BY MIKE KOEHLER, Special Correspondent | Oklahoman
Published: March 11, 2010

Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3445886#ixzz0i0LnNdTo

SAPULPA — Two droughts were too many for Deer Creek, as the Antlers tried to shake off ice-cold shooting but eventually couldn’t in a 41-33 first-round loss to Tulsa Washington in the Class 5A State Tournament.
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Deer Creek went 10 minutes without a basket between the first and second quarters and then seven more minutes in the fourth quarter without a score, snuffing what looked to be a great comeback.

After scoring only five points in the second quarter and trailing at halftime by 10, 24-14, Deer Creek rallied with a pair of clutch 3-pointers by Kelsey Glover to head into the final period up by one, 29-28.

But Tulsa Washington’s defense clamped down again, and Deer Creek could only muster one basket the rest of the way.

For Tulsa Washington coach Annette Kennedy it was a testament to the high-risk, high-reward style of her Hornet defenders.

"We play an up-tempo style that can sometimes put us in foul trouble," said Kennedy, whose team is looking to defense back-to-back state titles. "But as long as the other team is not hitting their free throws, it works to our advantage."

Oh, yes, free throws.

Deer Creek had its chances at the line, especially in that frigid second quarter, when the Antlers went 3-for-15 from the free throw line.

Deer Creek also had to deal with the loss of their top scorer, freshman Ashley Gordon, who went down with a possible broken bone in her leg with three minutes to go in the game and did not return.

Late in the game, Deer Creek was forced to foul and Washington padded its lead. Kami Bunch led the Hornets with 10 points, seven coming from the free throw line.

Tulsa Washington moves on to play Tulsa East Central at 1:30 Friday at the Mabee Center. McAlester and Tulsa Memorial meet in the other semifinal.