Golden, Gooden lead Choctaw past Midwest City
Choctaw freshman Trinity
Gooden has been feeling the heat of late trying to keep her varsity spot. But it turns out she’s solidifying it.
“She keeps getting better and better,” Choctaw coach Ryan Maloney said. “I’m real proud of her. She might be moving into the lineup after tonight.”
No. 5 Choctaw got 26 points from star senior
Bailey Golden to help pull away from No. 14 Midwest City for a 53-37 victory Tuesday, but it was a freshman who made crucial plays in the fourth quarter.
Gooden scored eight of her 12 points in the final period, none bigger than a four-point play with 4:42 left that proved to be the backbreaker.
She buried a 3-pointer from the right elbow and was brushed to the hardwood by Midwest City’s
McKenzie Patton. Gooden then made the free shot for a 44-32 lead.
“My momentum was going and I just went for it,” Gooden said.
That shot helped Choctaw close on a 15-5 run, including two more foul shots from Gooden.
Golden also continued her stellar play. She scored 17 points in the second half, helping the Yellowjackets move past a dismal first half that featured 13 turnovers and just 18 total points.
“She’s bringing heart,” Maloney said. “That’s what we need. It’s that time of year. If you don’t bring the heart, you’re not going to win.”
NORMAN KNOCKS OFF SANTA FE
Norman guard Kelbie Washington stepped to the free throw line with seconds remaining and her team down by one point.
It had been bad quarter for the Lady Tigers, No. 3 Edmond Santa Fe turned up the full-court pressure and had forced Norman into seven turnovers and erased a 10-point deficit.
But as Norman coach
Michael Neal watched Washington take a deep breath before shooting her first shot from the line, he had full confidence in the freshman.
“She’s a gamer,” Neal said. “That’s why she’s out there is because she makes plays and the rest of our girls feed off her.”
Washington nailed both tries from the charity stripe and followed that up by stealing the ball on Edmond Santa Fe’s next possession, poking it away from senior RaVon Nero to give the Lady Tigers a 58-57 win.
Washington finished with 15 points while junior forward Nyah Henderson added 14.
Santa Fe was led in scoring by Nero, who had 17, and Kaylee Nero, who added 14.
MOORE UPSETS MUSTANG
After a grueling schedule in its own tournament, Moore put lessons from two tough losses to use.
The unranked Lions upset No. 9 Mustang 34-33 on the road, and they did it in impressive fashion.
Moore held Mustang to just two points in the third quarter to gain control with a 27-21 lead. From there, it held on as Mustang tried to rally.
Moore junior Peyton
Simmons scored 13 and freshman Aaliyah Moore added 10.
TIP-INS
Casady senior Caroline Silver scored 22 points to lead the Cyclones to a big 49-32 victory over Family of Faith . ... Santa Fe South’s Melea Lovelace scored 22 in a 75-39 rout of U.S. Grant . ... Luther junior Caitlin Bailey led the way to a 52-46 win over Jones with 19 points . ... Putnam City’s Lauryn Reither scored 14 and Kelzie Orr added 13 in a 49-46 win over Del City, which got 22 points from Brayanna Polk.