Lady Redskins win area tournament, headed to state

Coach Chad Rumer and The Lady Redskins have had an amazing season. They have a Lake Country Conference Championship, District, Regional championship plaques in their trophy case.Aftertheirgameagainst Idabel on March 2, they can nowaddAreaChampionship to the case.

The Lady Redskins are state bound with the Area Tournament plaque under their arm. They defeated the highly ranked Idabel girls by 13 points, 59 to 46. The Idabel star, 6’6” Mary Corden, played well with 14 points but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lady Redskins.

Emily Bellettini seemed short going against Corden on the tip off. The tip was the last time that it was a one on one matchup. With Ethel Stewart planted firmly behind her and Bellettini in front, they made it very hard togettheballdownlowtoher.

Olivia Quapaw hit a very long three pointer. Lanie French hit one, as well. Kamry Bohannon had a three. Bellettini had a bucket.

French and Bohannon added field goals to their total. On the other end of the court, Rumer’s plan for Corden was working. The double team of Stewart and Bellettini held her without a bucket. The Lady Redskins trailed by 1, 16 to 15, after one.

In the second quarter, Idabel’s Cordon managed to get on the score book with two buckets. The balanced scoring of the Lady Redskins was really stretching Idabel. In their attempt to get the ball inside, they were making turnovers that lead to break away lay ups.

Of course, with Quapaw and French each hitting three pointers, Bohannon with four points and Ethel Stewart with two, they didn’t know from where the next bucket was coming. French had another bucket and the Lady Redskins went to the locker room holding a two point lead, 29 to 27.

In the third, the game was tied several times. It was tied at 34 all, again at 36 all. Bellettini was determined and hadthreebaskets.Bohannon was doing her damage from the free throw line, she was 3 of 4. With the time running out in the quarter, Quapaw took the ball up the court and with girls all around her swished a three at the buzzer. The score was, 41 to 38, advantage the Lady Redskins.

In the fourth, French hit another three pointer. At this spot in the game, every point is critical. Bohannon had two buckets and was 1 of 2 from the line. Bellettini had a bucket and was 2 of 3 from the line.

The Lady Warriors had no choice but to foul and hope the Lady Redskins wouldn’t hit their free throws. If at all possible keep the ball in Quapaw’s hands. She went 7 of8fromthelineandtheArea Championship was theirs. The final score was 59 to 46.

Box score: Bohannon led the team with 17 points, including a three pointer and she was 4 of 6 from the line. Right with her was Quapaw who had 16 points. All of her baskets were three pointers (3) and she was 7 of 8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Next, was French with 13 points including triple three-pointers. The one in the fourth quarter was a back breaker for Idabel. Bellettini, despite being called on to help guard the biggest girl anyone had seen play, scored 11 points. That included going 2 of 3 from the line in that most important fourth quarter. Stewart’s job was to help hold the Idabel star to 14 points. She had two points. Kaya Wiebener and Jaci Herndon both saw action.

Under normal circumstances we would know that the Lady Redskins would play on Thursday, somewhere in the OKC area. But this season the new plan for the OSSSA is to play every game for 2A, 3A and 4A at the State Fair Arena. So we are not certain when they might play . Nor are we certain of the opponent, that will be determined after Saturdays games are played and the seeding will be done on Sunday.

Congrats to Coach Chad Rumer and the Lady Redskins on a great season. They have a Lake Country Conference Championship, District, Regional, and now Area Championship all in the trophy case.

Join the community in sending the girls off to state on Thursday, March 9 at noon.