KEYS — With only a 2 point lead coming out of halftime, Sequoyah girls basketball had some work to do in the second half.
With the Keys Lady Cougars surging, Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Lady Indians found their footing in the early minutes of the second half to extend their lead. The Lady Indians rattled off the first 8 points of the second half to secure a 46-36 win in front of a rowdy crowd in Keys.
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“I’m excited that we won, it’s a huge rivalry game; very intense on both sides,” SHS coach Justin Brown said. “For us to come out on top with this great environment, I thought it was fantastic.”
Coming into the game, both teams knew it was going to be a fight. SHS was ranked No. 2 in 3A and the Lady Cougars came into the game ranked No. 8 in 3A.
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Sequoyah’s Tylee Ford plays defense on Keys’ Payton Zodrow, Tuesday, Dec. 16.
With both student sections packed the game was a fight from the first quarter. With the Lady Indians holding a narrow 6-5 lead, they started surging. Points from Benni Lamb, Emma Culie and Prairie Holmes moved the lead to 12-6 with about two minutes left in the quarter. With time running out in the quarter, Paizlee Zodrow hit some free throws to cut the lead to 14-9 heading into the second quarter.
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In the second quarter, the two teams started by trading baskets before the Zodrow sisters stole the momentum. Baskets from Paizlee and Payton Zodrow to close out the quarter put KHS down 21-19.
Coming out of halftime, the Lady Indians were rolling on offense. Lamb started the quarter hot, picking up 6 quick points. Another from Culie quickly stretched the Lady Indians’ lead to 10 points.
“That run at the start of the third quarter gave us some momentum,” Brown said. “They did what good teams do and answered; they got some points back on us, but then we were solid down the stretch.”
After taking the lead midway through the third quarter, the Lady Indians didn’t give it back despite a strong effort from the Lady Cougars.
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“That one wasn’t necessarily down in the water, but we played right with them for most of the game,” Keys coach Kruz Lynch said. “Something that Sequoyah has just made them tough to beat. It comes down to our depth; they’re rolling at least 10 players out there, that’s why they’re number two in the state.”
Paizlee Zodrow led the game with 17 points. Holmes led the Lady Indians with 12 points, while Kobey Kirk added 11 points.
Both teams are back in action at the Northeastern State University Festival starting Thursday, Dec. 18.
