Alva Review-Courier -

The Class 3A Alva Ladybugs faced a tall Crossings Christian 4A team in the first round of the Pawhuska tournament Thursday afternoon. The game was close during the first half with Alva leading by one at halftime, but Crossings Christian pulled away in the second half to win 42-34. The Ladybugs struggled to get rebounds with the Lady Knights beating them on the boards.

Alva trailed 12-9 in the first quarter but came back in the second to lead 19-18 at the half. In the third quarter Crossings Christian scored 13 points to Alva's eight and a 31-27 Lady Knights lead after three quarters. In the final period, the Ladybugs struggled to score, making only nine points to 11 for the Lady Knights.

The loss drops the Ladybugs' record to 11-5 while Crossings Christian moved to 9-5. Alva will play either Pawhuska or the 6A Jenks sophomores in the semi-final of the consolation bracket at 1:40 p.m. today (Friday).

First Half

Jaycee Kelln put the first points on the scoreboard for Alva followed by a Lakin Gaddy jumper to put the Ladybugs up 4-0. Allison Hickey scored on a stick-back for the Lady Knights, and Grace Maschmeier added a basket to tie the score at four. Crossings Christian took the lead on a Taylor Brown shot, and then Brown scored again to give the Lady Knights an 8-4 lead.

Brooke Perez scored on a Kelln assist, and Chloe Durkee sank a three-point shot to put Alva ahead by one. Ellis Rowe scored on a stick-back to take back the Crossings Christian lead, and Hickey added a basket to finish the quarter. The Lady Knights led 12-9 for the first quarter.

For over two minutes, no one could score in the second quarter. Durkee broke the freeze with basket from three-point range to tie the score at 12. Rowe took back the lead with a layup, but Kelln tied it with a jump shot. Rowe scored another basket, and Kelln answered with a basket and a trip to the free throw line where she added a third point for the lead at 17-16.

The lead was short-lived as Brown scored a basket. Just before the buzzer, Lakin Gaddy hit a basket to put Alva up 19-18 at halftime.

Second Half

Hickey opened the half with a three-ball to regain the lead for the Lady Knights. Perez tied the score at 21 with a basket. Then Hickey banked a shot off the glass, and Maschmeier sank a trey to put the Lady Knights up 26-21. Mary Kate Foster scored for Alva, but Camden Furnish hit a three-pointer and the 29-23 Lady Knights lead. Kelln scored a basket on a Foster assist. Then Perez sank two free throws. Rowe finished out the quarter with a lay-in. Crossings Christian led 31-27 at the end of the third quarter.

Furnish opened the final quarter scoring and Rowe added another two on a stick-back. Kelln's shooting attempt was blocked. Perez went to the charity stripe and made both shots for Alva. Crossings Christian now led 35-28.

Maschmeier scored a basket followed by a layup by Brown on a turnover. Foster scored for the Ladybugs on a Kelln assist, and Crossings Christian led by nine at 39-30. Up to this point the Lady Knights had not been to the free throw line. Brown went to the charity stripe on a one-and-one but missed the shot. Perez scored for Alva. As the clock ran down, the Ladybugs fouled to get ball possession. Furnish made three free throws for the Lady Knights, and Gaddy finished out the game with an Alva basket. The final was Crossings Christian 42, Alva 34.

Wrap-Up

The Ladybugs were led in scoring by Kelln and Perez with nine points each. Durkee and Gaddy had six each while Foster had four.

The Lady Knights were led by Rowe with ten and Hickey with nine. Furnish and Brown each had eight, and Maschmeier made seven.