Melissa McClendon
LOCUST GROVE - Locust Grove devastated the visiting Wagoner Bulldogs Tuesday at Pirate Arena. The Pirates ravaged Wagoner 95-45. The Lady Pirates also recorded their second win in as many days. Locust Grove beat the Lady Bulldogs 50-38 in a physical match up.
In the late game, the Pirates couldn’t miss with 12 players racking up points. Pud Ross led all scorers with 20 points. The game started off rough with Adrian Houser getting two fouls in the first two minutes. Later a three point shot by Chase Knott followed by two three’s by Trey Conner put the Pirates up 23-9. At the end of the first quarter the Pirates were up 23-11.
C.J. Stafford added a three-point play in the second quarter. At 6:01, Stafford was fouled while shooting a three pointer. The foul sent him to the line to shoot three. He nailed all three making it 29-11, Locust Grove. The Pirates continued to add to the score in the second and Justin Bailey scored just before the buzzer to make it 47-22, Locust Grove.
Locust Grove’s assault got worse in the third quarter when the Pirates scored 30 points to Wagoner’s 15. Ross chipped in 14 in the third quarter alone. At the end of the third quarter, Locust Grove was up 78-39.
Kevin Pilant and Caleb Fine led the Pirates in the fourth quarter with six points each. All of Fine’s points came from three point range. Locust Grove went on to win 95-45.
Locust Grove 95 Wagoner 45
W - 11 11 15 8 - 45
L - 23 24 31 17 - 95
L - Ross 20, Pilant 12, Conner 12, Knott 11, Houser 8, Stafford 7, Fine 6, Bailey 5, Dawson 5, Forrest 4, Shelly 4, Wallace 1.
Lady Pirates get 2nd win over ranked opponent in as many days
In the girls game, A very physical match up between Locust Grove and 4A
No. 12 Wagoner resulted in another Lady Pirate win. Taylor Loffer led the ladies with 15 points followed by Courtney Freeman’s 14. It was the Lady Pirates second straight win over a ranked opponent.
Balie Neel got her team moving with five, first quarter points. A three pointer by Loffer and baskets by Freeman and Breanna Jarrell boosted the Lady Pirates a 12-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Locust Grove maintained their lead in the second quarter going up 23-13 at half time.
After the break, the two aggressive teams clashed again resulting in fouls and a very physical competition. As tempers flared, a Wagoner player was called for a technical foul. Loffer went to the line to shoot the first two shots hitting both free throws.
Erica King followed for the final two shots hitting one of two. The free throws put Locust Grove up 35-19. With only second
remaining in the third quarter, Loffer stole the ball and scored sending the Lady Pirates into the fourth quarter up 37-22.
The Lady Pirates may have had the lead, but their free throw shooting was off. Locust Grove shot 17 of 30 from the charity stripe. Late in the game, Wagoner got to within nine. Locust Grove managed to add to their score with a free throw.
With 3:40 to go, Neel passed to Freeman for two points making it 42-30. Neel followed with another assist on the next trip passed off to Jarrell for two more making it 44-30. Locust Grove went on to defeat Wagoner 50-34.
Locust Grove will be back in action Friday when the teams travel to Grove.
Locust Grove 50 Wagoner 34
W - 6 7 9 12 - 34
L - 12 11 14 13 - 50
L - Loffer 15, Freeman 14, Neel 8, King 7, Jarrell 6.
