INOLA — For a few electric minutes in the second quarter, the Inola Indoor Sports Arena belonged entirely to Makiah Barnett.
The senior exploded for 11 points in the frame, finishing a 3-point play and burying back-to-back 3-pointers that sent the Inola bench into a frenzy. When Izzy Helling followed with three-straight free throws moments later, the Lady Longhorns had built a 28-19 lead and seemed to be in complete command of Monday night’s Jerry Oquin Tournament opener.
Advertisement
However, the spark that Barnett created wasn’t enough to withstand Victory Christian’s tidal wave after halftime.
The Lady Conquerors answered with a 20-6 run, capped by 11-consecutive points, to seize a permanent lead at 39-34, and eventually pulled away for a 63-50 win behind a barrage of outside shooting and relentless second-chance scoring.
Victory Christian [2-0] hit 8 3-pointers, forced 20 Inola turnovers and closed the game by outscoring the Lady Longhorns 44-22 over the final 20 minutes.
Despite the loss, Barnett delivered one of the best individual halves of the young season, finishing with 17 points and 6 rebounds, while Helling posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. Tessa Groff added 9 points, including a big third-quarter 3 that briefly halted Victory’s momentum, and Megan Bell chipped in 7 points and 6 rebounds.
Advertisement
Inola [2-1] actually won the rebounding battle 36-32, including a 14-13 edge on the offensive glass, but could not overcome the turnovers and the Lady Conquerors’ timely shot-making.
After leading 14-13 at the end of one quarter, the Lady Longhorns surged ahead further behind Barnett’s eruption and took a 32-27 lead into halftime.
Barnett opened the third with two more free throws for a 7-point advantage, the last comfortable margin Inola would hold.
Victory Christian’s shooters then took control.
Riley Johnston drilled a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers, Eliana Linn scored 9 of her 12 points after halftime and Kinsley McLaughlin battled inside for 10 points and 4 boards. Vianna Coleman also scored 12, fueling both momentum-changing runs that flipped the game.
Advertisement
Linn’s burst early in the fourth quarter — a 3-pointer and 4 free throws — stretched the margin to double digits, and an Eden Edwards triple pushed the Lady Conquerors ahead by 14 at 55-41, their largest lead.
The Lady Longhorns fought back with late buckets from Helling, Pratt and a Bell 3-pointer, but the damage was done.
Inola will move to the consolation bracket, where it will play Stilwell at 4 p.m. Friday, while Victory Christian plays Collinsville at 6 p.m. Thursday.
