Dale Wins Gold Ball in Heated Matchup

Jessica Coody
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Just days before facing each other in the state championship game, defending state champion Pawnee beat top-ranked Dale in the area championship in overtime. Dale responded in the clutch, taking home its first gold since 1991 by knocking off Pawnee 59-44 in the 2A championship on Saturday.

“We wanted Pawnee again,” Dale head coach Benny Burnett said. “We fell a little bit short in the area finals in overtime, but I think God had his hands on it and made it where we could meet him in the finals.”

Pawnee cut Dale's lead to two points in the third quarter before Kaylee Wilkins hit back-to-back threes to give Dale a six-point lead. Linlee Blevins followed by hitting a three as time expired in the third, as Dale took a nine-point lead into the fourth.

It never got close again.

“Being No. 1, you always have that bullseye on your back and everyone’s out to get you,” Wilkins said. “We are No. 1 for a reason and we need to go out there and prove it."

“We did. We gave everything we had and we did it.”

Blevins led Dale with 21, Wilklins had 15, and Burnett added 12.