MANNFORD — the time the dust settled Saturday night, the Mannford Lady Pirates weren’t just 15-8, they were district champions.
As winners of five of their last six games, this group is carrying good momentum into regional territory.
But let’s start with the punch in the nose.
Verdigris 51, Mannford 42
Sometimes, there’s a heavyweight on your schedule to help you find out exactly who you are.
Mannford trailed early — 10 - 6 after one — and spent the rest of the night clawing uphill against a tough Verdigris squad. The Lady Pirates battled, but couldn’t close the gap in a 51-42 loss.
Addison Pehrson was everywhere — 16 points, 4 assists, 4 blocks and 3 rebounds — protecting the rim and igniting offense. Adley Elliott did what Adley Elliott does. She went to work on the glass with 13 rebounds and added 9 points. Ella Maxville matched that 9-point effort, while Ashlyn Elliott muscled in 4 points and 8 rebounds.
Emma McCrackin handed out 3 assists with 2 points and 3 boards. Lexi Lovekamp chipped in 2.
It wasn’t the final Mannford wanted. But, according to Head Coach Nathan Reed, it may have been the one they needed.
Reed didn’t sugarcoat that either, “Having this game added on our schedule was good for us in a lot of ways, despite the outcome. We played hard and fought against a tough team. It was a learning experience moving forward into the playoffs. Hopefully we can hit our stride and make a deep run in the postseason.”
Hit their stride? Oh, they hit it alright.
Mannford 65, Tulsa Central 0
District Championship Some games are competitive. Some games are instructional.
Some games are a fullscale, play-the-entire-bench clinic.
Mannford, hosting the district title game, walked onto their floor and delivered a defensive performance that will echo for a while — 23-0 after one quarter. 42-0 at halftime. 55-0 after three. Final: 65-0.
That zero’s not a typo. That’s a district championship exclamation point.
Pehrson poured in 17 points and punched in 5 steals. Maxville added 11 points and 4 steals. Marin Chapman was a defensive menace with 5 steals to go with 8 points. Adley Elliott worked inside for 8 points and 6 rebounds.
Alyssa McCrackin added 6. Maddie Wenzel had 4 points and 5 rebounds. Kaedeyence Legare chipped in 4 and had 6 boards. Jayden Caruthers controlled the paint with 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 points.
Emma McCrackin added 2 points, 4 steals and 3 assists. Jalynn Roper scored 2. Jenna Jenkins scored 2. Ashlyn Elliott ripped away 5 steals and grabbed 3 rebounds. Lovekamp cleaned up 5 boards.
It wasn’t just defense. It was collective suffocation. Ball pressure. Hands in passing lanes. Bodies on the floor. Everyone played — a full-team effort that left no oxygen in the gym.
Reed called it what it was.
“This is the first step towards what our goal is during these playoffs. Fullteam effort tonight. Regional tournament up next and I believe this team is ready for whatever we have to face next.”
District champions. Five wins in six games. A team that learned from a tough loss and answered by locking the rim and throwing away the key.
Next stop: Regional Tournament.
Tuesday night, 6 p.m., at North Rock Creek, against North Rock Creek. They are ranked 14th in 4A, are 14-, and are district champions.
Predators, hunting predators — it’s gonna be a good one.