The Alva Ladybugs traveled to the Skordle Festival in Enid Friday to take on the Lady Wildcats from Cashion. Due to earlier games, the start time was delayed over an hour. When the Ladybugs were finally on the floor, they had a cold start to shooting, trailing 20-17 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Alva girls steadily improved to hold a five point lead. Accurate free throw shooting in the final period, put the Ladybugs in the win column as they took a 46-29 victory.

First Half

Cashion was first to score on a free throw from Reese Williams, but Morgan Heath gave Alva the lead by hitting two free throws. Carly Argo sank a three-pointer on a Lakin Gaddy assist for a 5-1 lead, but Lauren Jenkins hit a trey for Cashion to cut the margin to one. Hadlee Ohm was next at the free throw line, hitting both shots for Alva, but Jenkins hit another three-point shot from the left wing to tie the game at 7-7. Ladybug Jaycee Kelln scored on a jump shot from the foul line to put Alva ahead. Jenkins went to the foul line but missed both shots. However, Jenkins then made her third three-pointer of the quarter to put Cashion up by one. Madison Westerhoff hit another from three point range for the Lady Wildcats, and Megan Shafer finished out the quarter with a Cashion basket. At the end of the first quarter, Cashion led 15-9.

The Ladybugs began the second quarter with baskets from Gaddy and Kelln to narrow the deficit to two points. But Williams found three-point range, the fifth trey for Cashion, and the Lady Wildcats led 18-13. Ohm sank a shot off the glass for the Ladybugs. Then Alva's Kylie Adair stole the ball, raced to the basket and finished with two points. Alva was only one point down. Williams finished out the half with a trip to the free throw line where she sank both shots. Cashion led 20-17 at halftime.

Second Half

The Ladybugs stepped up their defensive effort in the third quarter, holding Cashion to just two points. Shafer scored the only Cashion basket. Argo sank another trey followed by three points from Kelln to give the Ladybugs a one point lead at 23-22. Kelln and Gaddy added four more points, and the Ladybugs led 27-22 at the end of three.

Argo opened the fourth quarter with a trey. Heath made two free throws, and Gaddy added another to give Alva an 11-point lead at 33-22. Jenkins pulled off a three-point play with a basket and free throw. Gaddy went to the charity stripe for another point. Westerhoff hit another three-pointer for the Lady Wildcats to cut Alva's lead to six. Gaddy went on a scoring run, hitting a basket and four free throws to give the Ladybugs a 40-28 advantage. Jenkins went to the foul line, making one of two shots. Gaddy kept getting fouled as she made runs at the basket. In two more trips to the line, she sank three of four attempts. Argo capped off the Ladybug win with a trey, and Alva won 46-29.

Wrap-Up

Although she had only four points going into the fourth quarter, Gaddy led the Ladybug scoring with 15 points. Argo followed with 12 while Kelln had nine. Heath and Ohm had four apiece and Adair scored two points.

Desiree Morehead

Ladybugs Lakin Gaddy (00) and Carli Argo (12) try to rip the ball away from Cashion after a rebound.

For Cashion, Jenkins led with 13 points. Westerhoff and Williams had six points each, and Shafer finished with four.

The Ladybugs will see action next a home as they take on Tonkawa Tuesday. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m.