Waurika opened the 2019 season on the road Tuesday night as the Eagles and Lady Eagles traveled to Geronimo.
The Lady Eagles won a thriller, 44-43, while the Waurika boys fell to Geronimo, 45-35.
Both teams will be in action tomorrow night when Waurika will play host to Elmore City-Pernell. Tipoff is 6:30 for the girls’ game at the Waurika gym.
The Lady Eagles trailed Geronimo much of the first quarter until Madison Roberson completed a traditional three-point play to knot the score at 10 with 2:56 remaining in the initial period.
Waurika ended the quarter with five straight points and held a 17-12 lead.
The Lady Eagles dominated the second quarter. Waurika outscored Geronimo 8-1 in the first six minutes of the second quarter and went to the locker room with a commanding 28-16 lead after Asia Smith’s three-pointer with six seconds showing on the clock.
Geronimo rallied in the third quarter and a 6-0 spurt to end the period cut Waurika’s lead to 35-33.
Waurika extended the lead to 38-33 on Gracie Walling’s layup with 6:46 left in the game, but Geronimo scored the next six points to grab the lead at 39-38 with 2:47 left in the contest.
A free throw by Geronimo’s Lottie Deere gave Geronimo a 40-38 advantage with 2:24 left and Smith tied the game with a short jumper with just over two minutes left.
The teams traded turnovers and with 58 seconds to play Jade Bessemer nailed a three-pointer to put Geronimo back in front, 43-40.
The Lady Eagles got within one when Roberson got an offensive rebound and put the ball in the basket leaving Waurika trailing, 43-42, with 33.5 seconds left.
The final 30 seconds had both teams scurrying. Waurika had not committed enough fouls to send Geronimo to the free throw line.
Madison Dees made two big plays to end the game. Dees got a steal with 15 seconds left and was fouled with 11.3 showing on the clock. She missed both free throws, but Roberson grabbed the rebound and missed.
Dees was right there to get the miss and put the ball in the basket with 5.3 seconds showing.
The Lady Blue Jays turned the ball over to help preserve the Waurika win.
Roberson was outstanding for the Lady Eagles and dominated the inside. She finished with 22 points and Gracie Walling chipped in 11 points.
Geronimo stayed in the game by taking advantage of 23 Waurika turnovers. The Lady Eagles held the edge in rebounds, 34-23.
In the boys’ contest, it appeared Waurika would record a sweep as the Eagles led after one, 13-10 and held onto the lead at halftime, 20-17.
Geronimo got two free throws to open the third quarter, but Waurika reeled off six straight points for a 26-19 advantage with 5:13 left in the quarter when Turner Mora put back a missed shot.
That would be the largest lead of the game for Waurika.
Kevin Garcia got a layup off an inbounds play with 1:46 left to give Waurika a 31-25 lead, but Geronimo closed the third quarter on a 7-0 run and took a 32-31 lead when Jadyn Taylor hit a 14-footer at the buzzer.
The Eagles never recovered. Taylor opened the fourth quarter with a bucket before Cache Arellano tied the game at 34-34 with a trey at the 6:09 mark.
Arellano moved the Eagles in front for the final time by converting one of two free throws putting Waurika on top, 35-34, with 5:50 left. That would be the final point scored by the Eagles.
Geronimo finished the game on an 11-0 run which was fueled by excellent free throw shooting by the Blue Jays. Geronimo hit seven of nine free throws to seal the victory.
The game was somewhat sloppy with Waurika committing 25 turnovers and Geronimo recording 23 turnovers. Waurika dominated the boards with a 42-28 advantage.
The Eagles showed the effects of just a couple of practices after having ended the football season last Friday.
Waurika will hit the road again Tuesday when they travel to Temple and then one week from today the basketball squads will begin play in the Comet Classic at Velma-Alma.
WAURIKA 44, GERONIMO 43 (G)
Waurika 17 11 7 9-44
Geronimo 12 4 17 10-43
WAURIKA – Asia Smith 3-0-7, Faith Roberson 0-1-1, Tallin Mora 1-0-2, Hope Cummings 1-0-2, Madison Dees 1-0-2, Gracie Walling 4-3-11, Madison Roberson 8-5-22. TOTALS: 18-9-45. Three-pointers: Smith.
GERONIMO – Elizabeth McCarthy 6-1-15, Hailey Werger 1-0-2, Jade Bessemer 2-1-7, Precious Reeder 3-6-12, Lottie Deere 3-1-7. TOTALS: 15-9-43. Three-pointers: McCarthy 2, Bessemer 2.
GERONIMO 45, WAURIKA 35 (B)
Waurika 13 7 11 4-35
Geronimo 10 7 15 13–45
WAURIKA – Turner Mora 1-0-2, Aaron Nitka 3-4-10, Payton Fletcher 1-0-2, Kevin Garcia 2-0-4, Cache Arellano 6-2-17. TOTALS: 13-6-35. Three-pointers: Arellano 3.
GERONIMO – Jadyn Taylor 3-1-7, Collin Barvientos 1-0-2, Wyatt Johnson 1-2-4, Christian Ussery 7-5-22, Billy Allen 1-0-3, Spencer Jones 1-3-5, David Leveille 1-0-2. TOTALS: 15-11-45. Three-pointers: Ussery 4, Allen.
