CATOOSA – Despite a struggle in the final minutes, the Grove Lady Ridgerunners advanced to the semifinals of the 48th annual Port City Classic at Catoosa High School on Thursday, holding off a late Claremore-Sequoyah charge for a 28-26 win.
Karah Bassett led the Lady Ridgerunners (4-5) with 10 points, hitting a three with 2:47 left to give Grove a 26-16 lead.
But seven fourth quarter turnovers and a 1-of-7 effort at the free throw line helped the Lady Eagles (6-6) get back in the game. Aubryana Matussak scored five of her game-high 11 points in the fourth quarter while Savannah Mathews had six of her eight to nearly bring Sequoyah all the way back.
The game was an offensive struggle throughout, as the Lady Ridgerunners led 4-2 after the first quarter and 12-6 at the half.
Bassett and Emilee Iverson hit a back-to-back threes in the third quarter to give Grove their largest lead of the game at 20-9 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.
Paige Miller added 8 points and 7 rebounds for Grove, while Libby Morris added 5 points and 7 rebounds.
The Lady Ridgerunners will play the winner between Verdigris and Skiatook in Friday night’s semifinal, which tips off at 7 p.m.
Skiatook 44, Grove 32 (boys)
A 14-2 run in the second quarter helped the Bulldogs pull away from the Ridgerunners in the first round of the Port City Classic on Thursday, sending the Ridgerunners to their fourth straight loss.
Don’Tray Wilkerson led Skiatook (3-7) with 14 points, as the Bulldogs hit seven threes for the game, five of those in the first half. Jake Surritte knocked down a pair from beyond the arc to help spark the decisive run, which turned a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter into a 26-12 advantage with 2:45 left in the half.
The Ridgerunners could get no closer than nine for the rest of the game when Spencer Londagin hit a three to make it 35-26 early in the third quarter. Skiatook answered with five straight points to make it 40-26.
Londagin led the Ridgerunners (3-6) with 13 points. Jake Spychalski had 10 points.
Garrett Massey added 9 points for Skiatook while Surritte had 8 points and 5 rebounds.
