Stars align as Owasso takes down Edmond Santa Fe to reach final
Staff Writer junruh@oklahoman.com
Owasso goes how Mya Bhinhar and Terry Milton go.
Friday, things went really well.
The combination of the Rams’ stars dominated at various times to lead the way to a 48-43 victory over No. 4 Edmond Santa Fe at the Mabee Center on Friday to advance to the Class 6A state championship game for the second time in three years.
No. 3 Owasso (25-3) will face No. 1 Putnam West at noon Saturday looking to move past a 2016 title game loss that still stings.
“It’s amazing to be back,” Milton said.
TULSA —
“When we came here two years ago as a sophomore we lost. So, we know that feeling. We just keep thinking about that feeling and we’ll go out tomorrow and play our hearts out.”
Milton, a Texas-Arlington signee, was the Rams’ closer.
She scored 11 of her game-high 16 points in the final period. Making a three-point play to open after Edmond Santa Fe had gotten a layup to end the third with momentum. Milton then made 7 of 8 free throws, including two with 33.5 seconds remaining to take a 45-40 lead.
But those only came after she had gathered a rebound off a near game-tying 3-pointer from Kryslyn Jones. The ball rolled in and out of the basket, causing some anxious moments for Owasso.
“Here we go,” thought Owasso coach Matt Sweeney on the play.
Bhinhar, a Missouri State signee, dominated the third quarter. She scored six of her 11 points, making three straight driving layups in the final 2:19.
Edmond Santa Fe (217) appeared sluggish the first half, shooting just 16 percent. It improved to 28 percent in the second half, but even easy layups rolled out at times.
That’s when frustrations grew for the Wolves, who got 15 points from RaVon Nero on 4 of 20 shooting.