Parker’s scoring high pushes Pocola; Indians pound Tigers
Pocola’s basketball teams earned doubledigit victories in its home opener against Talihina on Tuesday.
Pocola’s girls won 5644, but did not get to walk to a win as Talihina challenged its Black Diamond Conference foe for much of the game.
Pocola (1-1) led 10-7 in the middle of the first quarter, but fell behind 12-11 in the last minute before Lety Parga drew a last-second foul in the backcourt, Talihina’s fifth in the quarter, to go to the line, making one of two for a 12-all tie to end the period.
Pocola struggled to make things happen in half-court offense, trailing 15-12 early in the second quarter.
“It’s going to happen,” Pocola head coach Mark McKenzie said. “The kids haven’t played together for long.”
Then, Pocola went on an 11-3 run with Allyssa Parker getting eight of her 10 points for the quarter by pounding the ball in fast breaks during the run.
To start the run, Kylee Merritt jumped for a deflection, turning it into a steal by Parker, who charged for a layup.
“Pretty much, the way our press works is one of us is in the middle and she’s on the side,” Parker said.
Parker made a short jumper with 30 seconds left in the half to send Pocola into the break with a 25-19 lead.
Riley Jerrell hit a 3-pointer to start a 9-0 run early in the third quarter as Pocola widened its lead to 34-19.
Parker scored seven straight points of her own to make it 41-21. She scored the last four points of the quarter, making the margin 45-26.
Talihina (1-3) started the fourth quarter on a 10-3 run, trimming the margin to 48-36.
Parker finished with a career-high 37 points, along with a few assists. She said the fast break worked pretty well.
Jerrell added seven points while Parga and Piper Warren each had six.
McKenzie said his team is getting used to playing his 1-3-1 zone defense again after he had been away from coaching last year. He said his team defended better in the second quarter.
For Talihina (1-3), Ryleigh Farris scored 12 points while Cheyenne Bearstops had 10, Brooke Whiteeagle had nine, Khloe Holland had six and Malaree Morris had five.
Pocola’s boys (2-0) glided to a 66-26 win.
Garrett Scott and Dakota
Terrell each rose up for a couple of thunderous dunks in the first quarter as the Indians jumped to a 21-3 lead by the end of the period.
Scott scored eight of his game-high 23 points in the second quarter for a 35-12 halftime lead.
A.J. Lyons-Jerrell scored all seven of his points in the third quarter as Pocola proceeded to a 60-22 margin.
Terrell finished with 16 points. Drew Jones had six points, and Brayden Hardwick had five.
For Talihina (1-3), Kaidon
Potts had six points and Ramses Hernandez and Landen Griffith each had five.
Pocola faces Broken Bow (2-1 girls, 3-0 boys) at home on Friday. Talihina hosts Quinton (girls 4-0, boys 1-3) that evening.