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By: Chris Evans
The Guthrie Lady Jays have been there before. Unfortunately, again, the result comes with a loss.
Guthrie had two shots in the final moments, of overtime, to win the game, but came up short in a 32-31 loss to the Chickasha Lady Chicks to open the 2008-2009 season.
A year ago in the area finals, Altus's Kiondra Harris hit the winning shot with :03 left to end the Lady Jays season. Only this time, Guthrie had the chances, but Njemile Miro's and Jessica Peacock's shots just missed as time ran out.
Guthrie outscored Chickasha 8-3 in the fourth quarter to push the extra period. The Lady Chicks led 30-23 before Guthrie would go on a 6-0 run. Senior Brittany Berryman hit a 3-point shot to pull within one, 30-29, with 1:28 to play. Miro, 26 seconds later, hit a shot to give Guthrie a 31-30 lead, but Eisha Irby connected on 1 of 2 free throw's to tie the game and to send it into overtime.
Guthrie and Chickasha combined had over 50 turnover's in the game. Guthrie shot 28% from the field and Chickasha shot 33%. That was not the story in the first half for the Lady Jays. Guthrie was 8 of 16 shooting in the first half, but slipped in the second half by making 5 of 30 shots from the field. Meanwhile, Chickasha was 7 of 24 in the first half and 7 of 18 in the second half.
Chickasha picks up their first win of the season and are now 1-3 while the Lady Jays are 0-1.
Peacock led all scorers in the game with 10 points and adding five rebounds. Sophomore forward Allyson Chadd was named the A-Always Storage Player of the Game with 7 points and 16 rebounds.
Miro added 5 points, Alexis Daniels contributed with 4 points, and Berryman and Jill Davis each had three.
Guthrie head coach Terry Carris was upset with the amount of turnovers and free throw shooting. His team was 4 of 14 from the line, but the Lady Jays must regroup as they get set for a run of three games in three days in the Duncan Tournament beginning on Thursday when they start play with 13th ranked Lawton MacArthur. Tip time is set for 5:30.
Lawton Mac a season ago was 13-11 and return two starters from a team who likes to push the ball up the floor. The Lady Highlanders got their first victory of the season Tuesday with a 39-29 win over the Oklahoma City Storm.
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