VINITA - The Lady Pirates gave the reigning state champions a run for their money Thursday night on the Hornets’ home court. The game was tight going into the fourth, but Vinita pulled away and won 53-45.

Vinita scored first off a Breanna Jarrell foul. Jarrell answered back with a deuce to give the Lady Pirates a lead and followed with a second for good measure, setting the pace for a battle. Locust Grove’s defense only allowed nine points from the Hornets and points from Taylor Loffer and Jarrell had them behind by only two at the end of the first 9-7.

Erica King came out firing for two at the start of the second to tie up the game. A Balie Neel foul gave the Lady Hornets two from the line to put them back on top. Locust held Vinita to no more than a four-point deficit for the first half of the second period.

With 3:30 on the clock before half, Loffer sank a two pointer to tie the game back up. Vinita answered back with a two of their own but a Sabina Burton trey, the only of the game from Locust Grove, put the Lady Pirates back in the lead. By the buzzer, the Pirates was on top, 22-19.

Vinita was first to score coming from the break and the teams traded points in each of the first three possessions.

Courtney Freeman stole the ball that would lead to a King deuce to keep a lead going. Loffer had a two as well widening the game to five points, the greatest margin Locust Grove would hold in the game.

Vinita started a comeback late in the third and with 1:22 left in the period had the score tied at 30-30 and with their 7-0 run were back on top.

The game was a rough one. Jarrell and Freeman both had four fouls each by the end of the third and fouled out with more than two minutes left in the game.

A technical foul in the third gave Vinita a four point lead, 34-30 when they hit two of three from the line.

Locust wasn’t packed up yet though. Freeman hit two and Sarah Boren hit two points at the line, which tied the game back up with 42 seconds left in the third. Just seconds before the buzzer, Vinita sank two to give them the lead 36-34.

The fourth was just as much of a battle as the rest of the game. Freeman fired first to tie the game back up. The game would be tied one more time with free throws from Neel with 5:32 left on the clock.

Vinita had a 5-0 run to strengthen a lead and Locust Grove hit foul trouble in the last three and half minutes of the game. Vinita ended the game 53-45.

Loffer led the Lady Pirates with 12 points.



Vinita 53 Locust Grove 45

LG - 7 15 12 11 - 45

V - 9 10 17 17 - 53

LG - Taylor Loffer 12, Balie Neel 7, Courtney Freeman 7, Sabina Burton 7, Breanna Jarrell 6, Erica King 4, Sabina Burton 2.



3rd one point game goes to Vinita, 59-58



One point again.

The third match up between Locust Grove and Vinita ended the same as the first two, a one-point difference on the scoreboard. This time it was Vinita with the advantage, 59-58.

Vinita started out strong with a 12-4 run, sinking four back-to-back treys. Knott was the first on the board for Locust Grove and Stafford followed up with a pair of free throws. Conner had a deuce plus one to begin tearing away at Vinita’s lead. Houser and Knott followed up with a trey each and Ross sank two just before the end of the period, putting them up by one point, 15-14.

Vinita started the second with a two pointer and a trey to take over the lead. Conner tied things back up for the Pirates with just under three minutes left in the half. Stafford’s points put them two up but a Ross foul would give Vinita an opportunity at the line to match the points. Conner and Stafford would make trips to the line before the halftime buzzer and hit two. Locust Grove would lead 26-24 at the half.

The Pirates battled in the third to hang on to the lead. At one point, Locust Grove had as much as seven point advantage on Vinita. The Hornets worked to make that only a one point deficit going into the fourth.

Vinita started things off in the last period with a three, taking the lead that would hold. Locust fought back keeping the score tight and not allowing more than six points to stand between them and a win. 

C.J. Stafford hit two free throws with 25 seconds left to bring the Pirates within two at 58-56. Vinita got fouled and added a free throw to make it 59-56. Stafford added two on the other end to bring it to one, and Locust Grove sent Vinita to the line. The Hornets missed both free throws, but the Pirates couldn’t get the ball down court and lost it out of bounds to seal the victory for the Hornets.

Pud Ross led the Pirates with a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds. Stafford had 11 and Adrian Houser had 10. Nash Chamberlain led Locust Grove with 19.





Vinita 59 Locust Grove 58

LG - 15 11 17 15 - 58

V - 14 10 18 17 - 59

LG - Pud Ross 17, C.J. Stafford 11, Adrian Houser 10, Chase Knott 8, Trey Conner 8, Darrien Dawson 2, Kevin Pilant 2.

V - Chamberlain 19, Bullard 14, Roach 13, Ebbs 6, Colby 3, Hext 2, Skinner 2.



TULSA - Both Locust Grove teams stayed alive Friday with wins.

The Lady Pirates got a 42-32 win over Oologah.

Locust Grove had control the entire game, going up 12-5 after one, and led 17-11 at the break.

The Lady Pirates built their lead to 30-17 going into the fourth quarter.

King led Locust Grove with 14. Loffer and Jarrell had 10 apiece. Caitlin Linihan led Oologah with 12.

The Lady Pirates played Miami Saturday for a spot in the area tournament. See those results in Tuesday’s edition or check The Daily Times Sports Facebook fan page for the result.



Locust Grove 42 Oologah 32

LG - 12 5 13 12 - 42

O - 5 6 6 15 - 32

LG - Erica King 14, Taylor Loffer 10, Breanna Jarrell 10, Courtney Freeman 4, Balie Neel 2, Sabina Burton 2.

O - Linihan 12, McElhaney 6, Bailey 6, Ruark 5, Hensley 2, Dillman 1.



A big third quarter helped the Pirates pull away Friday over Tulsa Webster, 76-72.

The Pirates led 21-16 after one, but the game was knotted up 36-36 at the half.

Locust Grove outscored Webster 21-12 in the third, to take a 57-48 lead.

Ross had a monster game, scoring 33 points. Stafford had 14. Houser finished with 12.

Locust Grove played Oologah Saturday for a spot in the area tournament. See those results in Tuesday’s edition or check The Daily Times Sports Facebook fan page for results.



Locust Grove 76 Webster 72

LG - 21 15 21 19 - 76

W - 16 20 12 24 - 72

LG - Pud Ross 33, C.J. Stafford 14, Adrian Houser 12, Kevin Pilant 6, Justin Bailey 4, Chase Knott 4, Darrien Dawson 3.

W - Porter 26, Hawkins 17, Dillard 11, Lee 11, Dew 5, Roberson 2.