Kingston faced the Comanche Indians on March 7 in the Area Consolation Finals. The Lady Redskins missed going to the state tournament for the third consecutive year by two points. The score was 44-42 with the Comanche girls advancing to state.
In the March 5 issue of The Madill Record, it was reported that there is a history between Kingston and Comanche. After falling to Jones on Friday we knew it would be Comanche again on Saturday.
In the first quarter, the Lady Redskins followed the trend of having someone in foul trouble early. Avri Weeks picked up her second foul at the 3:00 mark. She had a bucket and a free throw. As she left the floor, it was like Comanche had a shot of adrenaline.
They immediately picked up the intensity even more. A three-point quarter will usually mean disaster for a team. However the Lady Redskins still had their defense and Comanche only had nine points of their own. The score after the first was 9 to 3, Comanche.
In the second quarter, the scoring picked up as Presley McKnight had a 3 and a 2-point goal. Britt Henderson followed suit with her own three and a two. Tyla Bohannon and Dana Wagnon both had buckets. Weeks remained on the bench with those fouls. The score after two, the Lady Redskins trailed by four points, 21 to 17.
The second half got underway with Weeks back on the court. She got back to work ad had two buckets and was 1 of 2 from the line. And she had help. McKnight had another three, Henderson added a bucket and Bohannon had a free throw. At the end of the third, Comanche clings to a 31 to 28 lead.
In the fourth quarter, things began looking up for the Lady Redskins. They ran off five straight points and took the lead for the first time in the game at the 6:33 mark. The scoring came courtesy of another McKnight three pointer and a Henderson bucket. Weeks scores another bucket, and Wagnon got put back for two.
Henderson got to the line and was 1 of 2. Time out was called at 4:52 and the game tied at 35 all. Another time out at 2:51 with the Lady Redskins up by one, 40 to 39. Weeks picks up her fifth foul at 2:35. Bohannon came up big, she had a bucket to tie the game again at the 2:00 mark, 42 to 42. The Lady Redskins had their destiny in their own hands.
Another time out at the 56.8 mark. Kassie Bailey, on a drive to the goal, was tackled by defenders – no call. A phantom foul was called and Comanche was sent to the line with 20 seconds to play in a tie game to advance to state. Comanche hits both. Lady Redskins fail to score in their last attempt. Game over, final score 44 to 42.
Final stats: McKnight lead the team with 11, Weeks and Henderson had 10 points each, Bohannon had 7 and Wagnon 4. From the line the team was 6 of 10 for 60 %. By contrast the Comanche girls were 7 of 8 for 87.5 %.
Fan notes: A few fans may have known about this interesting twist in the game. Britt Henderson in these battles with Comanche has been playing against her first cousin (their mothers are sisters) # 30, G. Miller. She led her team in scoring with 14 points. A tough spot for grandparents, win or lose they were going to have a granddaughter in the state tournament.
Coach Rumer had this to say, “I thought we missed some opportunities early in the game. Missed some easy layups and were 2 of 9 from the three point line in the first half. Fought hard all the way to the end. Like our girls always do. Proud of them for all the hard work they put in this year. Especially proud of the always do. Proud of them for all the hard work they put in this year. Especially proud of the seniors, they have had an incredible four years of basketball at Kingston”.
Analysis: This ends the run of the most successful senior class in Lady Redskin history. They made trips to the state tournament their sophomore and junior years, and missed a third by two points. By no means should these girls think of this season as a failure. They have accomplished what no other class has done in the history of KHS girls’ basketball. These girls have thrilled their fans and families for three straight years. When you see them, tell them how much you enjoyed watching them play. Congratulate them. Congratulations to Coach Chad Rumer on another thrilling season. It was a roller coaster ride this year.