GIRLS BASKETBALL: Verdigris routs Catoosa for 4A Area IV District 6 title

Feb. 25—VERDIGRIS — Whether it was an issue of pushing the ball or not getting her feet set properly, Jordan Chancellor knew something wasn't right with her shot.

Air balls are a rarity for the 5-foot-9 Verdigris senior guard who averages nearly 16 points per game, but she shot three from beyond the arc Tuesday night. It was no doubt an uncommon scene.

"I kind of blacked out," Chancellor said while trying to pinpoint the cause of the errant shots. "I don't want to remember those; I'm kind of embarrassed. I need to pass more if I'm going to air ball it that much."

Those air balls were only a minor setback, though, for she went on to lead all scorers with 14 points in the seventh-ranked Lady Cardinals' 67-22 victory over Catoosa in the Class 4A Area IV District 6 championship at the Verdigris Activity Center.

Chancellor scored 12 of those points, including two 3-pointers, during a 35-6 run that saw Verdigris turn an early 3-2 deficit into a 37-9 halftime advantage. The Lady Cardinals at one point scored 18 points between Catoosa baskets.

"I know they rely a lot on my shooting, and to air ball and then have to recover and make up for it in other ways, it does make me feel good because it reminds me that it's not all about shooting," Chancellor said. "It's about playing as a team and making sure everybody gets their shots."

The wealth was certainly spread around, for 11 players scored for the Lady Cardinals (14-2). Just behind Chancellor were Lexy and Morgan Borgstadt, who both contributed 13 points and four rebounds. Lexy Borgstadt managed 10 of her points in the second quarter.

Although senior Mackenzie Blackwell scored only four points, she co-led the team on the glass with four rebounds.

Outside of the starters, Brooklyn Fugate hit two 3-pointers and finished with eight points, all of which came in the second half.

"She has really stepped up since Christmas Break," said Verdigris coach Mike Buntin, whose team had 14 offensive rebounds. "She was one coming into the season we were really counting on to be that sixth or seventh girl off the bench, but it just wasn't there early. But she's been playing really well. Her practice habits have changed, and she's been working really hard."

Verdigris' 67 points was the third-highest scoring output this season and the fifth time the squad scored 60-plus. Furthermore, the Lady Cardinals shot 35 free throws, which might just be a school record. They made 23 of them, a 65.7 shooting percentage.

"It's probably pretty close," Buntin said of the possible school record. "We're not averaging nearly that many. We've been on them because we feel like this team should average more free throws because we're only around 14 or 15 a game, and our goal is somewhere between 20 and 25. We've been on them about being more aggressive, getting to the basket and not avoiding contact when you get there.

"We knew if we could get Lexy and Morgan, especially, downhill getting the ball and attacking the basket, they should have no problems getting to the free-throw line."

Of course, the offense wasn't the only unit playing impeccably.

Verdigris forced 32 turnovers, and its 22 points allowed tied for the second-best performance of the season. The Lady Indians (5-4) also shot only 15 free throws compared to the Lady Cardinals' 35.

Jordan Bordwine led Catoosa with seven points and two rebounds while Brynlee Brown added six points and two rebounds. Zoe Brown grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with three points.

"We've talked about getting up pressuring the basketball and trying to force bad passes that allow us to run out and get our offense going," Buntin said. "We started off really slow and timid. You could tell we haven't played a whole lot of game basketball here lately. Our timing was off, so we actually switched defenses and went to a zone press. I think we got four or five steals in a row, and it helped jumpstart our offense as well."

The game was only the ninth for Catoosa, which has been plagued with COVID-19 issues for most of the season. It had played 23 games before districts last year.

With so few games, the Lady Indians lack experience. However, Buntin said he expects Catoosa to trend upward in the coming years because of its young roster.

"They play a lot of young kids," Buntin said. "They have a freshman guard (Brown) who is going to be a really good player for them, and coach (Kayla) Fourkiller is doing a good job of getting them to buy in to doing the things she wants and being fundamental. I see a lot of progress in them and have a lot of respect for the job she's doing. They were out there working hard.

"They weren't afraid of us; they took it to us in the first quarter. It kind of woke our girls up."