Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Ladybugs drew Cimarron, Kansas, in the first round of the Alva Shootout Thursday night. The Ladybugs pretty much controlled the game from the start, leading 21-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Cimarron Lady Blue Jays improved to 11 points in the second, but Alva had a blazing 25 point total. At halftime, the Ladybugs led 46-18. Alva scoring slowed down to 16 points in the third period, but Cimarron only managed three points. The Ladybugs led 62-21 at the end of three quarters. In the final quarter, the Ladybugs eased up to score seven points while Cimarron had eight. The final score was Alva 69, Cimarron 29.

The Ladybugs were led in scoring by Lakin Gaddy with 21 followed by Carly Argo with 15 and Jaycee Kelln with 12. Hadlee Ohm had nine points while Kylee Adair scored six. Rounding out the scoring were Mya Williams with three, Mylee Nettles with two and Morgan Heath with two.

Cimarron was led by Janae Fugit with nine points while Jayna Wilson had eight. Taegan Eskam and Morgan Eskam had six points apiece.

The win set the Ladybugs up to play Jones in the tournament semifinals while Cimarron moved into the consolation bracket to play Attica on Friday.

Alva Ladybugs Edge Jones

Friday night the Alva Ladybugs faced three times state 3A champions Jones. The Lady Longhorns beat Attica, Kansas, 66-33 on Friday. The Ladybugs held their own although they trailed Jones by a few points most of the game. At the end of the first quarter, Jones led 11-9. In the second period, the Ladybugs scored 11 points while Jones had 12. At halftime, Jones led 23-20. The Ladybugs tied the Lady Longhorns starting off the third quarter, but Jones quickly took back the lead. At the end of the third, Jones led by only one point 31-30. Jones led by as much as six points in the final period, but the Ladybugs tied the game at 38 with 3:30 remaining. In the final seconds, Jones had a one point lead, but Lakin Gaddy raced down the court for a layup off the glass to secure the 42-41 win for Alva.

First Half

In the first quarter, it seemed the only way for Alva to score was at the free throw line. Of the nine first quarter points, only two came from a basket made by Carly Argo which was followed with a foul shot. Gaddy's four first quarter points came at the foul line, and Hadlee Ohm had two points from free throws. Meanwhile Kasia Hansen scored both a trey and a basket for Jones. Kneah Smith had a basket and two free throws while Sofi Woodson added a basket. Jones led 11-9 at the end of the first quarter

The Ladybugs made only two trips to the free throw line in the second quarter. Argo was fouled while attempting a trey and made all three of her free throws. Ohm was two for two at the foul line as well as scoring on two baskets. Jaycee Kelln also scored on a basket. The Lady Longhorns only hit 50 percent in their two trips to the free throw line in the second quarter. However, they scored five baskets to lead 23-20 at the halftime break.

Second Half

The home crowd cheered as Argo hit a three-pointer to open the second half and tie Jones. But the Lady Longhorns fought back to gain a five point lead at 29-24. The Ladybugs added two baskets from Kylie Adair and Channing Ferguson to pull within one, but Hansen scored for Jones to increase the lead. Gaddy stole the ball for Alva and went down the court for a layup, but it didn't go in. Adair grabbed the rebound and stuck the ball through the hoop to put Alva within one point of the Jones 31-30 lead as the quarter ended.

Desiree Morehead

Ladybug Channing Ferguson (15), despite getting trapped by the defense under the goal, goes up for the shot.

In the final quarter, Jones started off with a trey from Smith and two points from Karezma Johnson. The Ladybugs answered with a basket from Argo and a three from Gaddy. Lewis scored a basket for Jones, but Argo stuck a three-pointer to tie the game at 38. Hansen made a trey shot for Jones to pull ahead. Kelln was fouled on a three point attempt and made two of her three foul shots. Jones now led by one point at 41-40. With the remaining seconds in the single digits, Gaddy banked one in off the glass to give Alva a one point lead. Woodson's buzzer beater shot missed the mark, and the Ladybugs won 42-41.

The Ladybugs were led in scoring by Argo who had 14 points. Gaddy had nine and Ohm eight. Adair made five points while Kelln had four and Ferguson two.

Smith led the Jones scoring followed closely by Hansen with 11 and Woodson with 10. Lewis had six points and Johnson two.

The victory moved the Alva Ladybugs into the championship game against the Seiling Wildcats at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The game was too late to make the press deadline but will be covered later.