Whitesboro, LeFlore split Friday night

By KRISTI BRANSCUM
WHITESBORO--Whitesboro hosted Leflore Friday night in the final home game of the season. On a night when their seniors were being honored, the Lady Bulldogs suffered a tough loss and the Bulldogs barely hung on for the win.

In the girls' game, LeFlore held off the Lady Bulldogs, 53-47, while Whitesboro’s boys built a huge lead early and had to hang on for a 59-57 win.

Leflore’s girls jumped out to a 12-6 lead after one quarter. Whitesboro outscored Leflore 13-10 in the second quarter but trailed at halftime 22-19. Whitesboro tied the game up on a trey by Whitney Ward seconds into the third quarter.

The Lady Savages then took control and went on a run and at one point lead by 11. Whitesboro tried to answer, but trailed 37-28 at the end of the third. But the Lady Bulldogs were not backing down.

Despite the fact that Katey Johnson and Kelsey Branscum were both playing with four fouls, Whitesboro continued to battle and stayed on Leflore's heels. Branscum scored around the 2:00 mark to cut the Lady Savage lead to 46-44. Seconds later Branscum fouled out and sent Leflore's Sarah Lloyd to the charity stripe to shoot two shots.

Lloyd made one and put her team up by three. On Whitesboro's next possession Whitney Ward found herself at the line for two shots. She made the first and missed the second, but got her own rebound and was fouled on the shot attempt and went back to the line. This time she nailed both shots and tied the score at 47. Misty Johnson was fouled on Leflore's possession and converted both free throws to put the Lady Savages back on top 49-47. After a three pointer rimmed out for the Lady Bulldogs, they had no choice but to foul to stop the clock.

Johnson went back to the line and once again made both shots to increase the lead to four points. Another three-point attempt failed for the Lady Bulldogs and Johnson was put back on the line with mere seconds on the clock. She made both shots to put Leflore ahead 53-47 and that would be the final as a desperation shots by the Lady Bulldogs was no good.

Johnson scored 17 points in the second half on her way to a 26 point night to lead Leflore. Teammate Sarah Lloyd was the only other Lady Savage to score in double figures with 10 points. Ward scored 20 of her 24 points in the second half to lead Whitesboro. Branscum finished with 8 points, Johnson 6, Shawnna Ward chipped in 5, and Jayde Tidwell and Brooke Woodall each had 2 points.

The boys' game looked like it was going to be a blow out early as Whitesboro took a first quarter lead 13-6, then cruised in the second quarter and went to the locker room leading 35-13 behind the hot shooting of Dylan Means and Dexter Morgan who had 13 and 11 points respectively.

Whatever Leflore's coach said at halftime worked as the Savages came out and put 25 points on the board in the third quarter while holding the Bulldogs to just 6. Whitesboro still had the lead 41-38 heading into the fourth quarter, but they were in a dogfight. Both teams began to get in foul trouble and spent a lot of time at the free throw line.

Leflore hung right with Whitesboro and finally took the lead 46-45 with 5:38 remaining in the game. Whitesboro was 9/17 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and managed to extend its lead to 59-54 after Leflore was whistled for an intentional foul with 10 seconds left. The Savages never gave up as Brandon Morris buried a trey in the final seconds, but the Bulldogs managed to hang on for the win 59-57.

Cody Todd led Leflore with 14 points followed by Tyler Slone and Brandon Morris with 13 points each. Whitesboro's Means led all scorers with 22 points. Morgan had 15, Dustin Ward 12, Colton Sisemore and Morgan Nunley each chipped in 4 points and Chance Davis added 2.

Whitesboro will travel to Cameron Monday to wrap up the regular season and will begin district play on Thursday.