BETHANY – The Bethany Lady Bronchos cracked the 100-point mark and senior Zya Vann set the school’s career record for points in a 101-34 win over Elk City Thursday (Feb. 22) in the Class 4A Area II West Regional.

Vann, an OU commit, who came to the school as a junior a season ago after seasons at Norman and Southmoore, needed just seven points to break the mark of 1,687 points. set by Logan Martin in 2008. Vann broke the record and helped turn the playoff game into a record-setting rout.

Early in the first quarter, the Lady Bronchos (21-4) found themselves in an unusual position, leading only 5-3 at the 4:07 mark. Junior Kayten Donley drained a 3-pointer to make it 8-3. Then Vann went to work, scoring the game’s next eight points to break the record and to stretch the lead to 16-3.

Bethany coach Eric Sailer admits the team’s layoff may have played a part in the slow start. The Lady Bronchos won by forfeit in the district playoffs because Clinton didn’t have enough healthy players.

“It looked like we took the week off (in the first quarter),” Sailer said. “It took us a while to finally figure some things out, take care of the ball.

From there the points piled on for Bethany. All five starters scored in double figures with junior Keziah Lofton, another OU commit, scoring 19 points, including three treys. Zya Vann finished with 18 points, nailing four 3-pointers.

Donley added 13 points while senior Avery Marchino contributed 15 points. Zya’s sister, Talia Vann, a junior, added 11 points.

In all, Bethany had ten players score and six scored in double-figures as sophomore Maddison McNutt added 10 points with two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

For the game, the Lady Bronchos shot 52 percent (16-of-31) from beyond the arc.

EARLY WAKE-UP CALLS PAY OFF FOR VANN

While Sailer has seen Zya Vann pour in points over the last two seasons, he said there are things behind the scenes that people don’t see from the stands.

“It’s her work that she does. off the court, out of the game atmosphere,” Sailer said. “She’s up here at 5:30 in the morning. She’s getting up shots. She’s lifting three days this week, Her and her sister Talia up here working on their game.”

“There’s not too many high school athletes that are dedicated and want to get out of bed that early, but she’s putting in the work and now she’s reaping the reward.”

For Zya and Talia, the early morning workouts, include their dad Bryatt Vann

“If our dad wasn’t the one waking us up, we would go, but,” Zya Vann said. “He’s really helped us, a lot.”

Bryatt Vann, a Putnam City basketball star, played at Oklahoma from 1991-1993 and then played professionally.

“I think we both just want to be like really good basketball players. And, we see that this can take us really far,” Zya Vann said. “And, so we’re willing to do whatever it takes to be the best.”

BETHANY ALUM MARTIN RETURNS
After Zya Vann broke the record in the first quarter, the team honored her at halftime with a photo plaque for the accomplishment. Martin, a former All-American at Southern Nazarene and now the head coach at Putnam City North, presented the photo to Vann. Martin had an off night since her Lady Panthers meet Norman North Friday (Feb. 23).

Sailer said it was important for Martin to be at the game and to present the photo to Vann.

“Setting a record that’s lasted 16 years, it’s super special, it’s important,” Sailer said. “So, I wanted her to get that gratitude from our community.”

He described the Bethany community as “tight-knit.”

“Everybody knows Logan,” Sailer said.

Martin’s father, Bobby, is well-known as a player, head coach and athletic director at nearby Southern Nazarene. Her mother, Jan, has been a teacher in Bethany schools for many years.

THE FIRST LOCKER ROOM CELEBRATION

Sailer spoke to the media after being drenched with water by his team in the locker room after the win. He said it was their first locker room party of the season but he wanted the team to enjoy the 100-point game and Zya Vann’s accomplishment.

“I told them, ‘I don’t want you guys to be robots,’ ” Sailer said.

UP NEXT: Top-ranked Bethany, already assured of a trip to the Class 4A Area II playoffs, meets No. 15 Purcell for the regional title Saturday (Feb. 24) at 6:30 p.m. at Bethany High School. The Lady Bronchos won Purcell’s Heart of Oklahoma Basketball Tournament earlier this season but did not play the 20-5 Lady Dragons in the tournament.

On Friday, Purcell beat Newcastle, 51-34, to advance to play Bethany.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	F
Elk City	5	6	8	10	34
Bethany	24	30	22	25	101