bluesooner17
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Three months ago, while teammates played the first game of the season, Mya Bhinhar, Terryn Milton and Leiloni Culley sat on the sideline with shoulders slumped and watched.
For one reason or another, the three seniors — leading scorers — faced a few more days of injury rehabilitation. Two years removed from an appearance in the Class 6A state final, they were relegated to spectating.
The Rams lost two games in that first week, bitter pills to swallow, but have been nearly unstoppable since.
With a 61-50 victory Thursday against Westmoore, Owasso claimed an area championship and fought its way back to state with a 23-3 record.
“At the beginning of the year, things were a little shaky,” Milton said. “But I’d rather have it like that and just get way better every game. I still feel like we’re getting better, every game.”
Owasso’s winning streak now stretches 14 games, which also became the longest in the state Thursday evening, as No. 13 Sand Springs knocked off previously unbeaten No. 2 Bartlesville.
News of that outcome drew cheers in Owasso’s locker room.
Milton led all scorers with a double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds, to go with six assists and two blocks. She was more excited about the blocks.
“We pride ourselves in blocking a shot,” Milton said.
Bhinhar had seven points and seven blocks, including two in one Westmoore possession that launched Owasso’s command of the second half.
The Rams led 16-11 after the first quarter and 29-26 at half. They went on an 11-2 run throughout the third quarter and built the lead to as many as 12 points, combatting Westmoore’s tall forwards, Kendra Gillispie and Whitney Outon, the strongest 1-2 punch Owasso had faced all year.
“I was trying to get everything covered down low, we were willing to give up a shot at the elbow,” Owasso coach Matt Sweeney said. “But they still hurt us on offensive boards. We were blocking out, but we just couldn’t get them out of there.”
Westmoore clawed back in the fourth behind Whitney Outon and Jessi Mercer, who combined for 11 points. Kristen Marcer led the No. 5 Jaguars (21-5) with 14 points.
While Bhinhar blocked shots and collected rebounds on one end, Culley stretched the lead on the other, slipping between identities as a post defender and a slippery four-guard, out-dueling slower, taller defenders and scoring 19 points.
“It was an advantage for us tonight,” Culley said. “If I can get one step by her and get to the hole, we can do our job.”
Owasso shot 15-for-20 from the free throw line.
“I had to look away,” Sweeney said. “When I look, we don’t make the shot. I have to find something else to do, talk to somebody, look at something else. I don’t want to curse it.”
For one reason or another, the three seniors — leading scorers — faced a few more days of injury rehabilitation. Two years removed from an appearance in the Class 6A state final, they were relegated to spectating.
The Rams lost two games in that first week, bitter pills to swallow, but have been nearly unstoppable since.
With a 61-50 victory Thursday against Westmoore, Owasso claimed an area championship and fought its way back to state with a 23-3 record.
“At the beginning of the year, things were a little shaky,” Milton said. “But I’d rather have it like that and just get way better every game. I still feel like we’re getting better, every game.”
Owasso’s winning streak now stretches 14 games, which also became the longest in the state Thursday evening, as No. 13 Sand Springs knocked off previously unbeaten No. 2 Bartlesville.
News of that outcome drew cheers in Owasso’s locker room.
Milton led all scorers with a double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds, to go with six assists and two blocks. She was more excited about the blocks.
“We pride ourselves in blocking a shot,” Milton said.
Bhinhar had seven points and seven blocks, including two in one Westmoore possession that launched Owasso’s command of the second half.
The Rams led 16-11 after the first quarter and 29-26 at half. They went on an 11-2 run throughout the third quarter and built the lead to as many as 12 points, combatting Westmoore’s tall forwards, Kendra Gillispie and Whitney Outon, the strongest 1-2 punch Owasso had faced all year.
“I was trying to get everything covered down low, we were willing to give up a shot at the elbow,” Owasso coach Matt Sweeney said. “But they still hurt us on offensive boards. We were blocking out, but we just couldn’t get them out of there.”
Westmoore clawed back in the fourth behind Whitney Outon and Jessi Mercer, who combined for 11 points. Kristen Marcer led the No. 5 Jaguars (21-5) with 14 points.
While Bhinhar blocked shots and collected rebounds on one end, Culley stretched the lead on the other, slipping between identities as a post defender and a slippery four-guard, out-dueling slower, taller defenders and scoring 19 points.
“It was an advantage for us tonight,” Culley said. “If I can get one step by her and get to the hole, we can do our job.”
Owasso shot 15-for-20 from the free throw line.
“I had to look away,” Sweeney said. “When I look, we don’t make the shot. I have to find something else to do, talk to somebody, look at something else. I don’t want to curse it.”
In the kindest, gentlest way possible, do you mind linking the source next time, especially if it's Tulsa World?
