Snyder Upsets No. 1 Millwood to Win First Gold Ball

The Lady Cyclones gave up a lead late, but managed to overcome the top-ranked Lady Falcons at the Big House.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:11 pm

By: News On 6

Snyder Upsets No. 1 Millwood to Win First Gold Ball

Originally Published: Mar 12, 2011 10:58 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Snyder Lady Cyclones knocked off the top-ranked Millwood Lady Falcons 53-49 Saturday to claim the Class 2A Gold Ball thanks to the hot hand of Marley Anderson.

The sophomore guard scored a game-high 22 points, 10 coming in the game’s first quarter.

Snyder lit up the scoreboard early, while managing to keep Millwood from scoring for more than three minutes to open the game. The Lady Cyclones scored the game’s first five points, three coming from sophomore Jordynn Vanpelt.

That momentum continued and Snyder built a 13-2 lead, capped off by Anderson’s second three-pointer of the quarter. Millwood hit two pairs of free throws to close the quarter and cut the deficit to seven points.

Millwood made its move to start the second quarter, extending its run to 11-2, to pull to 15-13 less than three minutes in. Snyder’s Shelby White hit a three pointer to push the lead back to five, and headed into the half leading 21-17.

The Lady Falcons continued to push in the opening three minutes of the third quarter, and a 13-4 run – with nine consecutive from Teanna Reid – to take a 30-25 lead.

Trailing 35-32 to start the fourth, Snyder scored the quarter’s first six points – four from Snyder – part of a 9-2 run to take a 41-37 lead with 5:40 left to play.

Millwood’s Dayla Threatt hit a three pointer just 20 seconds later to cut the lead back to one point and a three-point play from Quira Demery on the next possession tied the game 43-43.

But with Snyder in the bonus, it was a matter of time until the Lady Cyclones’ free throws proved to be too much.

Millwood managed just four points in the contests’ closing two minutes, while Snyder maintained its lead with six points, all from the charity stripe.

After Anderson’s 22 points, Vanpelt was the next high mark for Snyder with 17 points.

Reid and Threatt finished tied with a team-high 13 points for the Lady Eagles. Millwood finishes the season 26-3, and graduates just three seniors from the squad.

Sndyer claimed its first girl’s basketball Gold Ball in school history with the win and returns all five members of the starting five.