LATE WEDNESDAY CLASS A GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Class A girls basketball state tournament started Wednesday at State Fair Arena. Here's a look at what happened:
Riverside 43, Vanoss 39
Karliey Parker couldn't have had the ball in a more intense situation.
The guard from Riverside, dribbled around a screen in the final minute as Riverside was tied with Vanoss. Parker, who only needs a sliver of room to create, slid between two defenders and laid the ball up with her left hand off the glass.
The shot fell through the cylinder and the Riverside crowd that nearly doubled the other fandoms in attendance on Wednesday rose to its feet in excitement. The score gave Riverside the late lead which set the Braves up to knock off another milestone this season.
In its first state tournament appearance, Riverside took down Vanoss 4339 for its first state win to advance to the state semifinals.
Riverside (26-1) made just one 3pointer as it dominated the painted area. Terayna Jones, a post in her first year of organized school basketball, finished the game with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. It was her impact that made much of the difference.
Okarche 60, Cyril 55
The second scheduled girls state quarterfinal basketball game got off to a rocky start.
Not because of poor shooting or a plethora of fouls, but because of the scoreboard at State Fair Arena malfunctioning before the opening tip, delaying any action for 15 minutes as OSSAA officials tried to repair the issue.
But unable to find a solution, the Okarche (24-5) and Cyril (24-5) matchup began without it. The teams and officials used the timers on top of each basketball goal for the game clock, and the announcer updated those in attendance with the score after each basket by speaking into the microphone.
But outlasting the technical difficulties, Okarche was able to overcome Cyril to earn a 60-55 win. Okarche moves on to the state semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Okarche and Cyril were in a close battle throughout the first half, with Cyril holding a slight edge for the majority of the time. But Okarche took its first lead with just one minute left in the second quarter. With a scoring surge of Okarche's Tyson Endres, Emma Stover and Jadyn Rother, the Warriors outscored Cyril 19-11 in the period.
Stover led Okarche with 20 points, followed by Endres with 17 and Rother with 10. Together, the trio outlasted Cyril which was led by Bradi Harman, who had 31 points.
Caddo 49, Oklahoma Bible 37
Emily Robinson came around the screen with one thing on her mind. Score.
That's what she did. And kept on doing.
Robinson, the guard from Caddo, took one dribble into the lane and then threw a right-handed floater over two Oklahoma Bible Academy defenders and watched it fall through the cylinder.
The score was many for Robinson as she helped Caddo (25-2) come from behind to take down Oklahoma Bible Academy 49-37 to advance to the state semifinals. Robinson led all scorers in the contest with 25 and 13 rebounds, completely taking over the game offensively.
Seiling 76, Quinton 40
Braci Nyberg quickly put her hip on the Quinton ball hander and pressured the dribble.
Even though Quinton (23-7) had just inbounded the ball underneath its own basket, Nyberg, the junior guard from Seiling (25-1), wasn't going to give up any more room.
She reached her hand in and stole the ball away. Nyberg turned and saw Kenly Gore under the basket and bounced it to her. Gore laid it up for an easy score.
The defending champs defensive intensity remained consistent on the night and it catapulted them to victory.
Seiling defeated Quinton 76-40 in the Class A state tournament quarterfinal. The Wildcats tallied 31 steals and forced 34 turnovers in the win.