PERKINS, Okla. – For the first time since the 2015 season, both the Alva Goldbugs and No. 16 Ladybugs have advanced to the area tournament in the same season after getting victories in their respective regional consolation championship games on Monday at Perkins-Tryon High School.

The Ladybugs were the first team to advance to the area tournament with a 45-34 win over rival Chisholm. It was the fifth meeting for the two girls’ programs, with the Ladybugs winning three games.

It was the second matchup between the squads in the playoffs. The Lady Horns won the district championship 44-42 in double-overtime over the Ladybugs on Feb. 17 in Alva.

Alva’s ladies have now reached the area tournament in seven straight seasons as they last failed to reach that portion of the playoffs during the 2010-11 season.

With a season mark of 14-11, the Ladybugs will face the loser of Monday night’s game between Kansas and Cascia Hall on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. in Cleveland.

The Ladybug offense had things going in the first quarter from long-range, hitting five three-pointers, including two from senior Tatum Rouse-Murphy, two from Payton Jones and Hallie Durkee adding a three. Rouse-Murphy knocked down a total of 15 three-pointers in the three regional games.

When all was said and done, Jones finished with 21 points against the Lady Horns on Monday, aided by a seven-for-eight day at the line. Rouse-Murphy had three threes on her way to nine points, Durkee contributed eight points, Stephanie Spellman and Rianna Clark each had three points and Julie Owen hit a free-throw down the stretch.

Offense was a premium in the second quarter of the game for both teams. Tied at 15 entering the second period, the game looked like it was headed for another nail biter between the longtime foes.

The Lady Horns took its first lead of the game in the second on a free-throw by Briley Yunker, but the Ladybugs answered as Clark was left wide open for an easy layup. Unfortunately, that was the only scoring for the Ladybugs as the Lady Horns had a 20-17 lead heading to the third quarter.

Chisholm continued to stay cold in the second half of the game as they scored just 14 points in the final 16 minutes of play. Ladybug sophomore, Jones, scored 13 points in the third, to go along with a Clark free-throw to hold a 31-25 advantage after three.

Clark hit her free-throw early in the quarter, setting up 13 straight for Jones.

Rouse-Murphy and Durkee both drained big three-pointers in the fourth to help put away the Lady Horns. Durkee took a hand-off from Jones in the left corner for her three-pointer, and Rouse-Murphy nailed hers a few minutes later to stretch the growing Ladybug lead to 42-28.

Alva got the job done on the line with eight free-throws in crunch time to seal the regional consolation championship.