OKLAHOMA CITY— Dale needed a half to get used to the surroundings of the “Big House,” but once they did, Newkirk offered little resistance in the Lady Pirates charging into today’s Class 2A semifinals. Dale handed the Lady Tigers their walking papers in a 31-21 triumph.
“It took a little while for us to adjust to the arena,” said Dale head coach Benny Burnett. “We showed a lot of poise in the second half.”
The Lady Pirates started off slow in the quarterfinal match. Real slow.
Newkirk jumped to an 8-2 lead with 3:19 remaining in the first quarter, but a Brenna Burnett bucket at the 1:27 mark cut the first-quarter Newkirk lead to 8-4.
Dale then turned up the defensive heat in the second quarter, holding the Lady Tigers to just one field goal in eight minutes of play while taking a 12-10 lead into the half.
That was all the time Dale needed to get used to things.
The Lady Pirates came onto the floor in the second half and dominated, and Kylee Wilkins and Burnett stole the show.
Burnett scored eight of her game-high 16 points in the third quarter while point guard Wilkins ran the offense with flawless perfection. Wilkins finished with eight points, but more importantly, got the ball in the right spot from her point guard position.
When the dust had settled, the Lady Pirates had outscored Newkirk 12-4 in the quarter, taking a 24-14 lead into the final eight minutes of play.
“It is a completely different atmosphere in this gym,” said Brenna Burnett. “We knew we had to come out playing our hardest.”
That’s exactly what the Lady Pirates did, on both sides of the ball.
Not only did Burnett burn Newkirk on offense, she gave the Lady Tigers’ post, Megan Scheiber, fits while trying to score. Scheiber ended up with 13 points, but seven of them came in the final quarter of play after Dale had a stranglehold on the win.
Scheiber scored all seven of Newkirk’s fourth-quarter points, just enough to break even with the Lady Pirates. Wilkins scored four in the fourth while back-court mate Linlee Blevins went 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the final two minutes of action.
Burnett started slowly, missing her first two jumpers, but got her bearings straight midway through the quarter and never looked back.
“I have to give my teammates all of the credit,” said Burnett. “Kaylee is excellent at handling the ball.”
Wilkins, although harassed by full-court man-to-man pressure, never wilted and didn’t turn the ball over in the final quarter and a half of play.
“She has been a strong floor general these past four years,” said coach Burnett. “I don’t have to worry when she’s handling the ball.”
The Lady Pirates don’t have long to celebrate the win, as semifinal Friday will bring a match against Snyder at noon in the “Big House.” Snyder upset Konawa 44-41 Thursday evening.
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OKLAHOMA CITY— Dale needed a half to get used to the surroundings of the “Big House,” but once they did, Newkirk offered little resistance in the Lady Pirates charging into today’s Class 2A semifinals. Dale handed the Lady Tigers their walking papers in a 31-21 triumph.
“It took a little while for us to adjust to the arena,” said Dale head coach Benny Burnett. “We showed a lot of poise in the second half.”
The Lady Pirates started off slow in the quarterfinal match. Real slow.
Newkirk jumped to an 8-2 lead with 3:19 remaining in the first quarter, but a Brenna Burnett bucket at the 1:27 mark cut the first-quarter Newkirk lead to 8-4.
Dale then turned up the defensive heat in the second quarter, holding the Lady Tigers to just one field goal in eight minutes of play while taking a 12-10 lead into the half.
That was all the time Dale needed to get used to things.
The Lady Pirates came onto the floor in the second half and dominated, and Kylee Wilkins and Burnett stole the show.
Burnett scored eight of her game-high 16 points in the third quarter while point guard Wilkins ran the offense with flawless perfection. Wilkins finished with eight points, but more importantly, got the ball in the right spot from her point guard position.
When the dust had settled, the Lady Pirates had outscored Newkirk 12-4 in the quarter, taking a 24-14 lead into the final eight minutes of play.
“It is a completely different atmosphere in this gym,” said Brenna Burnett. “We knew we had to come out playing our hardest.”
That’s exactly what the Lady Pirates did, on both sides of the ball.
Not only did Burnett burn Newkirk on offense, she gave the Lady Tigers’ post, Megan Scheiber, fits while trying to score. Scheiber ended up with 13 points, but seven of them came in the final quarter of play after Dale had a stranglehold on the win.
Scheiber scored all seven of Newkirk’s fourth-quarter points, just enough to break even with the Lady Pirates. Wilkins scored four in the fourth while back-court mate Linlee Blevins went 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the final two minutes of action.
Burnett started slowly, missing her first two jumpers, but got her bearings straight midway through the quarter and never looked back.
“I have to give my teammates all of the credit,” said Burnett. “Kaylee is excellent at handling the ball.”
Wilkins, although harassed by full-court man-to-man pressure, never wilted and didn’t turn the ball over in the final quarter and a half of play.
“She has been a strong floor general these past four years,” said coach Burnett. “I don’t have to worry when she’s handling the ball.”
The Lady Pirates don’t have long to celebrate the win, as semifinal Friday will bring a match against Snyder at noon in the “Big House.” Snyder upset Konawa 44-41 Thursday evening.
