Spiro, Panama stay alive

By CRAIG HALL
SPIRO—Spiro’s girls and Panama’s boys survived and advanced in the Class 3A regional’s losers bracket here Thursday afternoon.

The Lady Bulldogs and Panama both avenged earlier losses to Panama’s girls and Heavener’s boys.

Spiro’s girls broke open a close game in the fourth quarter to win, 40-30, while Panama’s boys blew a 12-point lead and a 35-point outburst by Koda Glover to win, 61-57.

	Photos by CRAIG HALL Heavener's Austin Mead is caught in the air between two Panama defenders.
Spiro's Meochea McKesson drives past a pair of Panama defenders.

Both teams play Friday evening at the Muskogee Civic Center. Spiro plays Westville at 6:30 p.m. while Panama takes on fourth-ranked Tahlequah Sequoyah, a loser in an upset to Keys on Thursday.

In the first game of the day, Panama led by three points at halftime and increased the lead to five points early in the quarter before Spiro took over. The Lady Bulldogs outscored Panama 9-5 in the third quarter and did not allow the Lady Backs to score a field goal.

Trailing 22-18, Spiro went on a 13-0 run to build a nine-point lead as Panama was held scoreless for over eight minutes. Tabri Fouts hit two three-point baskets during the stretch for Spiro. The Lady Backs did not have a field goal in the second half until 1:30 remained in the fourth quarter.

Panama cut the lead to seven with 1:08 remaining, but Spiro hit enough free throws down the stretch to keep a comfortable lead.

Spiro, now 5-20, fell to Panama (15-10) in the fifth-place game at the LeFlore County Tournament but got some revenge and ended the Lady Backs’ season.

Kendra Ledbetter led Spiro with 12 points while Bethany Lashley added 11. Amber Colwell paced Panama with nine points.

Panama’s boys jumped on top early against Heavener and appeared to be coasting to a fairly easy win after Brian Smith threw up a prayer midway through the third quarter that somehow managed to go in.

Smith’s basket put the Razorbacks up 42-30. Panama still led 45-34 with 2:27 left in the quarter before Heavener went on an 8-0 run to move within 45-42.

Justin Smith hit a basket at the buzzer to increase the lead to five points. Panama could not put the Wolves away and they scratched back to tie the score on a basket by sophomore Shawn Bradley with 1:48 left.

Heavener appeared to have all the momentum but Panama’s Jamikel Brooks was fouled and made both free throws with 1:33 left.

Freshman Evan Fincher was fouled with 1:48 left but only hit one of two free throws. After Panama missed a pair of free throws, Justin Smith made a layup with 58 seconds left to increase the margin to three points.

The Wolves had a chance to tie the game but turned the ball over with 16 seconds left. Justin Smith was fouled and hit a free throw with 13 seconds left to clinch the win for the Razorbacks.

Justin Smith had 22 points to lead Panama while Brooks had 14. Glover was the only scorer in double figures for Heavener.