Next up was the perennial powerhouse Grandview Lady Zebras and their Coach Steve Montgomery. Grandview is always prepared and well coached and sported a record of 18-11 after surviving a difficult nondistrict schedule and sat on top of District 17AAA with a perfect 10-0 record.
By game time, the gym was pretty much at capacity as both teams participated in Coaches against Cancer, a fund raiser event to help find a cure. When the game finally tipped at 6:40, the intensity and anticipation was at a season’s high. Grandview won the tip and the biggest game of the year had begun. Mallory Stephens, trying to win her 81st game as a Keene Lady Charger, open the scoring with a slashing drive to the basket. Soph. Hannah Thomas responded with a swat of a driving layup and you could tell this was going to be intense. Mallory drove hard to the basket and as the defense collapsed, hit a wide open Brooke Hinerman for two of her 10 points. This connection would prove to be vital as Mallory had 4 assist to Brooke on the night. A Gracie free throw and KLC led 5-4 early in the first quarter. Soph. Keena Alik hit a deep three and after a Grandview layup the score was tied 8-8. Grandview, ever dangerous from behind the arc, connected on a three pointer and led 8-11. In a game of early back and forths, Gracie Stephens baseline jumper got it to 10-11 and that is how the first quarter would end. The question that everyone was wondering was can this KLC team keep up with the scoring of Grandview, who was averaging 65 points a game in district. The second quarter would answer that with the chant coming from the bench of defense. There has been a given, embraced at the Lipan tournament, that this group of girls can play some defense. Defense always keeps you in it. The second quarter started off with a rebound by Gracie with which she goes the length of the court before hitting an open Jr. Cammie Fautheree who hits the 12 foot baseline jumper to tie the score at 12-12. Defense resulted in another steal by Mallory and a hard drive to the basket that ended with a bullet pass to Brooke and KLC had the lead that it would not relinquish. When Hannah Thomas hit a three off the inbounds and Mallory found Hinerman, once again Keene had taken 19-12 lead causing Coach Montgomery to take a timeout with 2:40 in half. Grandview, maybe sensing the momentum had changed, went into a stall the last 2:40 and when their three at the buzzer barely bounced off the front rim, KLC had held them to one second quarter point and the ladies from Keene High School went to the locker room up 19-12.

The second half started much like the first half ended. Keena Alik, playing one of her best games of the year, hit her second three from way behind the arc to make it 22-12 with 5:45 in the third and a Brooke rebound off a Grace missed three made it 24-12. Mallory drew a charge on Grandview’s shooting guard and then followed that up with a give and go from Hannah and extended the lead to 26-12 halfway through the third. A Hannah to Grace Stephens layup stretched the lead to 28-12 as KLC was in the midst of a 20-1 run that lasted for over 14 minutes. Grandview drove and was fouled with 1:57 left in the third and made 1 of 2 to make it 28-13. As you sat and watched the game unfold, you knew that Grandview had a run in them, all good teams do. A three by Grandview and an immediate turn over by Keene and you could see Grandview was back alive. A layup by Grandview followed and KLC led 28-18. The momentum had swung the other way, but a foul by Grandview at the buzzer gave Mallory Stephens a chance to end their run. Mallory missed the first two but made the third one for a 29-18 lead headed into the 4th quarter.

Grandview came out for the 4th quarter in the full court press but quick passes and a Mallory drive and dish to Keena and the lead was back to 13 at 31-18. Grace, who brings stability to the offense, got the ball stolen at half court and then committed the foul on the layup and with 6:50 went to the bench with her 4th foul. The next possession found Mallory dribbling the length of the court and hitting a diving Hinerman for a 33-18 lead in what looked to be the beginning of an easy quarter and win. But that’s not what the Lady Zebras had in mind. The next minute would prove crucial in the outcome of the game. With 6:15 left, Grandview’s shooting guard connects on a driving layup to cut the lead to 33-23 but gets hit with a technical foul for taunting Keena and does not return. Thomas made 1 of the technical fouls and KLC led 34-23 with 6:07. Grandview picking up the defensive pressure, converted yet another steal into a layup cutting the lead to 9. Mallory, fouled attacking the press, hits 2 free throws with 4:47 to extend the lead to 36-25. Hannah Thomas, picks up her 4th foul trying to block a shot with 4:00 left, and goes to the bench with Grace. Suddenly Grandview had life! A quick three makes it 36-28 and with KLC unable to get the ball across half court and a driving layup by Grandview, suddenly it’s a six point game, 36-30, with 3:32 to play with all the momentum with the Lady Zebras. Both sides of the court are now cheering and chanting and when KLC commits yet another turnover off the press Coach Mcfarlin had seen enough. At the time out, Gracie and Hannah, both with 4 fouls, are reinserted into the game. With Grace back in and Mallory back in the middle, KLC breaks the press beautifully but a bad pass to a wide open Thomas gives the ball back to Grandview and their fans could smell the comeback. A questionable charge call against Mallory on the ensuing possession and when Grandview makes 1 of 2 free throws they had cut the lead to five, 36-31. That was as close as they would get. Hannah Thomas, playing big in the post was fouled on the rebound and with 2:57 steps to the line and, as has been her custom lately, sinks both free throws to extend lead back to 7. Thomas’s base line jumper with 2:11 extended the lead back to nine, 40-31. A team as good as Grandview is never out of the game and another Lady Zebra three made it 40-34. This time KLC handled the press and Grace hit Hannah diving to basket for a bucket and a foul. After the missed free throw, Grandview hits yet another three to cut the lead again to five 42-37 with :45. The inbounds against the press went to Alik who got fouled and made first free throw off back iron, 43-37. Keena missed the second shot but defensive specialist Soph. Nehemiah Lewis beat her girl off the block to get a huge rebound. Sensing a turnover in the block, Coach McFarlin quickly calls a timeout. Grandview’s defense causes a KLC 5 sec count and had yet another chance to cut into the lead. Mallory, playing with only 1 foul, fouled the post after an air ball and made her shoot free throws. She made both free throws to make the score 43-39 with :30 left in the contest. Keena inbounds to Mallory who got fouled on the press and after she drains both free throws, her 6th straight, KLC led 45-39. The last Grandview possession showed why KLC has been able to win 7 straight games. It all comes down to Defense! Grandview brought the ball down and the defense swarmed as Mallory created two jump balls giving the ball and the victory to the Lady Chargers. One last free throw from Mallory finishes the scoring and KLC defeats Grandview(18-12,11-1)by the final score of 46-39.

Both teams have three games remaining with Keene facing 4th place Blooming Grove @ BG next Friday at 6:15 and Grandview playing Blooming Grove this Tuesday and finishing at Maypearl the last Tuesday of the season.

Keep fighting Lady Chargers! 7 down 3 to go.