PITT 8 GIRLS: Lady Bulldogs bounce back for third-place Pitt 8 honors

Jan. 20—The Lady Bulldogs weren't going away quietly.

Savanna and Canadian faced off in Saturday's third-place game at the 2024 Pitt 8 Conference Tournament inside the Southeast Expo Center in McAlester, where the Lady Bulldogs used a second-half surge to win 48-34 to earn third-place honors.

Kylie James put the Lady Bulldogs on the board, followed by Makenna Hoffman with a pair of free throws for the early 4-0 lead. Kirstin Clark drilled a triple for the Lady Cougars, cutting the lead down to one.

The defensive efforts for both teams took over for the remainder of the quarter, leading to a 7-4 Savanna lead heading into the second quarter.

Yonariya Nichols earned a pair of free throws for the Lady Cougars, then drove through the lane for a score on the next possession to take a 8-7 lead in the first minute of the period. Clark followed with another swishing three, pushing the lead out to four.

But the Lady Bulldogs weren't going away quietly, and a scoring run capped by a shot from Ryleigh Ivy made it a 15-13 Canadian lead as a timeout was called with 3:37 to play in the half. Hoffman next nabbed another free throw for Savanna, and Bry Vanciel later added a triple to tie up the game at 17-17.

Ava Moreno was sent to the line, hitting the back end of her foul shots to give Canadian the narrow 18-17 lead at the locker room break.

Both teams fought neck-and-neck on the other side, but a three-point play from Vanciel put the Lady Bulldogs on the high side with under three minutes to play in the third quarter. Back and forth they battled, with Savanna leads 26-25 after three quarters.

Vanciel drilled a triple to start the fourth, and free throws from Sophia Calistro put the Lady Bulldogs up by two possessions. Vanciel later nailed another trey, putting Savanna up by double digits.

Calistro drove the lane, sinking a shot while she was fouled — nailing her and-one foul shot to the roar of the Savanna faithful.

That tipped the scales firmly in the Lady Bulldogs' favor, sealing away the third-place victory.

Calistro led Savanna with 20 points, followed by Vanciel with 17 points, Hoffman with six points, Ivy with two points, and Maddie Lenardo with a free throw.

Jones led Canadian with 11 points, followed by Nichols with nine points, Clark with seven points, Moreno with five points, and Madyson Satterfield with two points.

CROWDER 40, STUART 17 (Consolation championship)

Despite the chilly temperatures outside, the Demonettes brought the heat.

Crowder and Stuart faced off in Saturday's consolation championship of the 2024 Pitt 8 Conference Tournament at the Southeast Expo Center, where the Demonettes used red-hot shooting to win 40-17 and be named consolation champions.

Alexas Lizik got the Demonettes on the board with a three-points play, and Adison Womack drained a three to pull Crowder into a 6-0 lead. Reagan Wade next broke the ice for the Lady Hornets with a score, and later nabbed a free throw to trim the lead down to three.

Lizik sank a quick jumper, and Peyton Smith drilled a triple to extend the Crowder lead. Womack nailed another three, with Jacie Crenshaw driving for a score to answer. The back and forth continued through the final seconds of the quarter, with Crowder leading 16-6 after the first quarter.

Smith drilled a trey to start the second quarter, with Womack later following with one of her own to ignite the Demonette offense. Smith got another, followed by Briley Parker swishing one of her own. The scorching-hot shooting propelled Crowder throughout the half, leading to a 28-10 lead at the horn.

Crowder kept the momentum going into the second half of play, leading 37-13 into the fourth quarter and running out to the win.

Smith led the way with 17 points for the Demonettes, followed by Womack and Lizik with nine points each, and Parker with five points.

Wade led the Lady Hornets with 10 points, followed by Crenshaw and Jaydee Hall with four points each, and Joey Steele with two points.

Here is the complete 2024 Pitt 8 Conference Tournament girls bracket:

TUESDAY

G1: Canadian 51, Stuart 48 (OT)

G2: Kiowa 73, Haileyville 12

G3: Savanna 39, Crowder 32

G4: Pittsburg 53, Indianola 31

THURSDAY

G5: Kiowa 68, Canadian 35

G6: Pittsburg 47, Savanna 25

FRIDAY

G7: Stuart 63, Haileyville 34

G8: Crowder 37, Indianola 22

SATURDAY

G9: Crowder 40, Stuart 17 (Consolation championship)

G10: Savanna 48, Canadian 34 (Third place)

G11: Kiowa vs. Pittsburg, 6 p.m. (Championship)

This post will be updated following the conclusion of Saturday's games.