The Checotah Lady Wildcats had a tough time at the Checotah Crossroads Classic. The Lady Wildcats came up short on Thursday when Keys topped Checotah 38-35. It was a well-played game by the Lady Wildcats who played shot for shot with the Lady Cougars but missed free throws would haunt Checotah.

The Lady Wildcats’ defense opened up and put a lot of pressure led by Ruby and Ruthy Folkner and Nyah Cloud. Checotah outscored Keys 10-7 in the first period but the Lady Cougars came out the second period and began raining down

three-point buckets hard work paid off against a really good team,” Checotah head coach Wes Cloud said.

It was a slow start for the Lady Wildcats as Eufaula led 8-4 after the first period but they came alive in the second period. Checotah scored the period’s first eight points and led 12-8 with 3:27 on the clock. Defensively, Checotah took Eufaula out of their comfort zone at the perimeter and held the Lady Ironheads to just one three-point bucket in the first half and led 19-13 at the halftime break.

Ruby Folkner and Shyanne Madewell did a great job of forcing turnovers and converting them into points. Aiyana Brewer and Hailey Prince dominated the paint and rebounding. Allie Anderson was the spark for Eufaula as she finished with 18 points.

Checotah forward Nyah Cloud was the leader on the court for Checotah. The senior finished with nine points but was a factor on defense as she took Eufaula out of their shooting lanes. Elaina Monroe of Eufaula had a good game as the point guard drove up court and set up plays and scored from the perimeter.

Checotah led 33-22 to start the fourth period. Jadence Efurd of Eufaula had a courageous effort as she battled both Prince and Brewer in the paint. Efurd finished the game with four points. The Lady Ironheads struggled from the free throw line throughout the game. Maddie Ballard made the game 3734 but Madewell and Ruby Folkner extended the game 40-34 and on the next play Madewell made a highlight-film steal from Ballard and scored to make the game 42-34. On the next play, Madewell repeated herself but this time was fouled by Efurd who made one of two free throws. On the next play Folkner made the steal and score to give the Lady Wildcats a 45-34 lead with 1:12 to play. Eufaula tried to rally as Monroe scored three points in the last seconds to end the game 45-37.

Madewell led Checotah with 11 points while Brewer added 10. Cloud and Atkins had nine points and Folkner eight points.

Anderson led Eufaula with 18, Kambry Williams with six, Johna Bumgarner with five and Monroe had three points.

On Tuesday, Stilwell defeated the Checotah Lady Wildcats 78-27. Aiyana Brewer had 13 points and freshman Bella Henson seven points.

In Friday night’s match-up The Lady Wildcats fell to the Spiro Lady Bulldogs 65-42. Spiro led 30-20 at halftime. The third period was an offensive shooting match as both teams combined for 30 points scored. Ruby Folkner led Checotah with 18 points, Brewer nine, Cloud four and Sidney Hamilton, Shyanne Madewell and Jazlyn Atkins each finished with three.