LADY BEARCATS REACH BATTLE FINALS

The Lady Bearcats raced to a 14-1 first quarter lead, eventually led by 20, withstood a Heavener run, and ultimately kept their record unblemished with a 56-42 win over Heavener, Okla., in the Battle on the Border tournament semifinals in Arkoma Thursday.

Heaven Sanchez got the Lady Bearcats (7-0) off to the fist start. By the 4:05 mark of the first quarter she had scored seven points and it was 14-1.

She added a conventional three-point play and was in double figures before the quarter ended.

Sanchez would go on to lead all players with 17 points.

The Lady Wolves trimmed the lead to 18-11 with 6:15 to play in the first half but the Lady Bearcats got a couple of free throws from Carah Miller and embarked on a 13-0 run.

Miller (shown) scored six of the points in the run and would finish the night with eight points and six rebounds off the bench.

Heavener chipped away throughout the third quarter as the Lady Bearcats managed only free throws from Joleigh Tate and Miller and a single Leigh Swint free throw.

A basket with 7:53 to play got Heavener within 37-27 but Tate scored five points in a 22 second span and the lead was back to 13, 42-29.

Tate scored again a couple of minutes later and the lead was 15 at 46-31.

Tate finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Heavener again got within 10 with 4:30 to play but a couple of Swint free throws made it 12 again but the Lady Wolves made it a nine-point game with 3:03 to play.

A couple of Lexi Franklin free throws and baskets by Layla Byrum and Sanchez again extended the lead to 15.

The Lady Bearcats will now face Future School in the tournament finals at 6 p.m. Saturday. Future School topped Braggs and Mulberry to reach the finals.

Lady Bearcats 57 Arkoma 7

The Lady Bearcats score the first six points of the game and were in complete command thanks to a smothering defense.

The Lady Bearcats recorded 24 steals with Leigh Swint and Linley Garrett both responsible for four and Joleigh Tate, Heaven Sanchez, and Carah Miller all had three.

After it was 6-0, a 3 by Arkoma cut the lead in half, but it would be the Lady Mustangs’ only field goal of the game.

It was 21-3 after a quarter and 30-4 at the half.

Sanchez led the Lady Bearcats with 18 points and Lexi Franklin added 11. Hayley Roberts also scored eight.

Garrett was the rebounding leader with 11 and Swint, Roberts, and Brooke Turner all had six.