MANNFORD — Three nights, three towns, one word: Grit.
If you’re looking for pretty basketball, you might want to head to cable television.
If you’re looking for winning basketball, follow the Mannford Lady Pirates’ bus around.
Three road games in four nights. Different gyms. Different whistles. Different atmospheres.
Same result: Win, win, and win. And if you’ve watched this group long enough, you know it’s not about style points.
It’s about staying power — attrition. Tuesday of last week, the ladies brought the usual slow burn to Sperry.
Mannford came out like a diesel engine in January — slow to turn over, slower to warm up.
Tied 14-14 after one. Down 32-23 at halftime. Head Coach Nathan Reed summed it up after the game.
“Slow starts have been an issue for our team and tonight was another one,” he admitted. “We made adjustments and executed in the half court well to pull off the win though.”
The Lady Pirates pulled off a 34-point second half and a 57-46 win.
Addison Pehrson did her thing — 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists. She’s part scorer, part traffic cop, 100-percent problem for opposing coaches.
Sophomore guard Marin Chapman added 15 points and six assists — and if you’ve been watching the ladies lately, you know that wasn’t a fluke. It was intentional. Calm. Controlled.
Junior Adley Elliott dominated, pouring in 13 points and grabbing six boards. Freshman sister Ashlyn Elliott chipped in seven with four assists and four rebounds. Ella Maxville knocked in three.
The Ladies chalked 16 assists as a team and when the ball moves, good things follow.
“Getting 15 from our sophomore guard, Marin, was huge tonight to go along with Addi’s 19,” Reed said. “It was a good way to start off our three road games this week.”
Start. Not finish.
Thursday, a trip south to Bristow
Bristow never rolls out a red carpet for the Mannford Pirates — they are Pirates themselves.
This one became a grinder from the opening tip. Mannford led 11-7 after one, 2014 at half, and methodically stretched it to 47-35 by the final horn.
Addison Pehrson turned in one of those stat lines that makes you check your math: 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Score. Defend. Erase mistakes.
“Every girl that stepped on the floor chipped in,” Reed said. “We had a huge performance by Addi tonight in every facet of the ball game.”
Adley Elliott performed as well. She added nine points and seven rebounds. Ashlyn Elliott scored six. Marin Chapman added three with three rebounds. Emma McCrackin, Ella Maxville and Bella Gilbert each chipped in three. Lexi Lovekamp added three boards.
No one sulked. No one coasted. No one looked tired. That’s not a flex — that’s culture.
Friday: Comeback at Cleveland
Then they went to Cleveland.
And Cleveland was ready. The Lady Tigers were up 13-9 after one. Up 29-19 at half. And still gripping a precarious, 38-35 lead going into the fourth.
You could feel things tightening. You could also feel something else — resolve.
“Grit,” the coach said. “That’s the word I would use to describe our team this year.”
The Lady Pirates outscored Cleveland 18-8 in the final quarter and walked out of the stunned gymnasium as 53-46 winners.
Freshman Ashlyn Elliott had the night of her young career — double-digit points and three steals, shooting with confidence and defending without hesitation.
“We had a big night from our freshman Ashlyn, pouring in 16 for a career high,” the coach said. “I’m really proud of these girls.”
Adley Elliott posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, owning the paint when it mattered most.
Emma McCrackin added 10 points, five boards and three assists — quiet work that doesn’t always make noise but wins games.
Addison Pehrson contributed nine points, five rebounds and four assists. Lexi Lovekamp grabbed five rebounds and added two points. Bella Gilbert chipped in two. Marin Chapman added a point and five boards.
And here’s the stat that wins games in February and March: Six turnovers. Six. On the road. In a rivalry game.
“We got down early tonight, didn’t waver and stayed the course,” Reed said. “We stayed together as a team and came out on top.”
That’s not highlight-reel basketball (although there was plenty of that). That’s playoff basketball.
Four nights. Three towns. Three tests. Three W’s.
The Lady Pirates didn’t look 100-percent perfect. They looked together.