Ladybugs roll to consecutive regional wins

 

February 25, 2018

Desiree Malicoat

Alva's Acacia Charles (25) tries to block Hennessey from scoring in the Friday afternoon game. The Ladybugs won 53-35, moving on to the second game of the Regional Championship.

PERKINS, Okla. – The Ladybugs weren't about to let it be a two and done situation for them in the playoffs as they easily rolled over Hennessey in the regional opener, 53-35. The Ladybugs got the best of Lady Eagles in their only other meeting this season, 53-34, at the Pioneer Tournament.

With the win over the Lady Eagles, the Ladybugs moved on to face Oklahoma Christian School on Saturday at Perkins-Tryon High School. They continued their playoff run with a win over OCS, 46-32, keep their playoff run alive.

The Ladybugs (14-11) will play in the regional consolation final on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Perkins-Tryon against the winner between Perry and Chisholm. If Chisholm is the Ladybugs opponent on Monday, it will be the fifth meeting this season between the two schools.

Ladybugs Shoot Past Hennessey

Much of the Ladybug story this season has been knocking down shots. When they heat up, it's hard for opponents to come out on the high side.

That was true for Payton Jones and Tatum Rouse-Murphy on Friday afternoon. The two combined for 11 three-pointers, including seven by the senior Rouse-Murphy. Jones led all scorers in the game with 23 points, while Rouse-Murphy had 21 points.

The hot touches by Jones and Rouse-Murphy were all the Ladybugs really needed against the Lady Eagles. Rianna Clark contributed with five points, three in the first quarter on an old fashion three-point play, and Acacia Charles added four points.

With the help of eight points by Hali Tuell, the Lady Eagles kept the Ladybugs close in the first quarter, trailing Alva just 15-12 heading to the second.

The outside shot played a huge role in the second quarter for the Ladybugs. Rouse-Murphy had two threes in the second, and Jones knocked down two three late in the quarter to give the Ladybugs a 32-22 advantage at the break.

All but three of Jones' points in the game came in the first half, with nine in the first quarter, and 11 in the second. Lady Eagle Megan Tillman kept her squad in the game with three shots from behind the arc in the second quarter.

Alva separated themselves in the third as the Ladybug defense buckled down and allowed just four Lady Eagles points and forcing multiple turnovers. The Ladybugs also continued with hot shooting from the outside as Rouse-Murphy had three three-pointers and Jones added one as well.

The game slowed down and both teams traded baskets in the fourth quarter en route to the 53-35 win.

It was the sixth time this season the Ladybugs scored 50-plus points. After they dropped 50 in the first three games of the year against Blackwell Junior Varsity, Hennessey and Chisholm, they have only reached that mark twice before Friday's game. After three straight losses, Alva scored 74 against OCS and 70 against Pond Creek-Hunter.

Alva entered Friday's game against Hennessey on a three-game losing streak as well.

Rouse-Murphy Stays Hot from Outside

Rouse-Murphy continued her hot shooting from outside in Saturday's showdown with OCS. The senior was not about to let her season come to and end, knocking down four shots from the behind the arc to go with seven on Friday afternoon. She finished the game with 14 points.

Jones led the Ladybugs with 16 points, and Durkee finished in double-figures with 10 points. Spellman and Rianna Clark added three points to round out the Ladybugs 46-point output.

After Jones hit a couple of free throws to start the game for the Ladybugs, OCS scored six straight to open up a four-point lead before Jones found Rouse-Murphy outside for her first three of the game.

The Lady Saints stretched its lead to 12-5 with under a minute to play in the first quarter. However, Durkee closed the quarter with a contested three-pointer from the right corner, assisted by Jones, to make it 12-8 OCS after one.

The Alva defense held strong in the second quarter as they forced seven turnovers, while the offense came alive. The Ladybugs didn't allow the Lady Saints to find the bottom of the net in the second period. On the offensive end of the floor though, Rouse-Murphy and company went on a 22-0 to close the first half.

Eric Scott

Senior Tatum Rouse-Murphy (3) has had the hot hand for the Ladybugs over the last two ball games. On Friday night, she knocked down seven three-pointers, adding four in Saturday's game against Oklahoma Christian School.

During the second quarter outburst, Rouse-Murphy had three long range shots, and Jones had two layups and four free-throws in the second. Jones' closed the second with a drive along the right side of the lane and split a pair of OCS defenders to make it 27-12 heading into the break.

In the third quarter, the Lady Saints put together a small run to cut the Ladybug lead to night with 2:48 to go, but Durkee answered for the Ladybugs with a three in the left corner, assisted by Jones. The sophomore, Jones, then attacked the rim and got to the line for a pair of free-throws on the next possession to make it 34-20.

Jones added another layup with less than a minute to go in the third to bring the advantage to 36-23 with the final eight minutes remaining in the game.

Trailing by 13 at the six-minute mark of the fourth, the Lady Saints went to the game plan of putting the Ladybugs on the line. Alva didn't attempt a field goal in the final quarter, hitting 10 free-throws as a team in the period. OCS was able to knock down three three-pointers, two of which came from leading scorer Korbynn LaBlanc, as a game came to a close.

 

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