By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
BETHEL ACRES – The Lady Warriors have the mental part down. And the tradition continues to speak for itself.
Fourth-ranked Okarche (26-3) looked poised and determined Friday night as they cruised to a 30-16 win over No. 9 Velma-Alma (24-3), once again punching their ticket to the Class A state tournament set for next weekend in Oklahoma City. It is the seventh time in the last 10 years Okarche has reached the ‘elite eight’.
“Believing is half the battle,” Okarche coach Kelli Jennings said after her team received the area championship plaque at Bethel High School’s B.E. Cantrell Fieldhouse. “They’ve believed it from the beginning. We know what these girls have gone through from the physical, mental and emotional battles they’ve had to overcome. It feels really good. They deserve to be in the state tournament.”
Jennings’ squad dominated early, shutting out Velma-Alma with a 9-0 run in the first quarter that ultimately set the tone and spark the victory. The Comets did not score until the 7:30 mark of the second quarter on a pair of free throws by Jonna Kimbrough. They finally hit their first field goal with 3:35 remaining in the half.
“Every coach says it,” Jennings said. “Defense wins championships. And that’s what we had to do tonight.”
Okarche’s defensive effort helped jumpstart a 17-6 run on the offensive end in the first 16 minutes. The Lady Warriors went 14-for-25 (56%) from the field and 6-for-16 (38%) from three-point range. Senior Rachel McDowell finished with a game-high 11 points while junior Madison Owens finished with nine. The duo combined to hit four triples.
Senior Raegan Robinson chipped in four points while senior Marlo Hunt and sophomore Ryen Wittorck each scored three. Robinson led the team with four assists while Hunt and McDowell combined for five. Okarche turned the ball over just four times and oddly enough lost the rebounding battle 15-5. Velma-Alma turned the ball over 15 times and hit just five of 21 attempts from the field.
The Lady Warriors return to the state tournament for the second time under Jennings – Okarche reached the semifinals in 2018 – and are seeking their first championship since 2013.
“The journey doesn’t stop here,” Jennings said. “We’ve got one more tournament to go win. They’re going to be prepared and they’re going to want it. We’re going to do everything we can to bring home the gold ball.”
The state tournament begins Thursday with brackets to be released over the weekend.
