TULSA -- Despite losing their top scorer midway through the third quarter, the Ponca City Lady Cats made a game of it before losing to Jenks 53-45 Thursday night.

The two teams were playing in the opening round of the Class 6A Regional Tournament at Booker T. Washington High School.

Lady Cat senior Emma Gertken, the team’s top scorer this season, left the game with an injury in the third period and did not return to action. It appeared that Jenks would ease its way to a win at that point, pushing its lead to 14 (44-30) at the end of the quarter and then expanded that lead to 16 in the fourth quarter. But the Lady Cats kept fighting and got within 6 points late in the fourth quarter, before Jenks was able to close out the game.

Jenks opened the game with a three-pointer only to have Ponca City respond to take a 4-3 lead. The Lady Cats held on to their lead and were ahead 11-7 after one quarter. Jenks took the lead about four minutes into the second period and never trailed after that. Jenks had a 25-21 advantage at the half.

Gertken had 13 points when she left the game. Kyra Allison, who took up the scoring slack late in the game, finished with 22 points to lead the Lady Cats.

The loss ends Ponca City’s season. The Lady Cats finish with an 11-13 mark. They were the ninth ranked team in the East Region of Class 6A while Jenks was ranked eighth. Jenks, now 14-9, will play Booker T. Washington in the Regional Finals Saturday. Ponca CIty’s boys team was scheduled to play Putnam City North at North Friday night.

“I am really proud of this team,” Ponca City Coach Jody Fincher said. “The fight they have shown throughout the year was inspiring. They improved as much as any team that I’ve coached. I hated for Emma to end her career as a Lady Cat the way she did, but so proud of her and her leadership. We are going to miss her next year.’

Ponca City 11 10 9 15 -- 45 Jenks 7 18 19 9 -- 53 Ponca City -- Kyra Allison, 22; Emma Gertken, 13; Kaytum Lively, 4; Sarah Dingus, 3; Jenna Northcutt, 3.

JENKS 53, PONCA CITY 45 CLASS 6A GIRLS SCORES

Sand Springs 58, Stillwater 43 Yukon 61, Putnam City 42 Jenks 53, Ponca City 45 Moore 56, Putnam City North 44 Broken Arrow 69, Westmoore 56 Norman North 53, Southmoore 34 Mustang 61, Edmond Santa Fe 40 Owasso 51, Deer Creek 37 Choctaw 71, Bartlesville 56 Midwest City 83, U. S. Grant 26 Booker T. Washington 69, Tulsa Union 49 Norman 71, Muskogee 32 Edmond Memorial 92, Lawton 6 Bixby 76, Enid 21 Putnam City West 93, NW Classen 18 Edmond North 97, Capitol Hill 3