VB fall on opening day of the ToC

Things were spirited for the first half of Thursday’s Taco Bell Tournament of Champions opener between Van Buren and Moore, Okla. The Lady Pointers and Lady Lions dueled for the lead with each team knocking down three 3-point baskets. However, it may have been a 3 from Moore’s Raychael Harjo with time running out in the first half that might have foretold how things were going to transpire for both teams in the second half. Moore did assume control after halftime starting with a 12-4 run. The Lady Lions maintained a sizable lead the rest of the way as they defeated Van Buren, 51-39, at Southside Gym. “They had a big bucket at the end of the first half that kind of gave them the momentum going into halftime,” Van Buren coach Chris Bryant said. “Then they made an emphasis on going inside to (6-foot-3 sophomore forward) Aaliyah Moore in the second half; she was tough for us to handle, she’s tough for a lot of people to handle. “We just couldn’t keep them off the glass and we made the commitment to try and neutralize (Moore) and then you open up the perimeter for the number of 3-point shooters that they have; they have several quality shooters out there.” Ranked No. 13 in Oklahoma 6A, the Moore Lady Lions (2-1) finished the game by connecting on seven 3's. “They’re a really good team,” Bryant said. “This is good for us, a great opportunity to play a really good team and that’s why you come to a tournament like this.” Van Buren (4-3) scored the game’s first five points before Moore came back to go in front. Then the Lady Pointers regained the lead, 10-8, on a 3-pointer from senior Kayleigh Evans in the final minute of the opening quarter. Harjo, a 6-3 sophomore guard, hit a pair of 3's in the second quarter to help the Lady Lions grab the lead right back. Van Buren answered late in the first half on a 3 from Sunni Harrington to go up by one, 17-16. But with time running out in the first half, Harjo drained another trey as the Lady Lions took a 19-17 advantage into the locker room. In the second half, Moore made 4-of-7 3-point baskets while out-rebounding the Lady Pointers, 20-13. Harjo finished with 22 points and made four 3's while going 9-of-14 from the field. She also was the team’s top rebounder with eight. Brooklyn Kannady, a freshman, had 14 points to lead Van Buren. She also made two 3's.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

VB FALL ON OPENING DAY OF THE TOC

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 12/10/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell