“They got the monkey off their back” - Matt Jones
There were 1.9 seconds left to play when the referee’s whistle sounded.
The Meeker girls were ahead of Wellston by two - 48-46 - but now Wellston would get to bring the ball in on its own baseline.
The game was stake, but there was a lot more on the line for the Lady Bulldogs. So much more.
They’d had to live with an extended losing streak that covered parts of three seasons and reached 25 games when they lost to McLoud, 45-31, in their season opener on Tuesday.
Yet here they were, a deep breath away from making the streak just a bad memory.
“Don’t foul,” Meeker coach Matt Jones shouted from the bench.
Meeker knocked the ball away on the inbounds attempt and Wellston got to try again, this time with 1.6 seconds left.
The Lady Bulldogs knocked the ball away again, the horn sounded and the losing streak had evaporated and a onegame winning streak had taken its place.
“They got the monkey off their back,” said Jones, who is in his first season at Meeker. “It’s been one of those things that we’ve been preaching since the getgo: the past is the past and it doesn’t matter what happened last year.”
What happened last year was an 0-23 record with a lot of lop-sided scores. The Lady Bulldogs hadn’t won a game since beating Okmulgee in the regional tournament during the Covid season of 2020-21 But Friday’s game was close throughout, with Meeker getting a two-pointer from junior Tatum Pino to take a 48-45 lead with 30 seconds left.
Wellston’s Kaylee Danker hit a foul shot to make it 48-46. She intentionally missed her second shot, hitting the rim to give Wellston a chance at a rebound and tying bucket.
It almost worked, with the ball going out of bounds off Meeker, but the Lady Bulldogs were able to hang on.
“Tatum, obviously, played lights-out,” Jones said. “She lead us early and then made the winning shot.
“We had a bunch of freshmen step up tonight. I think we played 11 or 12 deep, and everyone contributed.
“They’re buying in to playing as a team and working together. I’m extremely proud of them. Just to see them come together and fight for their teammates, it’s special.
“They have a chance to be a special group if they keep working at it. The future is bright if they keep working at it and keep grinding.”
Jaylee Campbell, one of seven freshmen suiting up for Meeker, led the team with 11 points, with nine coming on three-pointers. Pino had 10.
Kaylee Danker had 22 points for Wellston and Emalee Brewton had 14.
Now 1-1, Meeker is back in action at 3 p.m. Thursday against Mounds in the Agra Tournament.
Wellston goes to 2-1 and hosts Ripley on Tuesday before playing Carney at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Agra Tournament.
Boys: Wellston 68, Meeker 57
In the boys game, seniors Kage Danker and Chance Sanders combined for 42 points to lead the WTs.
Danker had 23, including four threepointers, and Sanders had 19.
Tyler Evans added a dozen. For Meeker, Treyvon Compton had 15 points and the Wathams combined for 26 - Ean getting 15 and Asa having 11.
Now 2-1, Wellston hosts Ripley Tues- day, then plays Carney at 7:20 p.m. Thursday in the Agra Tournament.
Meeker is 0-2 and will be in action next against Agra at 4:40 p.m. Thursday in the Agra Tournament.
Box scores Girls Meeker 48, Wellston 46
Wellston scoring: Kaylee Danker, 22; Emalee Brewton, 14; Ava Davenport, 3, Alexis Fowble, 1.
Meeker scoring: Jaylee Campbell, 11; Tatum Pino, 10; Aviary Helms, 9; Kara Casteel, 7; Laci Stafford, 4;Rylee Standlee, 2; Annsley Babek, 1.
McLoud 45, Meeker 31 Meeker scoring: Tatum Pino, 11; Kara Casteel, 9; Laci Stafford, 4; Annsley Babek, 4; Jaylee Campbell, 2.
McLoud scoring: Ali Martine, 16; Victoria Jackson, 13; Skyla Murray, 4; Mahila Pfieffer, 4; Taycee Lewis, 4; Alivia Wapskineh, 2.
NRC 63, Seminole 51 NRC scoring: Morgan Campbell, 12; Kadence Munn, 12; Kaitlyn Masquas, 9; Olivia Stacy, 8; Addisen Lawrence, 7,; Sarah Campbell, 6; Emersen Askew, 4; Landry Price, 3; Olivia McRay, 2.
Boys Wellston 68, Meeker 57
Wellston scoring: Kage Danker, 23; Chance Sanders, 19; Tyler Evans, 12; Dakota Long, 7; Lane Kulp, 7.
Meeker scoring: Treyvon Compton, 16; Ean Watham, 15; Asa Watham, 11; Braxton Bussell, 8; Bobby Brooks, 2.
McLoud 84, Meeker 30 Meeker scoring: Treyvon Compton, 9; Braxton Bussell, 5; Manny Saavedra, 4; Tristan Bynum, 2; Bruce Bussell, 2; Aiden Hessman, 2; Ean Watham, 2; Bobby Brooks, 2.
McLoud scoring: Luke Norwood, 22; Luke Jordan, 22; Bryce Cowins, 9; Dorrian Matlock, 9; Jacob Jordan, 7; Tryce Lewis, 7; Rowdy Butler, 3; Marco Hastings, 3; Kameron Nance, 2.
NRC 64, Seminole 51 NRC Scoring: Jordan Coody, 19; Caleb Hawkins, 11; David king, 11; Devon Haney, 8; Jace McRay, 6; Cason Coomer, 5; Seven Cawvey, 4.