EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
HOOKER, Okla. — Despite being the focus of the Hooker, Okla., Lady Bulldog defense, Shamari Lewis found her way to the basket time and time again to not only lead Liberal to a 50-41 win, but to also score her 1,000th point as a Lady Redskin.
Lewis reached the milestone on her last free throw of the game that gave her 23 points for the game.
Hooker and the Lady Redskins traded baskets early, and Kiley Rhine sparked Liberal early with a pair of threes in the first quarter.
Lewis had to work her way through the Lady Bulldog defense and was only able to score a single basket but was fouled twice and made three of four free throws to score five in the quarter.
Rhine ended the period with a basket that gave the Lady Redskins a 13-10 lead.
But the Lady Redskin defense collared the Lady Bulldogs in the second quarter and only allowed one basket and a pair of free throws in the period while the Lady Redskins continued to work in the lane and beyond the three point line to extend the lead.
Rhine and Lewis each hit a three in the second quarter, and Lewis added two more baskets in the lane to go along with a jumper from Rubi Alvarez and a shot in the lane from Maliyah Mullens, and the Lady Redskins had a 27-14 lead at the half.
But the Lady Bulldogs took advantage of some Lady Redskin turnovers in the third quarter and started to chip away at the lead.
Trinity Olvera added a three for the Lady Redskins in the period, but the Lady Bulldogs were able to cut Liberal’s advantage to 37-27.
Hooker continued to slice into the lead in the fourth quarter and at one time had Liberal’s lead reduced to six.
But the Lady Redskins were able to protect the lead at the free throw line, making seven of eight attempts down the stretch to preserve the 50-41 win.
Lewis led the Lady Redskins (11-2) with 23 points and Rhine had 11 including three threes.
