DUNCAN — Bethany rebounded from a first-half deficit to beat Elgin, 51-44, to win the Southern Oklahoma Invitational Saturday (Dec. 13).

The Bronchos (4-1) struggled in the paint in the first half. Bethany was 5-of-19 inside the arc.

The Bronchos also had turnover issues.

“We did not value the ball,” Bethany coach Eric Sailer said via text.

That led to a 9-point deficit (24-15) at halftime.

“Second half was much better,” Sailer said. “Not perfect, but better.”

Bethany opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run and the Owls’ lead was 26-24. Elgin extended the lead again but the Bronchos stayed close.

Senior Maddison McNutt sank two free throws with :14 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 35-35.

Junior Camryn Regier scored a layup with 7:47 left in the game to give Bethany 37-35 lead.

“The girls responded well to pressure being down!!!” Sailer said. “They organized as a unit and impacted the game in a positive way to finish off the tournament to win the championship!

“Proud of them on how they finished the game.”

Regier scored a game-high 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Regier added two assists, eight rebounds, a block and three steals.

Maddison McNutt added 12 points with two 3-pointers. She also hit 6 of 8 free throws.

Junior Ali Linn followed with eight points, one assist, 10 rebounds and three steals.

Bethany won despite shooting 30 percent from the field and turning the ball over 19 times. Elgin also struggled from the field (34 percent) and had 20 turnovers. The Bronchos out-rebounded the Owls, 34-22.

Later in the day, the Bethany JV beat host Duncan, 35-7, to earn seventh place in the tournament.

Linn and Maddison McNutt were named to the all-tournament team and Regier’s was named the tournament MVP.

UP NEXT

Bethany (4-1) hosts Woodward in a Western Athletic Conference game Tuesday (Dec. 16). The Bronchos are 0-1 in conference play.

The Boomers (1-5) lost to Weatherford, 57-48, Saturday at the Arvest Bank Classic in Chickasha.

	1	2	3	4	F
Elgin (2-2)	14	10	11	9	44
Bethany (4-1)	7	8	20	16	51