SHAWNEE – Putnam City North junior Nini Geretta stepped in front of Yukon senior Caid’s Jefferson’s desperation inbounds pass with four seconds left, cementing the Lady Panthers’ 42-38 Class 6A West Area Consolation title Saturday (March 2). Time ran out as Geretta sprinted down the floor towards the bucket and the celebration began.

The win sends North to the state tournament for the second time in four years under coach Logan Martin.

How did Martin feel when Geretta stepped in front of that pass?

“Relief. Excitement. All of it,” Martin said, laughing after the game. “It was a big play.”

Junior Nykaiya Dillard helped North get out to a 14-11 lead lead, scoring 10 points in the first quarter. The teams were tied at 21-21 at the intermission.

The game remained tight in the second half and the scoring slowed down in the fourth quarter. North took the lead with a bucket from freshman Demy Howard with 4:24 left. Howard scored all four of her points in the second half.

The Millerettes missed six straight free throws, missing opportunities to take the lead in the second half.

But, Yukon tied the game up at 36 with a bucket from senior Gabby Tillley with 2:30 left. North Sophomore Tehlia Kutsoati added a bucket down the stretch and Geretta scored with :35 left to extend North’s lead to four points (42-38). Geretta scored four of her six points in the final three minutes of the game.

Dillard finished with a game-high 21 points.

“I was finishing well,” Dillard said. “I was getting to the goal and finishing. I was just playing my game. Definitely.”

Martin has seen performances like this from Dillard.

“She was incredible,” Martin said. “She’s a great athlete. When we’re struggling from the perimeter, she’s really been our go-to and really kept us in games.

“She’s a hard matchup. She’s really tough to guard, especially when she’s going full speed.”

Martin also singled out Howard for her play in the second half.

“She plays a little similar to Nykaiya,” Martin said. “But, she had some big finishes and big rebounds for us.”

UP NEXT: The Lady Panthers join sister school Putnam City West, Edmond North, Mustang, Edmond Memorial, Owasso, Bixby and Sand Springs in the Class 6A State Tournament which begins March 6. The teams will be re-seeded before the bracket is produced.

“I’m excited for this group,” Martin said of her state tournament team. “They work really hard and glad to see it all come together and then stay together.”

TEAM	1	2	3	4	F
Putnam City North	14	7	13	8	42
Yukon	11	10	11	6	38