Saturday evening was packed with action by both Eagle teams playing the Okarche Warriors in the Coyle Tournament Championships. The Lady Eagles (13-3) were up against the Okarche Lady Warriors (19-2) and they were ready for redemption. The Lady Warriors had previously beat the Lady Eagles two times before the Coyle Tournament, but the Eagles were able to pull off a three-point win. The game ended with Watonga at 55 and Okarche at 52. The Lady Eagles were crowned champions of the Coyle Tournament.
The first quarter was low scoring. The Lady Eagles were patient with getting through Okarche’s full-court press. They moved the ball well and ended up with the first points of the ballgame scored by Natalie Walker. Watonga was in a man defense, and the Warriors struggled with making shots from the paint against the Eagles’ solid defending. The Warriors kept up close with the Eagles lead, and the first quarter ended with the score being 11-10, Watonga in the lead.
The ball was moved around well on the Eagles offense, despite the pressure from Okarche’s defense heating up. As Okarche began to make some of their bump shots, the Eagles lost a bit of momentum and scoring slowed down. Watonga’s fouls in the second quarter put Okarche in the bonus, and unlike the first quarter, Okarche began to make them. Aubrey Bridges ended the first half with a pressured deep 3 from the sideline. Okarche had gained the lead by four points however, ending the half 27-23. Natalie Walker was the leading scorer in the first half, putting up seven points for the Eagles.
The third quarter began with a quick steal and a 3 from the Eagles, as they began to pick up steam. They caught up quickly to Okarche’s lead, and eventually took it back by the end of the third. They got off good shots and contained Okarche on defense. Landri Hussey stepped up for the Eagles and was the lead scorer of the third quarter. Watonga had 44 points, and Okarche only ended up with 37. The Eagles were looking for a redemption game, and they were on the right track for one. The third quarter was the Eagles’ highest scoring quarter with 21 points.
The final quarter was a fight for the lead for both teams. Okarche kept close and kept the pressure on the Eagles. The energy was vibrant in the stands and throughout the court, as both teams fought for the win. Turnovers were abundant from both teams in the fourth, and both teams were firing up shots to get the win. As one minute remained in the game, Watonga had a one-point lead. It was a cat and mouse game between the Eagles and the Warriors, but Watonga came out on top with 55 points, having a three point lead over Okarche’s 52 points. The Lady Eagles successfully redeemed themselves against the Lady Warriors. Natalie Walker and Landri Hussey were the lead scorers of the game, with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Coach Lauren Campo could not have been prouder of her athletes. She went in with a plan to focus on rebounding and her girls executed it well. “It was amazing!” Campo said about the game. “I’m really happy that the girls are getting to see their hard work pay off.” She had many players that influenced the outcome of the game. “Everyone played their role and it led to team success!” Campo said. Their defense won the game. They planned to stop their big players from getting in the post and they did that well. The win has ignited a fire in the Lady Eagles, and they plan to keep firing up the court.
The Eagles (14-2) played right after the Lady Eagles, and they also faced Okarche (15-6) for the third time this year. The Eagles hoped to continue their win streak against the Warriors, and they were successful, ending the score 56-44 and being named champions of the Coyle Tournament.
The game started off slightly shaky for the Eagles, as they gave the Warriors the first few points of the ball game. However, they were rebounding solidly and were patient getting up the court through Okarche’s press. Shots weren’t falling early, but Osten Reyes ended the first quarter with a three pointer that put the Eagles into a one point lead. Like the girls’ game before them, the first quarter was low scoring. The Eagles put up nine points and Okarche put up eight.
The Eagles moved the ball extremely well in the second quarter and they were getting up shots. They played solid defense and their shots began to fall. The Warriors were fighting for the lead, but Watonga held them off and put on the pressure, making it difficult for them to get good looks at the basket. The first half was slower paced than what the Eagles were used to, but they still remained in the lead at 20-16.
The Eagles only went on a roll from here. They had good shots falling and they were getting rebounds. Okarche was fighting to keep up with the Eagles, but the Eagles were finding their rhythm on both ends of the court. The Warriors were attempting to put pressure on the Eagles with a full court press, but Watonga handled it well. “I thought we did a really good job versus their press which was a big part of the plan going in,” Coach Brandon Gallagher said. It was 41-29 by the end of the third quarter and the Eagles remained on top.
The Warriors were struggling to get shots in against Watonga’s great defense. The Eagles continued to make good and athletic plays on offense and working Okarche on defense. The Warriors were hasty with their shots, and the Eagles only increased their lead. Deondre dunked during the fourth quarter and the Eagles finished Okarche off by ending the game 56-44.
Coach Gallagher is ready to see what all the hard work has done for the Eagles. “It’s getting close to the end of the regular season so we are really getting excited about playoffs.” Gallagher’s team was working hard on defense the whole game. “Offense comes and goes but defense is always there,” he said. Watonga returned for Homecoming on Jan. 25. They play Mooreland at home on Friday, Jan. 28.