Rush Springs — Waurika coach Joe Masoner knew a matchup against the Apache girls was a major assignment Monday night. But that didn’t keep Masoner from squirming a little as he watched the Lady Eagles get “abused.”
“It was a little ‘abusive’, because we just couldn’t do anything to stop them. Apache’s the best team I’ve seen so far this year,” Masoner said, after the Lady Eagles dropped a 67-15 decision to the Lady Warriors, in the opening round of the 26th Black Diamond Classic.
Ranked among the top 20 in Class 2A, Apache burst to a 54-6 lead in the first half and zoomed into the tournament semifinals, while sending Waurika into the consolation bracket with a 1-8 overall record.
Anticipating that the Lady Eagles would have problems keeping pace with the No. 1 seed in Rush Springs’ annual roundball festival, Masoner said, “I told the girls we’d have to really elevate our game to be able to play with (the Lady Warriors).
“In the first three or four minutes, we were actually doing OK. We were breaking Apache’s press and we were up, 2-0. But then we missed four or five lay-ups in a row and they flew down the floor. They hit a couple of three-pointers and we just melted.
“Apache was really good.”
That was pretty evident by the time the first period ended with AHS on top, 27-2.
Apache rested its starters in the second half and the Lady Eagles, playing without four freshmen Masoner sent to a junior high tournament at Big Pasture, kept pace against AHS’ backups in the final 16 minutes.
Waurika managed just five field goals in the mismatch and only three Lady Eagles scored, paced by 8 tallies from senior Katie McCauley. Pivot DaVida England added 6 points and Brandi Clark had 1.
The Lady Warriors — 7-3 overall, with losses to Class B No. 1-ranked Cyril and two large-school teams — got a game-high 16 points from Kayla Pahcoddy and 10 from Taylor Lindsey.
Waurika’s girls return to the BDC on Friday for a 7 p.m. consolation semifinal against the loser of a first-round game between Velma-Alma and Central High.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Bo Hall/The News-Democrat
Apache ‘abusive’ to WHS
- Local Sports
-
-
Swift, Mora clutch medals at state finale
Reyna Swift and Tatum Mora accounted for all of Waurika’s scoring Friday and Saturday, when the Class A Girls State Track & Field Meet was held at Carl Albert High School.
-
RHS’ Lewis, Hawkins, Rawlings nab prizes at Class A State Track Meet
Rashonda Lewis established herself as one of the quickest females in Class A, Kara Hawkins picked up a first state medal and McCain Rawlings signaled he was a rising star in the male division, when Ryan’s track and field athletes participated in the state meet Friday and Saturday.
-
WJHS thinclads impressive at Red River
B.J. Roberts, Logan Bernard and Sage Cathey nabbed gold medals, helping Waurika’s boys make a strong showing in the seventh grade division of the Red River Track Invitational.
-
Eagles can’t find offense, fine season ends
It was a great ride, but in competitive sports the ride ends with only one team successfully completing the journey.
-
Lady Eagles rock at regional meet
There’s a continuing discussion in athletics about factors that culminate in success. Which is more important, quality or quantity?
-
‘... more about the bulls, not the bands’
After a two-year hiatus, the Challenge of Champions Bullfight reappeared in Waurika — and this time the emphasis had changed.
-
15 claim first-place awards at Rose Run
Fifteen different runners and eight walkers captured first place awards, when the 2012 Ted Rose 5K Run/1 Mile Walk was held in Waurika.
-
WJHS girls run off with Southern 8 title
Waurika’s girls gave their point total a boost by winning two of three relays and used three individual gold medal performances to nip Walters and win the team title at the 2012 Southern Eight Conference Junior High Track Meet.
-
Eagles win pair to get poised for district final
Before his team took the field for its opening Class A District games, head coach Everett Hodges told his team to make a statement.
-
Bring on playoffs!
After struggling to generate offense for four straight innings, the Waurika Eagles came through in the top of the seventh to tie the game and keep their title hopes alive.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Swift, Mora clutch medals at state finale
