The Checotah Lady Wildcats earned a tough victory over in-county rival Eufaula Lady Ironheads (13-14) 43-32 in the second round of the Class 4A Area at Crossing Christian. Checotah made a fast start, out scoring Eufaula 11-7 to end the first period. It was a physical contest as both teams played tough defense and nearly every shot was contested. The Folkner twins of Checotah were a factor for the win. Ruthy made a great block then passed it to Ruby for a score and the next possession Ruby Folkner hit a threepointer to extend the Lady Wildcats’ lead 16-7 early in the third period.
Eufaula was plagued with missed shots and turnovers throughout the game but they were not giving up as they continued to give great effort. Trailing 18-7 with 3:03 left on the clock in the second period, Eufaula began to surge with great rebounding.
Elaina Monroe made a steal and score followed by senior Maddie Ballard scoring a threepointer to cut the lead 18-12 with 1:37 remaining.
Logan Dowdy slipped behind the Eufaula defense and scored a long perimeter shot to give Checotah a 21-12 lead.
On the next possession, Ruthy Folkner grabbed a rebound and drove to the basket with Jadence Efurd, Johna Bumgarner and Maddie Ballard trailing tightly when Folkner stopped, forcing Ballard to fly over the top of her. Ballard came down hard on the floor, suffered a wrist injury and had to be taken to the hospital.
Checotah led 21-12 at the half.
The Lady Ironheads came out of the halftime break determined to play hard for their teammate and outscored Checotah 16-12. Monroe and Bumgarner scored three-point buckets while Lauren Gray, Kate Pippenger and Olivia Hamby added scores.
Checotah struggled against the defense of Hamby, Pippenger, Bumgarner and Ariel Greenlee and Wildcat head coach Wes Cloud had to call a timeout after Monroe made a three-pointer to cut the score 29-24.
Gray would score Eufaula’s next points followed by Hamby to cut the lead making it a three point game, 31-28. Madewell would go to the free throw line and score both shots; she was perfect on the day from the foul line to end the third period 33-28.
The fourth period was a defensive battle as neither team scored until Madewell went to the foul line with just 2:42 remaining in the game.
In foul trouble the Lady Ironheads began to send Checotah players to the free throw line as Gray sent Dowdy who made it a 37-28 game. Checotah senior Hailey Prince would foul out after hacking Kate Pippenger.
Madewell picked up her fourth foul in the game sending Monroe to the free throw line to make it 40-30 with 57.8 seconds remaining. The Ironheads’ defense played hard till the final horn as Efurd grabbed rebounds but the Lady Ironheads failed to score with opportunities late in the game as Checotah held on to win 43-32.
“It was a tough game. I’m so happy for my teammates and coach Cloud. Eufaula is a great team and to win again is an awesome feeling,” Ruthy Folkner said.
The victory gave Checotah its first three-time sweep of the Lady Ironheads in school history. Eufaula failed to have a scorer in double-digits.
“I’m very proud of how we overcame some obstacles and played up to our potential. The girls played well from shooting free throws to defense. This is a great group and a wonderful group of seniors who I know will never forget this game,” Checotah head coach Wes Cloud said.
Ruby Folkner led Checotah with 16 points, Madewell 12, Dowdy and Ruthy Folkner seven points each and Prince and Atkins added three points each.
“Thank you everyone. The girls in our program deserve all the credit from the season this year. I’m very proud of them,” Eufaula head coach Jason Radomski said.
Johna Bumgarner led Eufaula with seven points, Monroe six and Ballard and Gray each five points each.
Saturday
Checotah lost to Hilldale 29-25 on Saturday ending the Lady Wildcats’ season.
