As opening day went on, Tahlequah girls basketball’s defense continued to get better and better.
In the first quarter, THS posted only seven points, in the second quarter four points and just two points in each of the final two quarters. Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers’ offense was humming in tandem with the defense, leading the way to a 58-16 win over the Stilwell Lady Indians.
Advertisement
Forcing turnovers and converting them to points on fast breaks was big for the Lady Tigers.
“We just got so many deflections tonight,” THS coach David Qualls said. “Moe Wilson and Lakyn Adams got in the top of the zone for a lot of deflections and disrupted quite a bit.”
SHS got many of their early points because of the Lady Tigers coming out too aggressive and fouling. In the first quarter, the Lady Indians picked up five of their seven points from the free throw line.
Despite giving up points at the foul line, the Lady Tigers still left the quarter leading 18-7.
The offense continued flowing in the second quarter. Carsyn Gilbert and Lakyn Adams took over the scoring, putting in 12-of-14 points in the quarter. THS left the half leading 34-12.
Advertisement
8S4A5245.JPG
Tahlequah’s Lakyn Adams drives on a layup.
The guard duo took the game over offensively, leading the way with a combined 38 points. Gilbert led the way with 21 points and Adams added 17.
“They know their roles; those are our two shooters,” Qualls said. “Both of them are capable of what they did tonight.”
After halftime, the Lady Tigers’ defense kicked into next gear, only giving up a combined four points after the intermission.
In the third quarter, the Lady Tigers built their lead to 56-14 and in a rarity for basketball led to a running clock in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Tigers are back in action for the two-day Coweta Festival. The Lady Tigers open Thursday, Dec. 4, vs. Collinsville and then face the host CHS Lady Tigers Friday, Dec. 5.
