With area playoffs on the line, the Alva Ladybugs traveled to Perry Tuesday afternoon to take on the Washington Lady Warriors. It was a hard-fought, physical game, but the Ladybugs came out on top 45-36. The win sent them to the area tournament at the Stride Center in Enid on Thursday night against Purcell.

The Lady Warriors led in scoring in the first quarter, but the Ladybugs rallied for a small lead at halftime. Both teams were cold in getting shots to fall in the third. In the final period, Washington had several players in foul trouble while the Alva girls were acing free throws for the final win.

Washington put the first points on the board with a three from Emjay Lucas. The Ladybugs never gained the lead, coming within one point of tying during the quarter. Lakin Gaddy and Brooke Perez each made a basket. Mary Kate Foster hit three of four shots from the foul line, and Jaycee Kelln contributed two free throws. The Lady Warriors led 13-9 at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Warriors continued to lead by at least two points in the second until Kelln sank a basket and was fouled. Her free throw tied the game at 18. Kelln grabbed her own rebound and hit another basket to give Alva a two-point lead which they maintained until halftime. Kelln was responsible for nine of the Ladybugs’ 13 points in the quarter. Perez and Morgan Heath each added two free throws for the 22-20 halftime score.

The third quarter was a defensive battle as both teams struggled to score. All the points in the quarter came by way of free throws. Mary Kate Foster made two trips to the foul line, adding four points for Alva. Meanwhile Rielyn Scheffe managed to hit one of two free throws for Washington. The Ladybugs now led 26-21 at the end of three.

As the fourth quarter opened, the Lady Warriors had racked up 16 fouls, mostly by their starters. The only way they seemed able to stop the Ladybugs was by fouling. Eventually Kyndall Wells fouled out. Washington’s usual top scorer Mattie Richardson was held to only six points during the game by the close guarding of Foster. As the game neared the final buzzer Richardson had four fouls so couldn’t risk another penalty which hampered her ability to guard. Foster was the only Ladybug to score anything but free throws in the final period, making her way to the hoop twice. The remainder of Alva’s 19 points in the quarter came at the charity stripe. Washington made 15 points during the quarter but continued to trail. The Ladybugs won 45-36 to take the regional consolation trophy.

Kelln led the Ladybugs in scoring with 13 points followed closely by Foster with 12. Gaddy, Perez and Chloe Durkee each had six while Heath made two points. The Alva team was precise from the free throw line, making 28 of 30 shots. They had only seven turnovers during the contest.

The Lady Warriors were led by Scheffe with 15 points followed by Richardson with six. Lucas and Madisson Myers each had five. Wells had three points and Breanna Linder two.