Third time not the charm for Midwest City girls
Midwest City’s Saliyah Landon (Right) defends Norman North’s Whitney Wollenberg Saturday afternoon during a Class 6A Area consolation championship game at Chickasha High School. The Bombers led early but struggled in the second half and lost 58-47. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
CHICKASHA – There’s something to beating a team three times in a season.
Just ask the Midwest City girls basketball team.
The Bombers already beat Norman North twice this season – winning in the Norman Joe Lawson Memorial Invitational in December, and the John Nobles Tournament in January. But they couldn’t pick up a third victory as they lost 58-47 Saturday in the Class 6A Area consolation finals at Chickasha High School.
“It is hard to beat a team three times and we came up short, especially in the third quarter when we only scored six points,” said Midwest City coach Megan Maloy-Knight.
Midwest City (19-8) had no answer for Seleh Harmon who scored 32 points in the win. Harmon got to the foul line often where she was 8 of 11 shooting. The Timberwolves (17-10) were 20 of 26 at the foul line, while Midwest City shot 10 of 16.
With the victory, North advanced to the state tournament, while Midwest City saw its season end. The Bombers advanced to state the past two seasons.
Midwest City started fast and doubled up North in the opening period. Markia Pratt hit a pair of 3-pointers and Myracle Washington added another for a 15-7 lead. Mya Brown kept the offense going in the second with a trey and three free throw to make it a 28-22 lead at halftime.
Things quickly went south for the Bombers in the second half. The Timberwolves opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run. Harmon capped the run with a 3-pointer to give North a 31-28 lead at the 5:22 mark. Midwest City scored only six points in the quarter and trailed 35-34 heading to the fourth.
“We didn’t do anything different in the second half, but the officiating changed a bit,” said Maloy-Knight. “We did foul for sure, but there was a big difference, and we didn’t adjust.”
De’Yanna Douglas scored a basket inside to keep it a one-point game early in the fourth. North quickly stretched the lead with a 13-3 run. Douglas tallied nine points in the fourth, but the Bombers couldn’t close the gap.
The Bombers had four players in double figures scoring. Pratt led the way with 12 points, followed by Douglas with 11 and Washington and Brown each had 10 points.
Midwest City lost to top-ranked Edmond North 56-35 Thursday night in the Area finals. Edmond North standout Laci Steele led all scorers with 28 points to send the defending state champions back to the state tournament. Douglas led the Bombers with 18 points.
