-
Baylor Franz (23), Lexi Hensley (12), Kasia Hansen (10) and Kashell Daughty (4) -
Kashell Daughty -
Lexi Hensley -
Jayda Holiman -
Isabel Langenberg
The shooting was colder than the snow outside most of the night, but clutch free throws at the end decided who left with bragging rights.
The Edmond Memorial girls’ basketball team came from behind in the fourth quarter to earn a 40-37 road Edlam win against Edmond Santa Fe Friday night.
No. 11 Memorial (10-6) took the lead with a 9-0 fourth-quarter run after trailing since midway through the third.
No. 16 Santa Fe (9-10) had a chance for a game-tying 3-pointer at the horn but could not get the final shot to go in.
With the game on the line, Memorial went 6-of-8 from the free throw line in the closing stages of the fourth. Coach Rachel Crabaugh said the late free throws were huge.
“Their composure tonight at the end of this game was very needed,” Crabaugh said. “We’ve needed to be able to finish a close game. Doing that, before the snowstorm and potentially the last regular season game, good to end on a note like that, showing that you can finish a game.”
Memorial sophomore Baylor Franz led all scorers with 15 points. Senior Isabel Langenberg followed with 10.
Senior Kashell Daughty led Santa Fe with 12. Freshman Jerney Bennett had 9 points and 8 blocks.
Franz said in such a low-scoring game, the Lady Bulldogs had to make every shot count.
“The conditions were hard,” Franz said. “COVID, we had some players out, but we just decided we were going to leave it all on the floor, and we made it count.”
A low-scoring first half resulted in a 13-13 halftime score. Memorial took the lead quickly, but the Lady Wolves used a 13-2 run to overtake the Lady Bulldogs. Memorial refused to go away quietly. After an even start to the fourth quarter, the ‘Dogs used a 9-0 run to take the lead. A pair of Langenberg free throws gave Memorial a lead it did not relinquish.
Crabaugh said when the Lady Bulldogs were down, she told them to play with heart.
“I’ve been wanting to see my girls play with defensive intensity,” Crabaugh said. “If teams stall, it’s only a matter of time before they mess up or you get your hand on a deflection. I just said, ‘Try as hard as you can to rattle ‘em.’ Fortunately, it worked.”
On Dec. 18, Memorial defeated Santa Fe 66-33. Santa Fe played much better this time, and coach Casi Bays said she is proud of her players despite the result.
“I like where we are,” Bays said. “We gotta get healthy. We got two girls, two starters sitting on the bench that’s hurt. We’ve missed them the past two weeks… (We need to come) in here and get some shots up, going to work and trying to get better on situations.”