ADA-- Both Ponca City varsity basketball teams opened their seasons Thursday night--and they both went down to defeat.

In the Choctaw Nation East Central Oklahoma Tournament at Ada High School, the Lady Cats lost to Westmoore 50-42 and the Wildcats dropped a 61-50 decision to the Oklahoma City Storm.

Both teams were back in action Friday afternoon with the Lady Cats playing Durant and the Wildcats going up against Harrah.

GIRLS GAME

WESTMOORE 50, PONCA CITY 42

The Lady Cats started strong and finished strong, but it was the two middle quarters that spelled doom for them. Ponca City led Westmoore 13-8 after one quarter. But then Westmoore went on a run and Ponca City went ice cold. The Lady Jags of Westmoore outscored the Lady Cats 19-4 in the second period and then 17-6 in the third quarter to have a comfortable 21-point edge (44-23) at the end of three quarters.

Ponca City won the fourth quarter 19-6, but it was too little too late as far as the game’s outcome was to be.

In that first quarter, the Lady Cats were able to control the flow of the game and were able to get some of their shots to fall. But turnovers and cold shooting in the second quarter allowed Westmoore to go on a long run and take over the game’s momentum. Freshman Sarah DIngus scored all four of the Lady Cats second-quarter points, with a three-point basket and a free throw.

Ponca City junior Ashlynn Fincher scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to get her team off on the right foot. Fincher’s trey with 40 seconds left in the game cut the Westmoore lead to 10 points and then she hit a pair of free throw’s with 16 seconds left to cut the lead to single digits as 50-42. That finished the scoring.

Fincher had 17 points to lead Ponca City scoring. She was the only Lady Cat to finish in double digits.

It was the first game of the season for the Lady Cats and they were victim of first-game kind of mistakes. Westmoore was playing its seventh game. Thursday’s win gave Westmoore a 2-5 record.

WESTMOORE 50, PONCA CITY 42

Ponca City 13 4 6 19 -- 42

Westmoore 8 19 17 6 -- 50

Ponca City-- Ashlynn Fincher, 17, Trinity Regnier, 9; Emma Gertken, 5; Sarah Dingus, 4, Kyra Allison, 4; Carlie Badley, 3.

BOYS GAME

OKC STORM 61, PONCA CITY 50

A bombardment of threepoint baskets was more than enough for the Oklahoma City Storm to defeat the Ponca City Wildcats 61-50 Thursday. Whenever the Wildcats seemed poised to make a run against the Storm, the latter would come up with long range shots to take away any momentum that might be building up.

The Storm led almost all the way, with a 9-6 advantage after one quarter, a 19-13 lead at the half and 39-29 edge after three quarters. Ponca City scored 21 points in the final quarter, but the Storm poured in 22 for the final 11-point edge.

Besides the hot shooting of the Storm a contributing factor to the loss seemed to be turnovers, especially in transition, for the Wildcats. It was the first game for Ponca City and those kind of errors are typical for first-game performances. In comparison, it was the 13th game for the Storm who improved its record to 7-6. The Storm is a team of home-schooled athletes.

Despite of everything Ponca City had chances in the waning seconds of the game. The Wildcats trailed by eight with 2:54 left to play and again with 1:35 left on the clock.

Anthony Gazaway had a strong second half, getting 17 of his game-high 19 in the final 16 minutes of action. He was the only Wildcat to finish in double figures.

OKC STORM 61, PONCA CITY 50

Storm 9 10 20 22 -- 61

Ponca City 6 7 16 21 -- 50

Ponca City -- Anthony Gazaway, 19; Stevie Faulkner, 8; Grant Dye, 5; Isaac Valencia, 4; Collin Crandal, 4; Cully Porter, 2; Marshawn Webb, 2; Tyson Dewberry, 2.