Back-to-back home losses have Lady Huskies hunting

Pawhuska High School’s Lady Huskies looked to shake off some early-season ailments as they took to the court Tuesday in the Nowata Invitational Basketball Tournament.

The local female hoopsters also were hoping notch their first-ever victory for first-year head coach Lauri Shatswell following two lackluster outings to open the 2015-16 campaign. Newkirk feasted on Lady Huskie turnovers during the Thursday opener, while Perry capitalized on free-throw opportunities in Friday’s battle.

Six three-pointers fueled a big second-quarter run for the Lady Maroons, who used their superior free-throw shooting to hold off their PHS hostesses, 56-45, at Oren Terrill Field House. While the Pawhuskans connected on just six of 22 attempts from the free throw line, the Friday night visitors knocked down 15 of their 21 tries.

The score was tied three times early and again (at 18-18) three minutes into the second quarter before the Lady Maroon then reeled off a dozen unanswered points. Pawhuska trailed by as many as 20 before battling back to outscore the visitors, 13-7, in the final period.

“The majority of our problems have been self-inflicted — that was the worst part,” Shatswell said, noting that her squad had shot free throws considerably better in the opener by hitting eight of their 13 attempts.

The Lady Huskies held a solid edge on the boards Friday as they collected 42 rebounds compared to Perry’s 24. Pawhuska rebounders gobbled 22 at the offensive end, which helped boost the home team’s number of field-goal attempts to 57. The Lady Huskies made 18 of 57 shots (30%) from the field and hit three of 12 from bonus range.

Seniors Keylee Kirk and Kailee Hambright led the Pawhuska attack. Kirk scored 12 points and had eight rebounds. Hambright snagged a game-high 10 rebounds to go with 11 points.

Despite being in early foul trouble, junior center Sydney Sellers contributed six points and nine rebounds, while making four steals and blocking two shots. High-octane sophomore Kyleigh Riebel scored eight points, had four rebounds and made five steals.

Six different girls combined to hit Perry’s nine three-pointers. The Lady Maroons launched 19 long-range shots and made 16 of 39 field-goal tries. Guard Jessica Vernard’s game-leading 18 points included a pair of treys and six-for-seven accuracy on free throws.

Lady Huskie comeback hopes were negatively impacted by the loss of Mya Hambright, who was sidelined after ending up at the bottom of a pileup following a loose-ball scramble with a minute left in the third period.

Class 2A Pawhuska and 3A Perry are both members of the 89er East Conference. The Lady Huskies opened the 2015-16 hoops campaign Thursday night against another conference foe, Newkirk. The 3A-class Lady Tigers took advantage of PHS turnovers to slowly pull away escape with a 52-36 triumph.

Kailee Hambright netted 19 points versus Newkirk, while Kirk added 7. Three Newkirk starters scored in double figures and a fourth tallied nine.

Pawhuska’s girls were to open play at Nowata Tournament with a 4 p.m. Tuesday showdown against the Mannford Lady Pirates. A victory would put the Lady Huskies in a winners-bracket game at 4 p.m. Thursday. (If they lost, their next would be at 4 p.m. Friday.)

Next week, the Lady Huskies and Huskies will be in the Express Bank Invitational Tournament at Sperry. The PHS girls are to play Class 4A’s No. 16-ranked Berryhill Maidens at 7 p.m. Monday. Pawhuska’s boys will meet Glenpool in Monday’s 8:30 p.m. contest.

PERRY 56, PAWHUSKA 45

Lady Maroons: 15 - 20 - 14 - 7 — 56

Lady Huskies: 11 - 12 - 9 - 13 — 45

Perry Lady Maroon (1-1) — Jessica Vernard 18, Maddie Dwyer 11, Addie Shields 11, Zoe Freeman 6, Gina Wilson 4, Kris Pierce 3, Kim Richards 3. Head coach: Ron Dwyer.

Pawhuska Lady Huskies (0-2) — Keylee Kirk 12, Kailee Hambright 11, Sydney Sellers 6, Mya Hambright 3, Sarah Phillippi 2, Kyleigh Riebel 8, Genie Herren 3, Star Sweeden 0, Darienne Frye 0, Sierra Sellers 0. Coach: Lauri Shatswell.

NEWKIRK 52, PAWHUSKA 36

Lady Tigers: — x - x - x - x - 52

Lady Huskies: x - x - x - x — 36

Newkirk Lady Tigers (1-0) — Coltyn Harrin 14, Emily Elliott 12, McKenna Pulley 12, Katelyn Schieber 9, Kari Watters 3, Halie Hawkins 2. Head coach: Mark Huster.

Pawhuska Lady Huskies (0-1) — Kailee Hambright 19, Keylee Kirk 7, Sydney Sellers 4, Mya Hambright 2, Sarah Phillippi 2, Sierra Sellers 2. Head coach: Lauri Shatswell.