Oneida Batters Coalfield 57-44 for District Championship

By Terry Futrell

Think basketball is not a contact sport? Just ask any of the players from Oneida and Coalfield and they will tell you otherwise. The District 3-1A girls championship game between the two teams was a battle in every meaning of the word. From the scoring battle to harsh physical contact, it was definitely not your grandmother’s game of basketball. The physical nature of the battle was evidenced by more than 30 fouls being called in the game. Perhaps even more important were the fouls not called. As the battle drew to a close, Oneida was the victor, defeating Coalfield 57-44 for the District 3-1A championship.

An interesting storyline of the game was the scoring battle between Coalfield’s Gabbi Lowe, second highest scorer in the tournament with 43 points, and Oneida’s Kelsey Pike, who was fourth highest scorer with 39 total tourney points and who was selected tournament MVP. For half the game, Coalfield held Pike scoreless, but she exploded for 22 points in the second half.  In contrast, Lowe’s scoring was distributed throughout the game as she matched Pike with 22 points.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, with Oneida taking a 9-6 first quarter lead. The offenses kicked into higher gear in the second quarter, with Oneida taking a slight 13-12 scoring edge. For the Oneida Lady Indians, Raylie Bush led with 4 points, with Faith Cross adding two points. For the Coalfield Lady Jackets, Lowe, Kadence Jackson, and Alexis Morrison each scored six points in the quarter. Oneida led 22-18 at the half.

Oneida expanded their lead to 41-31 in the third quarter as Pike burst into the scoring column with 13 points. Carolyn Keeton added six points for the Lady Indians. The Lady Jackets scored only two baskets in the third, one by Lowe and one by Jackson. Each had six total points in the quarter.

In the final quarter, it was Oneida that scored only two baskets, but the Lady Indians shot 11 of 12 from the free throw line for a total of 16 points. Lowe poured in eight points for Coalfield, and Alexis Morrison added four points for a total of 13 points in the quarter.

Oneida led 57-44 as the final horn sounded and the Lady Indians chalked up another district championship. Oneida will host visiting Oakdale Friday evening in regional quarterfinal action. Midway, the third-place team in District 4-1A will travel to Coalfield Friday evening to face the Lady Jackets.