By Doug "Dougo" Sims
Special Correspondent
January 25, 2006 02:43 pm
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Wilburton — The Wilburton Diggers hosted the Indians and Lady Indians in a Tuesday night match-up at Wilburton. The Lady Purple and White dropped the opening game 60-35 to the number ?ve ranked team in class 2A. In the nightcap, the Diggers upset the 11 and three Indians in a very exciting defensive match-up 33-32.
The Wilburton girls had their work cut out for them as they took on the undefeated 14-0 Lady Indians. Pocola had shooters all over the ?oor and the Lady Diggers would have trouble covering all them effectively. The visitors canned eight three’s in the contest with Courtney Martindale netting three of them.
Wilburton fed the ball into Kaci Wallace who scored 10 points in the ?rst half to keep the home team within reach. Pocola outscored Wilburton 16 to 10 in the ?rst stanza.
The Lady Diggers fought back in the second quarter only being outscored 11 to nine.
Wilburton’s Tau’ Mee Victory netted a three right before the buzzer to end the ?rst half. Pocola had a 27-19 advantage at the intermission.
The Lady Diggers held their own the ?rst ?ve minutes of the second half. Wallace continued hitting from the paint, scoring three times. The turning point in the game seemed to be at the two minute mark.
With Wilburton only down by eight Pocola netted two back-to-back threes. After that, the momentum was clearly in the hands of Pocola for the rest of the game.
The game soon ended with a 60-35 victory, giving the Lady Indians their ?fteenth win of the season and allowing them to stay undefeated. Wilburton’s Wallace led both teams in scoring with 16 points.
In the nightcap the 6-8 Diggers took on the 11-3 Indians. It had to be one of the best games of the season. Both teams matched up well and stayed neck and neck on the scoreboard the entire 32 minutes of play.
Wilburton did not shoot a three all night as they worked the ball inside. It looked like a baseball score in the ?rst quarter. The ?rst point did not come until the two and a half minute mark.
It was a single free throw from Pocola. The ?rst eight minutes ended with a 6-2 Indians lead.
Wilburton quickly tied the game up with two quick baskets by Blake Albright and Matt Scott. The Diggers also bene?ted from two made free throws from Scott off of a technical foul. Albright with his high caliber of play scored on a drive to the basket to lead the Diggers into the locker room leading 12-10.
The second half was a closely guarded defensive war. The score went back and fourth staying close to even the rest of the game. It all came down to free throws to decide the outcome.
Wilburton was down by one trailing 31-32 with eight and a half seconds left in the contest. Jimmy Johnson drove the lane and was fouled. He stepped to the line with one second on the clock. With the visiting crowd at a roar and with the ceiling shaking, Johnson sunk both free throws to give the Diggers a 33-32 lead. Pocola was not able to get a shot off in the last second of the game giving Wilburton a 33-32 vi! ctory, upsetting the Indians.
Wilburton’s Albright lead both teams in scoring with 11 points. The Diggers and Lady Diggers take to the road Friday night to take on Stigler and will match-up against Spiro on Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. for both games.
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