girls the confidence to know they can beat a really good team any night of the week if they focus and play hard,” she said. “It also reminds us that we can play three hard games and come out with a win. We’ll take from this and build on the good things we did such as executing on offense and working as a unit on defense.”