The Checotah Lady Wildcats fell to the Muldrow Bulldogs Friday night 51-39. Checotah started the game with great perimeter shooting as they had three different players – Sidney Hamilton, Shyanna Madewell and Kami Hamm, each hitting three-pointers while Ruby Folkner scored from the baseline to tail Muldrow 17-13 to end the first period. The second period was a great defensive battle as both teams forced multiple turnovers.
The Lady Bulldogs played very physical and at times too physical as they committed fouls on Checotah that sent the Lady Wildcats to the free-throw line.
Hailey Prince, Folkner, Hamilton and Madewell each went to the foul line but only made three out of eight opportunities.
Kayla and Kilah Ellingberg led Muldrow with great shots in the paint.
Muldrow led 26-21 at the halftime break and came out of intermission focused as they outscored Checotah 16-7 in the third period. Maysi Fields scored 10 points by herself in the third period.
The Lady Wildcats played their way back with scores by Logan Dowdy, Madewell and Prince to trail 42-28.
The Bulldogs defensive effort was outstanding as they held the Lady Wildcats to just two players scoring in the final period, with Hamm and Madewell combining for all of Checotah’s 11 points in the fourth period.
Shyanne Madewell led Checotah with 21 points, Dowdy added four, Hamm six, Hamilton four and Folkner finished with five points.
Sallisaw cruises to victory over Checotah
The Sallisaw Lady Black Diamonds cruised to a 58-29 victory over the Checotah Lady Wildcats. It was a tough road test for the Lady Wildcats as they struggled offensively against the aggressive Lady Black Diamonds. Sallisaw forced multiple turnovers and led 7-2 to end the first period. However, Sallisaw took advantage of the Checotah line-up and began to hit long perimeter shots while making their free throws, which was the difference in the game. Sallisaw outscored Checotah 23-8 and led 3010 at the halftime break with Katelyn Carlton, Alayna Tomwell and Emma Martin scoring almost at will.
The Lady Black Diamonds’ defense began to shut down Checotah point guard Shyanne Madewell, who was held scoreless in the second half of the game. Checotah head coach Wes Cloud did see some positive effort by Kami Hamm, Jaz Atkins, Ruby and Ruthy Folkner in the fourth period while seeing Sidney Hamilton, and Hamm both scoring long perimeter shots and Hailey Prince scoring from the free-throw line.
Sallisaw managed to hold off the Wildcats’ surge to win 58-29. Kami Hamm led Checotah with seven points, Hamilton and Madewell each had five and Atkins and Folkner each finished with four points.