“We played well,” Grove head coach Richard Bassett said. “We’re capable of playing that way. Obviously, when the baskets are falling like that, you’re a good basketball team. The big thing is we got to the free throw line, that’s what I’ve been preaching all year.”

The Lady Ridgerunners shot just six free throws and missed all six in Friday’s loss at Oologah, while the Lady Mustangs went 18-of-33 at the line in a game that finished 43-35. Tuesday against Jay, Grove got to the line early and often, hitting 12-of-15 in the first half alone and 19-of-23 for the game.

Taylor Dodson led the way early for Grove, scoring 7 points in the first quarter as the Lady Ridgerunners took a 19-6 lead. Iverson added a pair of threes in the opening period before sophomore guard Karah Bassett came off the bench to knock down two more in the second, scoring 10 points in the quarter as Grove took a 39-21 halftime lead.

“Offensively, we ran our offense,” Bassett said. “Last time we played they pressured us and we acted like we’ve never been pressured before and we made turnovers and played too fast. Tonight, if we couldn’t get something easy we pulled it out and ran our offense and that’s tough on defenses because then you have to play more defense than offense.”

The Lady Bulldogs (3-19) cut the lead to 14 early in the third period, but Iverson knocked down two more from outside in a 10-0 run that put the game away for good, holding Jay to single digits in the third and fourth quarters and forcing 20 turnovers for the game.

“Our defense was good,” Bassett said. “We did a good job on the press, disrupting them. We just put everything together tonight.”

Karah Bassett led Grove with 13 points with Iverson adding 12. Dodson and Libby Morris scored 9 points each. The Lady Ridgerunners will host McDonald County, Mo. on Thursday.

Chloe Price led Jay with 9 points, while Rebekah Reno and Ashley Wilkes scored 7 each. Jay will open the playoffs at home on Saturday against top-ranked Fort Gibson.