WARNER — The Roland Lady Rangers almost handed the Quinton Lady Savages their first loss of the season in the finals of the inaugural Warner Eagles Classic on Saturday night at Warner Event Center. However, it wasn’t meant to be.
The Lady Savages overcame a 14-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to force overtime tied at 40-all, then outscored the Lady Rangers 10-7 in the extra session to complete the Quinton girls’ comeback victory 50-47 to claim the title. The Lady Rangers (13-3) came in second.
The Lady Rangers reached Saturday night’s title game with a 64-28 win over McCurtain in Thursday’s openinground game, then got past Davis 38-29 in Friday afternoon’s championship semifinals.
In Saturday night’s finals, the Lady Rangers had a 17-8 lead after a period, a 24-16 advantage at the break and a 33-19 lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Lady Savages (17-0), ranked No. 3 in Class A, outscored the Lady Rangers 21-7 in the final period to force overtime tied at 40-all. Quinton then outscored Roland 10-7 in the OT to complete the come-from-behind victory — and stay unbeaten this season.
In defeat, Lilly Medicine Bird scored 16 points and Halle Freeman added 12 points to lead Roland, followed by Ryanne Nelke with nine points, Kynlei Earnhart with six points and Haven Freeman with four points.
In Thursday’s win, the Lady Rangers doubled the Lady Bulldogs 16-8 in the first quarter, then outscored McCurtain 17-7 in the second period for a 33-15 halftime lead.
For the game, Nelke scored a game-high 18 points, Medicine Bird had 13 points and Haven Freeman added 11 points to lead Roland, which put a trio of players into double figures. Halle Freeman and Jaclyn Teehee each scored seven points, followed by Earnhart with six points and Julianna Trujillo with two points.
In Friday’s victory, the Lady Wolves (143) took an 11-9 lead on a 3-point basket by Preslee Hunt put Davis ahead 11-9 with 259 left in the first quarter. That was the last time Davis would lead.
Roland went on a 7-0 run, capped by Medicine Bird’s basket with 19 seconds remaining in the period, to take a 1611 lead. A buzzer-beater by Davis player Mattie Morton cut Roland’s advantage to 16-13 entering the second quarter.
It was the second period in which the Lady Rangers took control of the game as they outscored the Lady Wolves 10-2 to take a 26-15 halftime lead.
For the game, Medicine Bird led Roland with 10 points, followed by Haven Freeman with nine points, Earnhart with eight points, Halle Freeman with five points and Nelke with four points.
