OKLAHOMA CITY — With a new national ranking and an ongoing win streak, Putnam City North took care of business Friday (Jan. 17) and routed Edmond Santa Fe, 75-33, in a 6A-2 contest.

It was the eighth straight win for the Lady Panthers (16-1) who are ranked 23rd nationally by MaxPreps.

North led from start to finish and opened the game on a 11-0 run.

As North coach Logan Martin preaches, defense led to offense.

“I was proud of the girls and I thought our defense was looked really good and our full court man and our pressure really kind of started us off early and that’s that’s what we’re going for,” Martin said.

Senior Nini Geretta scored eight points in the first quarter to help North sprint ahead.

“I thought she came out hot from three and she does a good job running the show, getting everybody involved, but also defensively,” Martin said.

Geretta finished with 11 points, three assists and a steal.

The Lady Wolves (3-8, 2-5) never got closer than eight points after North’s opening run as the Lady Panthers built a 45-14 lead at halftime.

Sophomore Demy Howard scored a game-high 12 points coming off the bench. Howard hit two 3-pointers and and had two steals.

Senior Nykaiya Dillard added 11 points, three assists and a blocked shot. Later in the night, Dillard was named Winter Homecoming queen.

Fellow senior Brandie Harrod followed with six points, six rebounds and four blocks. The Auburn signee was recently named a McDonald’s All-American nominee.

The lone area of concern for Martin and the North coaching staff was free throw shooting. The Lay Panthers shot a dismal 38 percent (5-of-19) from the line.

“We’ve put an emphasis on it, but we’ve gotta even take a different approach, something more, I don’t know, something to get a better result,” Martin said.”That could cost us a game in the playoffs, state (tournament). We’ve got to improve that area.”

With the national ranking came lots of attention, but Martin is careful to help her team avoid the distraction.

“It’s exciting and it’s something they should be proud of, but we don’t want them to become fixated on that and get complacent with we’re at,” Martin said.

UP NEXT

Putnam City North travels to Piedmont Tuesday (Jan. 21) at 6 p.m.

The Lady Wildcats beat Lawton Eisenhower, 55-38, Friday.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton

	1	2	3	4	F
Edmond Santa Fe (3-8, 2-5)	8	6	7	12	33
Putnam City North (16-1, 7-0)	25	20	14	16	75