SALINA - A 32-point performance by Locust Grove’s C.J. Stafford led the Pirates to a 55-22 win over Salina Tuesday night in Salina. The Salina Lady Wildcats got the rivalry win over Locust Grove with the help of a 20-point game by sophomore Courtney Backward. Salina defeated the Lady Pirates 45-35.

In the late game, Locust Grove took a one-point lead in the first quarter. Stafford had five of the Pirates nine points in the first quarter. He was on fire in the second quarter hitting four three pointers. His aerial assault left the Wildcats down 32-12 at the end of the half.

Stafford busted three more three point shots after the break before he was relieved for the night. Stafford totaled 32 points, 24 of those from behind the arch. 

Locust Grove went on to beat the Wildcats 55-22.

Stafford wasn’t the only Pirate to hit double digits. Adrian Houser scored 10 points in the game. Salina was led by Dillon Manchell and Ty Thompson with eight points each.



LG 55 Salina 22

L - 9 23 14 9 - 55

S - 8 4 8 2 - 22

L - C.J. Stafford 32, Adrian Houser 10, Pud Ross 4, Cale Fine 3, Nathan Forrest 2, Justin Bailey 2, Robert Shelley 2. S - Dillon Manchell 8, Ty Thompson 8, Jake Johnson 4, Ty Stewart 2.



Lady Wildcats improve to 3-0



In the early game, the Lady Wildcats faced off with the Lady Pirates. The game was neck and neck until early in the fourth quarter when Salina began to slowly pull away.

Locust Grove took the early lead in the first quarter going up 7-2. A three point shot by Kayla Morgan followed by a steal and basket by Backward narrowed the Lady Pirates lead to two. Sabina Burton later scored for the Lady Pirates but the shot was countered by Morgan’s three point shots giving the Lady Wildcats their first lead of the game. At the end of the first quarter Salina held a one point lead.

The rivals continued to battle in the second quarter giving up very few points. At the end of the half Salina was up 17-15.

Locust Grove’s Sarah Boren kicked off the third quarter with a three-point shot to put the Lady Pirates up 18-17.  

Later with the game tied at 22, Morgan busted a three that was answered back by Boren’s three to tie the game 25-25. The two teams traded baskets, keeping the game close. At the end of the third quarter it was tied 27-27.

The fourth quarter was the decision maker with Backward busting three treys for her Wildcat team. The first three point shot came early in the fourth quarter to give Salina a 30-27 lead. The second came at the 6:48 mark, helping keep Salina just ahead of the Lady Pirates.

Up by one, Backward hit her third three point shot to put Salina up by four. That four points continued to grow as time ticked off the clock. The Lady Wildcats went on to win 45-35.

Backward led all scorers with 20 in the game. Her teammate Morgan added 14 points. Locust Grove was lead by Balie Neel’s eight points.



Salina 45 LG 35

L - 12 3 12 8 - 45

S - 13 4 10 18 - 55

L - Balie Neel 8, Breanna Jarrell 7, Sarah Boren 6, Erica King 5, Courtney Freeman 3, Taylor Loffer 2, Sabina Burton 2. S - Courtney Backward 20, Kayla Morgan 14, Whitley Gann 4, Kindra Swafford 3, Reesa Cowan 2, Erin Jordan 2.