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Elgin senior Kenley York guards a Classen SAS player during the Area Tournament March 2 in Hennessey. Classen powered past Elgin 49-27. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE
HENNESSEY — Elgin was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as No. 12 Classen SAS rolled to a 49-27 win over the Lady Owls in the Area Tournament last Thursday.
Elgin led for a brief time in the first quarter, but Classen’s defense stiffened in the second quarter holding the Lady Owls to only six points while taking a 20-16 halftime advantage.
At one point in the second quarter, Elgin knotted the score at 16-16 on a three-point play by post player Kelby Carter. From that point, Classen was in control.
Elgin made a short-lived rally in the third quarter after trailing 29-20. Carter, Danika Pendley and Kaydence Kern combined for seven points to pull within 29-27, but Classen scored the next four points to lead 33-27 after three quarters.
The Lady Owls didn’t score another point while Classen knocked down two three-point baskets and connected on several free throw attempts to seal the win.
“We can’t have these types of lapses,” Elgin head coach Brett Sanders said. “They (Classen) started hitting shots and we lost our focus. We did it to ourselves. There’s nobody to blame but me. I didn’t have them ready to play.”
Elgin advanced to the Area Tournament by defeating Cushing and McGuinness in the regional tournament. The Lady Owls end the season with a 16-12 record.
The Lady Owls started the season winning three of its first four games including a come-from-behind 57-54 victory over rival Duncan. Senior Lizzie Peak hit the game-winning shot as time expired. Elgin had trouble against Western Conference teams Kingfisher, Weatherford and Bethany going 0-4 including two losses to the Lady Bronchos. The Lady Owls also lost twice to Tuttle and to 2A power Dale in the Dale Tournament.
Elgin loses seniors Lizzie Peak, Kirsten Peak, Taylor Squyres, Kenley York and Kegyn Wendel to graduation. However, most of the starting lineup returns with freshmen Maycee Hill, Kelby Carter and Danika Pendley. Sophomores May Kessler and Maddy Nez also return after playing substantial minutes this season. Freshman Kaydence Kern, who was sidelined due to injury most of the season, is expected to return next season.