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Friday
March 29th, 2024

ashleydribbleAshley Carrillo dribbles by a Hooker Lady Bulldog Friday. The Lady Redskins found themselves in a defensive battle but pulled away in the second half for a 40-23 win. L&T photo/Earl WattBy EARL WATT

  •  Leader & Times

HOOKER, Okla. — Shots weren’t falling for the Lady Redskins in their first game of 2020 in the first half against the Hooker, Okla., Lady Bulldogs. But a strong spurt to start the second half pushed the Class 6A No. 2 Lady Redskins to a 40-23 win.

Hooker opened with a 6-0 run while the Lady Redskins struggled to find openings in the lane.

But Katie Horyna drove to the basket for a shot while being fouled, and she followed that with another lay-in to cut the lead to 6-5.

Horyna started a 12-1 run for the Lady Redskins with baskets from Aubrey Warden and Reagan Watt, and Machia Mullens added a three to give the Lady Redskins a 12-7 lead.

But the second quarter was Liberal’s worst of the season on offense.

The Lady Redskins only scored four points in the period, a Horyna basket and pair of free throws from Watt, and the Lady Redskins only had a 16-13 lead at half.

But Mullens pushed to the basket for four straight points to start the second half, and Warden added a pair of free throws to push the Lady Redskins to a 22-13 lead.

But the physical contact in the game frustrated Liberal coach Carter Kruger, and he was hit with a technical after questioning a call.

But the Lady Bulldogs only made one of four free throws, and the Lady Redskins maintained a 22-14 lead.

The Lady Redskins were able to maintain the lead the rest of the quarter, and Liberal had a 29-21 lead.

Liberal’s defense took over in the fourth while the offense hit its stride.

Warden pushed Liberal’s lead to 10 with a basket to start the fourth quarter, and Mullens added a bucket.

Reece Hay drained a three midway through the period, and Mullens kicked in another basket.

Watt chipped in a turnaround shot in the lane, and the Lady Redskins outscored Hooker 11-2 in the period for the 40-23 runaway win.

Mullens led the Lady Redskins with 11 points in the defensive battle. Warden scored eight, Horyna had seven and Watt scored six.

“You have to give Hooker a lot of credit,” Kruger said. “They were solid defensively and took the lane away from us. We didn’t play well shooting the ball. When you go 3-24 from three and you win, you have to feel lucky when that happens.”

Liberal also had to battle through a physical challenge from the Lady Bulldogs which led Kruger to question calls. Even after a technical he took a time out to discuss another no call when Horyna attempted to move to the basket but fell to the court after contact with no call, and the ball trickled out of bounds and was given to Hooker.

“It’s good for us to play and show some physical toughness,” Kruger said. “We had to do that tonight. We had to be strong with the ball. The kids responded pretty well at half and responded from the technical, too.”

And after the Lady Redskins gave up six points in the open moments of the game, the defense only allowed 17 more the rest of the night.

“Defensively it didn’t seem like we were good early,” Kruger said. “We got lost, and we go down 6-0, but we responded and went on a nice run to end the quarter. I thought it would continue, but we couldn’t score in that second quarter, and they took advantage of some things we gave them, too.”

But Horyna kept Liberal close early until other Lady Redskins were able to find the basket.

“She was aggressive early,” Kruger said. “And then everyone else pitched in in the second half. In order to beat teams we want to beat, we have to shoot the ball better. This is the second or third game where we are missing open shots. We are gong to have to get back to the gym and do some work.”

Kruger also wanted the Lady Redskins to work through the offensive set.

“We were trying to get the ball in the lane off one pass against a team that was packing the lane,” he said. “We didn’t trust each other very well. We have to grow offensively and get a lot better. Hooker had a good scout on us, and we weren’t prepared for it.”

Still, Kruger recognized the high expectation for this team and what is expected to be successful.

“We made a few adjustments but it was more about the energy level and being engaged,” he said. “I didn’t feel like we were at first.”

EARL WATT • Leader & Times

 

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