MANNFORD — February doesn’t whisper. It shouts, exposes and decides.
The Lady Pirates felt all of it in four days. On Tuesday — regional semis — they lit up the scoreboard. On Saturday — regional final — they sailed into a tempest. But they’re still breathing — and heading to Kellyville with the entire season on the line.
Regional semifinal:
Mannford 69, North Rock Creek 59 The Lady Pirates didn’t blink. 14–13 after one 27–22 at half. 45–36 after three. 69–59 when it was over. They didn’t panic. They didn’t splinter. They played Lady Pirate basketball.
“We stayed the course and worked as a team, and when you play for each other good things come,” head coach Nathan Reed said after the game. “We got the ball to go in the hoop today and that helps a lot! Some big time offensive performances with three girls in double figures, another with nine, and we dished out fifteen assists as a team. Now we have earned the opportunity to compete in a regional final.”
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s execution by his entire team.
Addison Pehrson was on fire — 27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. She didn’t only score; she controlled the rhythm. Marin Chapman from out of nowhere added 14.
Freshman Ashlyn Elliott poured in 12. Sister Adley Elliott flirted with a double-double — 9 points, 10 rebounds. Lexi Lovekamp muscled in 4 points and 8 boards. Jayden Caruthers chipped in 3.
Emma McCrackin didn’t need baskets to dominate the box score — 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
Fifteen assists as a team. That’s ball movement and trust. The Pirates earned a regional final. But so did No. 6 Kingfisher.
Regional final:
Kingfisher 51, Mannford 31 Regional play can be ruthless. Four points in the first quarter; ten at half; 19 after three; 31 when it was over.
Kingfisher stung early and never let Mannford breathe. “It sucks to lose, but this time of year everything is magnified,” Reed said. “Kingfisher was the better team. We turned the ball over too many times and played right into their hands. The effort was there from us, I never have to question that. Things need to get cleaned up on our end, because next week we get another chance to accomplish our goals.”
There it is. No question about effort, just a need for better execution. Pehrson still fought — 18 points, 3 rebounds. Chapman added 6. Adley Elliott battled for 4 points and 11 rebounds. Ashlyn Elliott had 3 points and 3 assists. Emma McCrackin ripped away 3 steals.
But turnovers fueled Kingfisher’s engine, in this time of the season, turnovers are costly.
But, here’s the headline that matters most to the Mannford Lady Pirates— they are not done. The girls head to the Area Tournament in Kellyville. The math is dangerous and simple — win and you live, lose and go home.
They play Thursday, 6 p.m. in Kellyville against 13-12 Skiatook.
Win that, they play Friday at 1 p.m. Win again, Saturday at 6 p.m.
Three days. No margin. They know who they are… This group has already shown it can hammer in 69 when the ball moves. It has already shown it can weather pressure. Just fill in the small cracks, avoid the turnovers, that become fractures against disciplined teams.
The Lady Pirates are still sailing and it’s storm season.