Ladybugs win the Regional Consolation B bracket
February 24, 2019
Jones, Okla. – Alva Ladybugs rose to the challenge in the Regional Consolation B tournament bracket by knocking off both Perry and Prague to advance to their eighth straight area tournament appearance Saturday afternoon.
Friday Night
Despite the slow start in the first quarter, the Alva Ladybugs fought their way back and finished the period down 13-10. The Ladybugs found themselves in a very physical match-up as Savannah Chenoweth of Perry led her team in scoring with six points in the period. For the first few minutes of the game Alva could not connect on their shot attempts until Stephanie Spellman connected from the three-point line giving her team a second breath. Spellman went on to make one more three-point basket in the quarter to lead the Ladybugs in scoring with six points.
After missing her first four shot attempts, Alva's Payton Jones picked up steam in the second quarter as she scored 11 of her team's 13 points. The only other player to score for Alva was Zoe Moorman who blew past her defender for an easy lay-up. As Alva's offense picked up in the second quarter, so did the team's defense. The Ladybugs held Perry to five points in the period. Of the five points, the Maroons made just one basket; the remaining points came from the free-throw line. The Bugs went into the half with a 23-18 lead.
As the third quarter progressed, both teams began to trade baskets. Perry's Chenoweth scored five of her team's 11 points in the period, while Alva's Jones scored six of her team's 14 points. The Ladybugs finished the quarter leading Perry 37-29.
In the fourth quarter, Alva's Chloe Durkee helped her team secure the victory by leading the way with nine points in the quarter. The majority of Durkee's points came from the free-throw line as she took three trips. Both Payton Jones and Hallie Durkee contributed five points and four points in the final period.
Saturday Afternoon
After losing to Prague in districts by two points eight days ago, the Alva Ladybugs didn't have to wait long to redeem themselves, as the Bugs defeated Prague 46-39 in Saturday's Consolation B match-up.
The Ladybugs found themselves on the wrong side of a 19-13 halftime score in Saturday's game. Alva would continue to fight in the second half as the team climbed back into the game in the third quarter, taking a one-point lead into the fourth.
Much of the second-half scoring would come from the Durkee sisters as Chloe Durkee finished the game with 13 points and Hallie Durkee finished with eight. Payton Jones finished the game with 16 points with the majority of her points from the free-throw line (11 of 14).
Saturday's victory marks the eighth straight area berth for the Ladybugs.
The Ladybugs will play the loser of Millwood High versus Christian Heritage in the first round of Area at Stillwater High School next Thursday, Feb. 28.
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