BARTLESVILLE -- In a pair of games that were close from start to finish, the Ponca City Lady Cats defeated Bartlesville 42-39, but the Wildcats’ boys team lost 74-66 Tuesday night.

The games were nonconference affairs and were scheduled after the Ponca City teams lost all of December’s games due to response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Girls Game

After a bunch of lead changes, it was the team from Ponca City that held the lead when the final buzzer sounded, giving them a win by three points.

Bartlesville led at the half 22-19, but Ponca City took the lead shortly after the second half began. The Lady Cats had a one-point advantage, 31-30 at the end of three quarters.

Ashlynn Fincher hit two free throws with 13 seconds remaining in the game to give Ponca City the 42-39 advantage. In the final two minutes, Carlie Badley had made the score 38-36 with a pair of free throws. Bartlesville tied the score soon after, but Kyra Allison put Ponca City ahead by two, 40-38 with 54 seconds remaining. Bartlesville cut the lead to one with a free throw, but Fincher was able to draw the foul and hit the game cinching charity tosses.

Five points was the biggest lead either team enjoyed during the back-and-forth contest.

Emma Gertken was the leading Ponca City scorer finishing with 15 points. Badley’s 11 was the only other double-digit effort.

“Emma shot the ball well tonight,” Ponca City Coach Jody Fincher said. “Carlie did a good job inside and Ashlynn made some clutch free throws to help us get the win. Our young kids battled and our bench stepped up in the first half. It was a good win for our kids.”

The Lady Cats record is now 4-3 for the season. They are scheduled to play Mustang at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Union-Jenks Invitational at Tulsa Union High School

PONCA CITY 42, BARTLESVILLE 39

Ponca City 10 9 12 11 -- 42

Bartlesville 10 12 8 9 -- 39 Ponca City -- Emma Gertken, 15; Carlie Bad

Ponca City -- Emma Gertken, 15; Carlie Badley, 11; Ashlynn Fincher, 8; Sarah Dingus, 3; Kyra Allison, 2; Margaret Blackstar, 2.

Boys Game

The Bartlesville-Ponca City boys game was much closer than the final score might indicate. Bartlesville was able to pull away in the closing minuted of the game. The last Ponca City lead was 60-59 after a Steven Faulkner basket gave his team the advantage. From that point to the end, Bartlesville outscored the Wildcats 15-6 as the wheels came off for Ponca City.

Bartlesville rode the 43-point outburst by freshman David Castillo, who had a phenomenal night shooting the basketball.

Anthony Gazaway scored 21 to lead the Wildcats. Also in double figures were Grant Dye with 14 and Steven Faulkner with 13.

Ponca City led 22-18 at the end of the first quarter and 39-37 at the half. Bartlesville led 51-50 after three quarters.

“I thought we started the game really well and the energy was there,” Ponca City Coach Ivan McFarlin said. “We knew the task of making Castillo work for his points. The kid is very special and he made some tough baskets. Towards the tend, I felt that we were right there and calls were made and we lost our compossure. I know for sure the boys played hard, but we just have to finish games. It was a tough loss.”

Ponca City is now 3-4 on the season. The Wildcats are scheduled to play Del City at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Titan Classic at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City.

BARTLESVILLE 74, PONCA CITY 66

Ponca City 22 17 11 16 -- 66

Bartlesville 18 19 14 23 -- 74

Ponca City -- Anthony Gazaway, 21; Grant Dye, 14; Steven Faulkner, 13; Collin Crandall, 6; Culley Porter, 6; Marshawn Webb, 4; Brooks Revard, 2.