Lady Wolves move on; Spiro eliminated

By CRAIG HALL
MUSKOGEE-Heavener’s girls are only one win away from making a state trip while Spiro’s boys were eliminated here Friday afternoon in the Class 3A Area IV tournament.

The Lady Wolves used two big treys from Skylar Cooper and advanced with a 48-43 win over Keys while Sequoyah Tahlequah got on top of Spiro early and cruised to a 68-36 win.

	Photos by CRAIG HALL Heavener's Skylar Cooper goes up for a layup in the Lady Wolves' win over Keys.
Spiro's Mike White drives the baseline early in the Bulldogs' loss Friday afternoon.

Heavener appeared to be in trouble late in the fourth quarter as Keys rallied to take the lead for the first time since early in the third quarter.

That was when Cooper came through for Heavener, hitting back-to-back three-point baskets to give the Lady Wolves the lead for good with 2:12 left.

Heavener trailed 40-38 when Cooper nailed her first three and after Keys took the lead again, she answered with another three to put Heavener up, 44-43.

Taylor Collins followed that by grabbing a defensive rebound, going the length of the court and hitting a layup with 1:23 left.

After Keys failed to score again, Heavener’s Jordan Kannady hit two free throws with 36 seconds left to give the Lady Wolves a 48-43.

Keys could not score again until hitting a basket with the clock about to expire.

Heavener will now play Sequoyah Tahlequah Saturday at 6:30 p.m., also at the Muskogee Civic Center. Sequoyah fell to Kansas, 48-41 on Friday.

In the regional championship game on Saturday, Heavener was ahead of Sequoyah until late in the game before falling, 46-42.

Heavener coach Jody Fincher had not settled down after the game.

“I don’t feel anything yet,” he said. “We’ve not won yet. We’ve got one more game tomorrow and four more counting the state tournament. We hope to take care of business tomorrow night.”

Keys tried to shut down Collins, giving her teammates plenty of opportunities to step in. And for the most part, they did.

“That’s a compliment to Taylor,” Fincher said. “She didn’t force anything. If they slow her down, she knows she’s got other girls will help her.”

Heavener, now 24-3, was led by Coopers 14 points. Collins did score 13 while Megan Bottoms added 11.

Spiro’s boys fell behind 19-8 in the first quarter and could never make a comeback thanks to Sequoyah Tahlequah’s swarming press and deep bench.

The score grew to 39-22 at halftime and the Bulldogs could never get close as Sequoyah Tahlequah was too big, fast and talented.

Shane Thompson closed out his last game as a Bulldog by scoring 10 points while Elliott Hawkins added nine. Ramsey Butler led Sequoyah with 19 while Kiwah Gilbert had 10.