The Freedom Lady Eagles handled the Deer Creek-Lamont Lady Eagles (DCLA) in the first game of District Basketball Playoffs last Friday evening in Burlington. The game was close in the first quarter with Freedom ahead by one (8-9). The score was tied 12-all with just four minutes to go in the second quarter. And then, Freedom started hitting their shots. Linsy Weber (00) hit a three-pointer, Ariana White (10) made two points, Summer Ralston (22) exploded with seven points and Jaci Weber (40) made two. The Freedom ladies held the DCLA ladies to four points for the quarter, and the score at the half was Freedom 23, DCLA 12.

The Freedom ladies controlled the game throughout the second half. They controlled the boards at both ends of the court with Weber grabbing 14 rebounds. The DCLA ladies shot 15% making only one out of 16 three-pointers and making nine of 20 foul shots. Both teams were in foul trouble early in the fourth, and were in double bonus. The Freedom ladies made 10 of 15 foul shots in the second half. When the final buzzer sounded, Freedom won with the score of 54 to 29.

White led the Lady Eagles in scoring with 23 points (16 in the second half), Ralston had 18, Linsy Weber made seven, Jaci Weber made four and Tamlynn Link made two.

Eagles Vs. Elks

Next, the Lady Eagles met Burlington Lady Elks on Saturday. Perhaps playing the four quarters the night before or the adjustment needed to play against the fast-paced and relentless full court press of the Lady Elks kept the Lady Eagles from scoring. The Elks scored 10 points before the Eagles put in two, and at the end of the first quarter the Lady Elks led 21 to 12.

In the second quarter the Lady Eagles held the Lady Elks to 14 points. Freedom was able to double their score by half time thanks to the shooting of Ralston (22), who put up 20 points in the half. Other Lady Eagles scoring were Link (21) with two points and Jaci Weber (40), who had two points.

Katie Strehl

Top left: Tamlynn Link (21) drives past DCLA player Carly Light (0). Right: Lady Eagle Summer Ralston (22) fights through the DCLA defense and passes Jayden Brown (13) in the paint to score 2. Bottom left: Freedom's Jaci Weber (40) looks for an outlet pass. Right: Lady Eagle Ariana White (10) drives past Lady Elk Karlie Heatherman (24).

The Lady Elks began and sustained a one-on-one defense on the Freedom shooter Ralston during the second half and dropped the full-court press. The Eagles out-rebounded the Lady Elks 35 to 24; however, Ralston only scored three points in the third quarter and three points in the fourth. Other Lady Eagles scoring in the fourth were White with three points, Hannah Duke adding two and Jaci Weber with two. The final score was Lady Elks 73, Lady Eagles 40.

"I am very proud of this team. They worked hard all season and never gave up," Coach Been said.

The Lady Eagles play in the consolation bracket of regionals today, Feb. 20, at 1:30 p.m. against Goodwell at Arnett.