The score was even 36-36 at the end of the third quarter.  When the chips were down, Ponca City was able to pull away a little in the final period to win by nine.

Both teams showed a lot of defensive mettle, and the quickness of the Midwest City team made the Lady Cats work especially hard.  But Ponca City exhibited enough patience and good team work to get some easy baskets in the final period.  That proved to be the difference in the game.

Scoring was fairly balanced for the Lady Cats with senior Ryley Beard leading the way with 16 points.  Karis Bransetter, with 12, and Carlie Badley, with 10 also reached double figures.

Senior playmaker Baylee Fincher had seven points, but she had tons of assists with passes to open players.

The Lady Cats hit 14 of 16 free throws which were crucial to the winning effort.  Midwest City was the higher ranked team coming in at No. 12 while Ponca City is ranked No. 18.  The Lady Cats improved their record to 14-6 while Midwest City is now 12-6.

In the boys game the No. 4 ranked Midwest City Bombers had a hot hand from the outset and quickly built a big lead.  The Bombers had a 32-7 advantage by the end of the first quarter and then led 48-16 at the half.  They added 10 more to the lead in the third quarter pushing the score to 57-25.

Ponca City played Lawton a lot closer on Saturday and Lawton had beaten Midwest City earlier in the season.

The Wildcats still were without a couple of starters±— Luke Seals and Culley Porter— due to injuries.

The two Ponca City teams will be back in action Tuesday when they host old rival Enid.

(Girls Game)

PONCA CITY 53, MIDWEST CITY 44

Midwest City    13   9   14   8 — 44

Ponca City 14 10 12 17 — 53

Ponca City — Ryley Beard, 16; Karis Branstetter, 12; Carlie Badley, 10; Baylee Fincher, 7; Ashlynn Fincher, 6; Trinity Regnier, 2.

(Boys Game)

MIDWEST CITY 89, PONCA CITY 38

Midwest City   32   16   19   32 — 89

Ponca City   7  9   9  12 — 38

Ponca City — Ponca City — Collin Crandall, 7; Justin Thompson, 7; Steven Faulkner, 7; Grant Dye, 6; Marshawn Webb, 5; Matthew Shoup, 2; Anthony Gazaway, 2.