By DAVID MILLER

News Sports Writer

TULSA — The Ponca City Lady Cats' bid to earn a spot in the Class 6A State Tournament for the second consecutive year came to an end Thursday with Norman North playing the role of villain.

The Lady Timberwolves outlasted the Lady Cats 44-34 in an Area Tournament elimination game played at Daniel Webster High in Tulsa.

North led much of the way, but couldn't completely shake the determined Ponca City team. The final 10-point lead was the game's biggest margin.

Ponca City was without the services of starting post player Lauren Vetters, who suffered a concussion in Saturday's loss to Jenks.

Vetters was not cleared for play Thursday and likely would have not been available Saturday had the Lady Cats won.

In her place, junior Taylor Prado got the starting nod and she did a credible job filling in. Prado finished the game with six points and got several important rebounds.

North had some success early from the outside, with junior guard Hayley Scott draining a couple of three-point baskets. But the inside game was on track in the early going as well as the Lady Timberwolves largest players, 6-foot-2 Mariah Turner and 6-1 Andee Wayne combined for another six points.

The first quarter ended with North leading 14-8.

Ponca City made a move in the second quarter and actually led 17-16 at one spot in the period. Unfortunately for the Lady Cats, North scored the next six points to take a 22-7 by the end of the first half. Wayne had five of the six points, a surprising three-pointer from behind the free-throw circle and one from close in.

Both teams scored 11 points is the third quarter, but Ponca City pulled to within three points on two occasions.

The Lady Timberwolves were able to control the flow of the game in the fourth quarter, forcing Ponca City to foul near the end of the game. It was then that they were able to pad the lead to the final 10-point difference.

Senior Emily Berwaldt led the Lady Cats' scoring with 12 points and senior Mica Havens scored 10. The two, along with senior guard Amber Kremeier closed out their Po-Hi careers Thursday.

The loss put a period on the Lady Cats' season in which they won 18 games and lost 7.

"It is very disappointing (to lose)," Ponca City coach Dwight Winburn said. "You work hard all season with certain goals and expectations, so it is difficult to see it all end the way it has."

"But I thought the girls played hard and did the best they could under the circumstances," he said.

He went on to say that North had his team in a predicament in terms of handling the Lady Timberwolves height inside and at the same time containing their perimeter shooters.

"They hit better from the perimeter than at any other time in the playoffs," he said. "I thought we did a decent job cutting off their inside game. But we didn't expect No. 11 (Scott) to hit those threes. They broke our back. She played better than she had all season."

"Overall we had a great season. Anytime you can go 18-7 you have had a good year," he said.

Winburn's teams have compiled a 36-17 record in the two years he has been the Ponca City head coach.

North stayed alive in the playoffs and will play Owasso Saturday for a berth in the state tournament.

NORMAN NORTH 44,

PONCA CITY 34

Ponca City 8 9 11 6 — 34

Norman North 14 8 11 11 — 44

Ponca City — Emily Berwaldt, 12; Mica Havens, 10; Taylor Prado, 6; Amber Kremeier, 4; Jordan Hull, 2.

Norman North — Hayley Scott, 14; Andee Wayne, 12; Mariah Turner, 11; Tori Thomas, 5; Carly Young, 2.