Madill senior Jayden Weiberg’s layup with 1.6 seconds lifted the Lady Wildcats basketball team to a 59-57 victory at home Friday in the district playoffs against Pauls Valley. Her meandering path to the hoop among Lady Panthers defenders the length of the floor while the last ticks on the clock continued to float away highlighted the finish at the rim.
“My goal was just to get a shot off. You know I didn’t imagine I would get such a good shot off with not too hard of a layup,” Weiberg said. “It turned out great and I’m really happy about it.”
Pauls Valley had just tied the game 57-all with 13 seconds remaining before the Weiberg bucket. The Panthers’ desperation shot on the last possession was partially blocked by Weiberg as the horn sounded in the venerable Wildcat Fieldhouse for the contest to end. It is the first district playoff championship for the Lady ‘Cats since 2010.
“Oh, It’s huge for us,” Weiberg said of advancing in the winners’ bracket. “It’s really exciting. It’s great for our team.”
However, Madill’s boys fell to Pauls Valley 52-36 Friday.
The girls contest was led by Pauls Valley much of the way. But, it was Madill that made the plays in crunch time for the win. Weiberg pushed Madill ahead with her free throws with only 33.1 seconds in the game. Weiberg tied the game 53-all on her three free throws with 1:10 left when she was fouled in the process of the shot from the right wing. Isabella Guiterrez’ free throws had given the Lady Panthers the 53-50 edge with 1:32 to go. Weiberg’s bucket at the 2:36 mark of the fourth closed the margin to 51-50. The Panthers had gone up 51-48 with a basket with 3:05 left in the final stanza.
Madill and Pauls Valley were tied 15-all at the end of the first quarter. Pauls Valley held a 28-27 edge at the half and a 42-37 cushion at the end of three frames. Weiberg finished with a team-best 31 points. Braylee Schneider had seven points. Haylee Elkins had five points. Abbie Lambertsen had five points. Hannah Elkins and Allyson Knight had four points apiece. Aubrie Cantrell had one point in the win. Madill’s girls play Tuttle at 6:30 p.m. in the regional tournament in Tuttle on Thursday.
The Madill boys trailed 12-5 by the end of the first quarter. The Panthers increased it to a 27-17 lead by haftime and 40-23 by the end of the third stanza Friday.
Zeke Fuentes had a team-high 20 points. Javier Gomez had six points. Kendall Robertson ended with five points. RJ Morris canned three points and River Shaw had two. Madill plays Chickasha in the consolation bracket at 3 p.m. on Thursday in Tuttle. Madill must win to advance any further in the playoffs.
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Click to Watch Girls Game Highlights from KTEN-TV
Click for 4A boys Basketball Playoff Bracket
Click for 4A girls Basketball Playoff Bracket
Friday also ended the Wildcat Fieldhouse era. It has hosted many memorable games, wrestling matches, concerts, baccalaureate services and graduations. It has rendered back-to-back wrestling team state champions in 1992 and 1993. It has held cross country state championship community celebrations and banquets. Coach Blake Smiley was in attendance Friday. His name is on Blake Smiley Stadium for football.
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