Melissa McClendon

Daily Times Correspondent



Locust Grove made it look easy as the teams swept Salina in the hardwood version of the Battle of Highway 82. The Lady Pirates dominated Salina 67-49 and the Pirates beat the Wildcats 66-48.

Locust Grove’s Taylor Loffer led the Lady Pirates to a win over Class 3A number 18 Salina. Loffer led all scorers with 15 points.

Loffer scored six of her points in the first quarter as the Lady Pirates jumped out to an 18-4 first quarter lead. Salina began to warm up in the second quarter but Locust Grove’s lead was too big. At half time Locust Grove was up 35-15.

After the break, the Lady Wildcats came out strong hitting back to back baskets. Then Salina added some pressure causing the Lady Pirates to speed up their tempo. Salina’s Kayla Morgan scored 10 points in the third quarter, two of those baskets from three point range, to narrow Locust Grove’s lead. At the end of the third quarter, Salina trailed by 16.

The Lady Wildcats continued to battle back in the fourth quarter but could not make up the difference. Reesa Cowan hit two three point shots to make it Locust Grove 56, Salina 43. As time ran down Locust Grove went to the bench. Salina never gave up but could not overcome the Lady Pirates. Locust Grove went on to win 67-47.

Locust Grove was led by Loffer’s 15. Jarrell had 14, Erica King had 13 and Balie Neel had 10. Salina was led by Whitley Gann’s 14 points. Courtney Backward had 10 and Morgan added 10.

In the late game, Locust Grove continued the assault beating the Wildcats 66-48. Despite Dillon Manchell’s 22 point performance, the Wildcats couldn’t out do the Class 4A, No. 13 Pirates.

Locust Grove held a two point lead after the first eight minutes but went on to outscore Salina 25-12 in the second quarter. Locust Grove’s Pudd Ross and Kevin Pilant helped the Pirates increase their lead scoring seven and six points in the quarter, respectively. At the end of the half Locust Grove was up 36-21.

Salina continued to fall further behind in the third quarter as Locust Grove’s Ross kept adding to the Pirates score. At the end of the third quarter Salina trailed 54-33.

Manchell tried to get his team back in the game adding nine fourth quarter points. Three of those points came at the 5:15 mark when Manchell hit from behind the arch. Later with just over a minute to go, Manchell hit back to back shots to make it 63-44. Locust Grove went on to win the rivalry 67-48.

The Pirates were led in scoring by Ross’s 18 points and Pilant’s. Salina was led by Manchell’s game high 22 and Ty Stewart’s 13.



Girls

Locust Grove 67, Salina 49



S - 4 11 16 18 - 49

L - 18 17 12 20 - 67

S - Gann 14, Backward 10, Morgan 10, Cowan 8, Jordan 5, Swafford 2. L - Loffer 15, Jarrell 14, King 13, Neel 10, Freeman 5, Boren 2, Burton 2, Rowden 2, Brown 2.



Boys

Locust Grove 67, Salina 48

S - 9 12 12 15 - 48

L - 11 25 18 12 - 67

S - Manchell 22, Stewart 13, Daniels 6, Thompson 2, Harvey 2, Gates 2, Johnson 1. L - Ross 18, Pilant 10, Stafford 8, Knott 6, Dawson 6, Houser 5, Bailey 5, Conner 4, Fine 2, Forrest 2, Fraiser 1.