From Staff Reports
Okarche’s Lady Warriors took home the title from the Three Rivers Conference Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 9.
Okarche won the championship game 52-29 over Fairview.
Jalie Rother had 13 points, Madison Owens scored 11 points to lead the team in scoring. Karsyn Vallerand had seven points, Emma Stover had six points, and Ryen Wittrock, five points, Abigayle Johnson, three points, Sage Griswold, three points, Sophie Vandendriessche, two points and Tyson Endres, two points.
On Friday against Watonga, the Lady Warriors won, 58-54 in a close battle. A rematch is ahead Saturday night in Okarche between the two teams.
In the tournament win in Fairview, Emma Stover had 18 points and Madison Owens had 16 points in that game.
Stover, a sophomore, is an inside post whose play helped boost the team in the tournament, said Head Coach Haley Mitchel.
“She’s (Stover) really played well these last few games. She has done a really good job,” Mitchel said.
Watonga, a Class 2A team had not been on the court much this year due to COVID-19, and the team had not played any games before the tournament.
“They are a tough team, they are very tough and very athletic, and very hard to play against,” Mitchel said.
“I think our biggest lead was 10-12 points late in the game, but they battled back, and we turned it over and they hit some big threes.”
The Lady Warriors staved off the comeback bid.
“I was very pleased with our girls’ intensity. Even when Watonga kind of chipped away at our lead we fought and hit free throws late. I was very happy about that,” Mitchel said.
Lady Warriors are 7-2 and play Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Thomas and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 16 at home against Watonga.
Senior night will be Saturday against Watonga.
Getting back into a rhythm has helped the team, Mitchel said.
“It was really nice to have the consistency to get to play those games. The consistency really helped us and that is exciting for the team to keep the enthusiasm going,” Mitchel said.
The team also beat Oklahoma Bible Academy Thursday, 62-32 in the Fairview tournament.
