Tuttle girls use defense to win fourth regional title in a row
By Josh Jennings
OKLAHOMA CITY - Defense wins championships, and the Tuttle Lady Tigers played lots of it Saturday night in the 4A regional final at Crossings Christian.
Tuttle defeated Tecumseh, 40-19, and won its fourth regional in a row. Those 19 points were the least amount of points the Lady Savages have scored in a game this year.
“These girls are winners and will do whatever it takes to win,” first-year Tuttle head coach Jamie Combs said. “Our defensive effort was awesome and we locked their good shooters down.
"Tecumseh hit 10 3-pointers Thursday and they only hit one 3-pointer (Saturday). Even when shots are not falling, our defense gives us a chance any time we take the floor.”
University of Oklahoma basketball signee Landry Allen scored 23 points and scored 1,500 career points for Tuttle when she knocked down a 3-pointer. Tuttle called a time out and handed her a special ball when she accomplished this in the third quarter.
“I knew I was close, but honestly, it was a surprise to me,” Allen said. “Everyone cheered loudly after I scored and once the announcer said I had scored that many points, then it kicked in.”
With this win, Tuttle will play in the area championship game at 6 p.m. Friday, against Verdigris.
Tecumseh still advanced to area and will play at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, against Muldrow.
Plainview also advanced to area, as it defeated Cache, 48-46, in a game which came down to the final shot that Cache missed. Plainview will play at 6 p.m. Thursday against Stillwell.
All area games will be played at Henryetta.
4A Girls Regional Championship Game
Tuttle 40, Tecumseh 19
Both teams defended well early.
Midway through the first quarter, Tuttle’s intense defense slowed Tecumseh’s offense down. Both teams exchanged a couple sloppy turnovers, but Tuttle closed the first quarter on a 5-0 run and was ahead, 10-2, going into the second quarter.
The second quarter was low scoring, too. Kenzli Warden scored seven points for Tecumseh.
Tuttle was held scoreless by Tecumseh’s defense until the 2:38 mark when Allen hit a pair of free throws. Allie Rehl knocked down a long 3-pointer with 1:20 to play.
The Lady Tigers got a stop and held the ball for the last shot. Samantha Teague was fouled at the buzzer on a layup, and Tuttle had a 17-11 lead at halftime.
The Lady Tigers opened the third quarter on a 12-1 run and only allowed three points in the third quarter.
Allen took over at the start of the third quarter and scored seven points in a row. She drained a 3-pointer and officially joined the 1,500-point club. After that, she recorded two blocks.
She was unselfish as she passed the ball to teammate Rehl, who scored a layup to make the score 26-12.
“We were (tenacious) and had a willingness to win,” Allen said. “It was a physical game and in the locker room at halftime, we said we got this and just kept playing hard.”
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Tecumseh finally scored a layup with 3:26 left to play when Sami Schweighardt delivered one. At the buzzer to end the third quarter, Serenity Jacoway from Tecumseh was fouled when she shot a long 3-pointer.
She made all three, but Tuttle was ahead, 28-17, going into the fourth quarter.
Allen scored the first four points for Tuttle early in the fourth quarter. Tecumseh did not score until midway through the fourth quarter, when Warden knocked down a pair of free throws. These were the last points for Tecumseh.
Tuttle kept working on offense and defense the rest of the way.
“Our communication was way better in the second half,” Combs said. “In the fourth quarter, we did a great job getting the ball to Landry and she did a great job finishing those shots, which helped us extend our lead.”
4A Girls Regional Consolation Championship
Plainview 48, Cache 46
Both teams slowed the game down in the first quarter.
Plainview closed the quarter on a 6-0 run with 3-point baskets made by Samara Morgan and Jacey Hammon.
Cache scored 20 points in the second quarter. At first, the Lady Indians also hit a couple shots and were in front, 22-10, midway through the second quarter.
But Cache closed the first half on a 12-1 run. During this run, Cache made back to back 3-point baskets made by Gracie Webster and Haley Carter.
“We made some mistakes on defense and Cache took advantage,” Plainview coach Grant Gash said. “Credit to them as they have great shooters and we tried hard to stop Aaliyah Young (Cache). She made some plays as well and we grinded this one out.”
Young scored 13 total points in the game for Cache.
Hammon put on a show in the first half, scoring 12 points in the first half.
Izzy Glenn scored the first five points for Cache in the third quarter. Young wanted some of the action and she scored the next six points for Cache, which gave the Lady Bulldogs a 33-29 lead late in the third quarter.
Plainview cut the deficit to one, and trailed 35-34 going into the fourth quarter.
Emilee Hedger started an 8-0 run for Plainview to begin the fourth quarter. She scored back to back 3-point baskets and Hammon made a layup, making it 42-35 early in the fourth quarter.
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“We stuck together when it got tough,” Hedger said. “I was open when I hit all those shots and was happy to make shots for my team. We worked as one (Saturday), which was key for us to get the win.”
Cache kept fighting back and closed the game on an 11-6 run with layups made by Aiyanne Mason and Young. Cache had a shot at the buzzer to win, but it just missed and Plainview won the game.
“This was a tough and physical game,” Gash said. “This was our third game in three days and we just found ways to win.
"Jacey had a great first half and Emilee had a great second half. With everyone else's effort and these two girls playing well, it turned out to be enough.”
Mason scored 10 points for the Lady Bulldogs.
Hedger and Hammon each finished the game with 14 points.
