HARRAH —
HARRAH — Playing young in big moments has been a problem for Southmoore all season. In each of its losses, the contests came down to not being able to handle the pressure when it counted most. That included a painful loss to Edmond Memorial in the regional championship game last week.
But in their biggest game of the season, the SaberCats may have just grown up as they defeated Putnam City 57-48 Saturday in the area consolation championship at Harrah High. The victory propelled Southmoore (22-5) into the state tournament and proved to their coach they are ready to make a deep run.
“We played frazzled last week,” Southmoore coach Britney Kannady-Sayes said. “Kind of timid and scared. We didn’t do that this week. I don’t think we are going to do that ever again.”
With 3:15 left in the game, senior Kayla Tucker fouled out with her SaberCats leading 49-42. They had relied on her throughout the year to come up with big shots and plays, but she wouldn’t be there for the team’s most crucial stretch.
Instead, Southmoore went to its bread and butter and put the ball in the hands of sophomore Serithia Hawkins. She came up with consecutive baskets in the paint to put Southmoore up by 10. Then senior Kyra Gilbert hit a pair of free throws to knock the steam out of the Pirates.
“The key was to keep going up strong and keep scoring,” Hawkins said. “The team handled the pressure very well. We all did. We went up strong.”
Hawkins led all scorers with 22 points as she beat up Putnam City’s front line. Gilbert added 16 and Tucker chipped in with 12.
“I knew as soon as I fouled out, I knew the seniors and the players on the court would finish out the game,” Tucker said. “I was really confident in them knowing they could finish out the game because they have before.”
Southmoore’s biggest asset all year has been its towering front line. The duo of Kyeria Hannah and Hawkins have been able to manhandle their opponents most games with scoring and rebounding.
However, the SaberCats started the contest firing up 3-pointers from all around the arc. Even though they weren’t hitting, they were able to snag offensive rebounds and put them back for easy baskets as Southmoore jumped out to a quick 17-8 advantage.
The Pirates tried to run on the SaberCats and were able to get out on the break. But their passes upcourt were off target and often turned into turnovers.
With Southmoore leading 20-8, Tucker picked up her third foul midway through second quarter. Kannady-Sayes left her in the game and trusted she wouldn’t get her fourth with 5:46 left in the period.
The Pirates cut the lead to eight before Gilbert drained a 3-pointer and connected on a couple of free throws to give Southmoore a 33-21 halftime lead.
Putnam City forced the Cats into a rash of turnovers that helped the Pirates stay in the game. Even when PCO wasn’t applying pressure, Southmoore had problems keeping control of the ball.
As the turnovers and fouls mounted, the Pirates whittled Southmoore’s advantage down to 45-42 midway through the fourth. But they could get no closer.
The SaberCats joined Norman North, Edmond Memorial and Del City (5A) as the four members of the mid-State Conference to earn a spot in state. Southmoore will face Booker T. Washington in the opening round.
“This is monumental for our program and our team,” Kannady-Sayes said. “These girls deserve it. They wanted it and went and got it. So proud of them, and I can’t wait to see what happens next week.”
Homepage
Southmoore takes down Pirates
State tourney up next for Cats
- Local News
-
-
More shelters in forecast
MOORE — Ten children are dead, and Mayor Glenn Lewis wants tornado shelters included in all new homes built in Moore. A proposed municipal ordinance would require a shelter either inside or outside....
Continued ... -
Disoriented and displaced residents make their way back to devastated homes
Sparks of joy lit up grief-stricken eyes from time to time on Wednesday after Moore residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods for the first time after Monday’s EF-5 tornado devastated much of the city....
Continued ... -
School administrators focused on the recovery, future
MOORE — Just days after Moore Public Schools suffered the loss of nine students and complete destruction of Plaza Towers and Briarwood Elementary schools, administrators take it a day at a time, as details continue to emerge from affected ...
Continued ... -
State Senate approves $45 million from Rainy Day fund for relief
OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Senate voted Wednesday to take $45 million from the state Rainy Day Fund for immediate tornado disaster relief....
Continued ... -
Oklahoma visitor had brush with tornado’s fury
MOORE — Tim Lawrence was just in town to visit his family, but he had to huddle close with them in a storm cellar Monday afternoon as the tornado swept through the neighborhood....
Continued ... -
Mother endures labor during tornado
Shayla Taylor was ready to give birth to her second child just as the impending destruction of Monday’s EF-5 tornado bore down on the Moore Medical Center....
Continued ... -
City manager has been through it all before
MOORE — Huddled in his city’s emergency operations center Monday afternoon, Moore City Manager Steve Eddy watched as a massive tornado prepared to tear through his community....
Continued ... -
Moore and Joplin share common bond in the aftermath
MOORE — Zach Woodcock knew the storms were going to be bad on May 22, 2011, so turning on the Weather Channel was a natural instinct. What he saw filled him with fear. The Moore resident’s family lived in Joplin, Mo....
Continued ... -
Volunteers clean Moore Cemetery in advance of burials
MOORE — Rosella Poff’s gravestone was laid in Moore Cemetery just nine months ago....
Continued ... -
UPDATED: ME releases names of tornado victims
Ten children, including two infants, are among the victims of Monday’s tornado, according to the state Medical Examiner. One person has not been identified and next-of-kin have not been contacted for eight other victims....
Continued ... - Plaza Towers teacher’s aide recounts twister
- Officials vow not to quit looking until everyone is found
- First victim identified
- Norman church serves storm victims
- Resident near Plaza Towers tells his story
-
- Sports
-
-
Former Sooner takes a stand
All Jade Staggs ever wanted to do was play golf for Oklahoma. Growing up less than 15 miles from the campus, it was her dream school.
-
From Durant to SaberCats, athletes pitching in for Moore relief
Selfish, conceited, arrogant. These are just a few of the descriptions athletes are often tagged with.
However, it’s often in times of great need that athletes can have the greatest impact. That’s been the case in the response to the EF-5 tornado that struck Moore Monday. -
Sooners heading to Super Regionals
The chant reaching near-deafening levels, Lauren Chamberlain finally realized what she was supposed to do.
-
Former Sooner takes a stand
