MUSTANG – Putnam City North turned up the defensive pressure and Alayasia Burrough got hot from the 3-point line as North beat Okemah, 61-46, in a battle of Lady Panthers Friday morning (Dec. 29) in the girls bracket of the Bank 7 Mustang Holiday Classic.

North (8-2) led most of the game, but Okemah (6-3 and No. 6 in Class 2A) bounded back in the second quarter, taking the lead briefly behind the shooting of junior guard Elaine Berryhill.

Berryhill finished with a game-high 25 points.

Both teams were tied at 30 at halftime, when North turned up the defensive pressure, pressing Okemah. North stretched the lead several times, but Okemah kept clawing back, despite shooting 22 percent from the field.

Then Burrough got hot from outside. The junior guard had been held to only four points (on 2-of-9 shooting) the day before against Bethany. On this day, she hit three treys late in the third quarter and into the fourth to help North pull away.

Freshman guard Demy Howard was efficient from the field, going for 5-of-7 for 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds.. Senior guard Nevaeh Sanchez added eight points and four boards. Sophomore Nini Geretta scored seven points and collected seven rebounds.

A day after Bethany dominated the glass, North outrebounded Okemah 47-36. However, Okemah won the turnover battle 31-23.

UP NEXT: The Lady Panthers advanced to play the winner of Classen SAS Saturday at noon. The Comets (8-5) beat Broken Arrow, 55-49, Friday.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	F
Okemah	15	15	6	10	46
Putnam City North	17	13	16	15	61