HENRYETTA - The clock on the Henryetta Lady Knights' Cinderella story reached midnight last Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Knights' run through the loser's bracket of the Class 3A, Area IV, regional basketball tournament ended with a 62-44 loss to the Hugo Lady Buffaloes in the consolation championship game at the Henryetta Event Center.

After suffering a 90-47 loss to No. 5 Sulphur February 16 in the Class 3A District 1 championship game in Sulphur, the Henryetta cage squad refused to have their season end with two-straight losses, as has been the case in recent seasons.

The first roadblock in the Lady Knights' journey through the regional tournament loser's bracket was the Spiro Lady Bulldogs, who dropped an overtime decision February 15 at home to Okmulgee. The Henryetta cage squad made quick work of their consolation quarterfinal foes last Thursday afternoon, defeating the Lady Bulldogs 53-41 to avoid the season-ending elimination.

The Lady Knights dispatched of their next opponent - the Tishomingo Lady Indians - last Friday afternoon, sending Tishomingo home for the season with a convincing 74-40 defeat.

The Henryetta squad's regional consolation finals opponent - the Hugo Buffaloes - had the same mountain to climb, needing two-straight wins (48-16 over Marietta and 58-49 over Okmulgee) after suffering a 33-23 loss to Cascia Hall in their district championship game February 15 in Hugo.

With the regional finals loss to Hugo, the Lady Knights close out 2018-19 with a 10-15 record and saw four players suit up for the final time at HHS - Lauren Lee, Mattie Blackbear, Ashlyn Green, and Emily Potter.

In last Thursday's regional consolation quarterfinals against Spiro, the Lady Knights doubled up on the Lady Bulldogs 16-8 in the opening period, then outscored Spiro 14-6 in the second quarter for a commanding 30-14 halftime lead.

A 13-10 advantage in the third period extended Henryetta's margin to 19 points, 43-24, with eight minutes remaining in regulation.

Spiro attempted a comeback in the final frame, tallying 17 points in the quarter. The Lady Knights put up 10 points in the final stanza to thwart any rally attempt, walking off their home floor with the 53-41 decision.

Lauren Lee and Brooklyn Neeley led their respective teams with 15 points each. Mattie Blackbear joined Lee in double-digit scoring for Henryetta with 11, followed by Autumn Blackbear with nine.

Other Lady Knight scorers against Spiro were Kim Fowler and Chelsie Harjo with six apiece, Ashlyn Green three, Kaylie Hamric two, and Katelyn Dwiggins one.

Neeley was the only Spiro player to reach double figures in the contest.

In last Friday's regional consolation semifinal battle with Tishomingo, the Lady Knights took a 23-15 lead into the second stanza with the first quarter ending on a 3-point basket by Mattie Blackber near the half-court line.

The Henryetta ladies went into halftime with a commanding 41-25 advantage after outscoring the Lady Indians 16-10 in the second stanza.

The Lady Knights finished the 34-point victory by taking the final two quarters 17-7 and 16-8, respectively, for the 74-40 decision.

Mattie Blackbear led the way offensively for Henryetta, finishing with a game-high 21 points. Lauren Lee was next for HHS with 19, followed by Autumn Blackbear with 11.

The remainder of the Lady Knight scoring came on six points each by Kaylie Hamric and Chelsie Harjo, five points by Kim Fowler, and three points apiece by Ashlyn Green and Katelyn Dwiggins.

Sloan Slover was tops for Tishomingo with 11.

In last Saturday's regional finals against Hugo, the Lady Knights struggled offensively in the first half, being outscored 21-9 in the first two quarters.

The Henryetta offense picked up in the third period, tallying 14 points in the frame. Hugo, however, put up 19 points in the quarter to send the game into the final eight minutes of regulation with the Henryetta cage squad trailing 40-23.

The Lady Knights put up 21 points offensively in the final frame in a comeback attempt. Hugo countered with 22 points in the period to end Henryetta's season with a 62-44 defeat.

Kaylie Hamric and Lauren Lee led the way offensively for Henryetta with 11 points apiece. Mattie Blackbear was next with eight, followed by Katelyn Dwiggins and Autumn Blackbear with six each and Kim Fowler two.

Hugo was led in scoring by Sha' Daja Thompson with 18, followed by Jordan Holman with 16 and Sha' Mani King with 10.

---

Class 3A Regional Tournament

Consolation Quarterfinals

Henryetta 53, Spiro 41

Spiro - 8 - 6 - 10 - 17 (41)

Henryetta - 16 - 14 - 13 - 10 (53)

Spiro Scoring: Brooklyn Neeley 15, Lily Blankenship 9, Carli Matthews 7, Olivia Bridges 5, Jaycee Cox 4, Braylin Harper 1.

Henryetta Scoring: Lauren Lee 15, Mattie Blackbear 11, Autumn Blackbear 9, Kim Fowler 6, Chelsie Harjo 6, Ashlyn Green 3, Kaylie Hamric 2, Katelyn Dwiggins 1.

Free Throws: Spiro 12-22; Henryetta 21-27.

Three Pointers: Spiro 5; Henryetta 4.

---

Consolation Semifinals

Henryetta 74, Tishomingo 40

Tishomingo - 15 - 10 - 7 - 8 (40)

Henryetta - 25 - 16 - 17 - 16 (74)

Tishomingo Scoring: Sloan Slover 11, Rylee Hughes 4, Cheyanne Arkansas 4, Lancy Rogers 3, Jasmine Dewitt 3, Jolee Northcutt 3, Harley Henry 3, Kyliegh Hopkins 2, Jadyn Hook 2, Lexi Latham 2, Grace Anderson 2, Chloe Aguirri 1.

Henryetta Scoring: Mattie Blackbear 21, Lauren Lee 19, Autumn Blackbear 11, Kaylie Hamric 6, Chelsie Harjo 6, Kim Fowler 5, Ashlyn Green 3, Katelyn Dwiggins 3.

Free Throws: Tishomingo 16-23; Henryetta 20-25.

Three Pointers: Tishomingo 2; Henryetta 6.

---

Consolation Finals

Hugo 62, Henryetta 44

Hugo - 11 - 10 - 19 - 22 (62)

Henryetta - 6 - 3 - 14 - 21 (44)

Hugo Scoring: Sha' Daja Thompson 18, Jordan Holman 16, Sha' Mani King 10, Kaydrin Scott 8, Trakail Holman 7, Jamie Freeman 3.

Henryetta Scoring: Kaylie Hamric 11, Lauren Lee 11, Mattie Blackbear 8, Katelyn Dwiggins 6, Autumn Blackbear 6, Kim Fowler 2.

Free Throws: Hugo 6-12; Henryetta 6-11.

Three Pointers: Hugo 2; Henryetta 8.