WARR ACRES — Tied at 34 with 14.9 seconds remaining, Putnam City West coach Kennedi Simien felt unsure about the Patriots defense and ordered her team to use their foul to give against rival Putnam City.

Instead, the Patriots got two defensive stops to force overtime.

West earned its first District 6A-1 win and a measure of revenge on sister school PC with a 41-35 overtime win Tuesday (Feb. 17).

“I just was trying to keep them calm,” Simien said. “They had never been in that kind of situation.”

West forced a time out on the next possession in the backcourt and then a jump ball (which stayed with PC) with 1.3 seconds.

Instead of a miracle shot for the Pirates, sophomore Alazia Gutierrez stripped the ball from Putnam City sophomore Ann Favor-Johnson before time expired, to force overtime.

PC took a 35-34 lead early in the extra period. West answered with a free throw from Patriot sophomore Victoria Martinez and a Gutierrez bucket to retake the lead, 37-35. Gutierrez split two free throws later, Martinez added a bucket and senior Kimya Bullard split another pair of free throws.

The Pirates’ last chance ended when Bullard grabbed a defensive rebound and held on until the buzzer sounded.

West outscored Putnam City, 7-1 in overitme.

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City	1-1
Putnam City West	1-1
Putnam City North	0-0

Like in the Patriots’ 44-39 loss to Original on Jan. 16, West led for much of the contest, but gave up the lead in the fourth quarter.

Original led 34-28 with 1:10 remaining in regulation when sophomore Alazia Gutierrez got a steal and was fouled by Pirate freshman Lily Hollins.

Gutierrez sank both free throws and then hit 1-of-2 the next time down the floor to make it 34-31.

Another PC turnover led to a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from junior Shania White to tie the game at 34.

Simiez praised Gutierrez, who finished with eight points.

“She was finding lanes, and I thought she took care of the ball really well,” Simien said.

West was more assertive while handling the ball and beter at some of the fundamentals

“That’s just what we’ve been emphasizing in practice.

Simien recalled hearing a coach say the points of emphasis were more important than just coaching.

“I’ve been emphasizing taking care of the ball. Defense and making layups.”

Even still, turnovers continue to be a problem.

“Still way too many. self-inflicted turnovers. I’ve been talking to them all season about self-inflicted turnovers. 
We’ve got to take care of the ball and value each possession,”

Depsite the turnovers, Simien thinks practice helped her ballhandlers.

“Honestly, we’ve just been trying to turn it up enough in practice, like, man-to-man defense.

“I think just getting them more reps with that defense just helped a lot.”

For her part, Bullard said the close win was a new experience.

“When it was overtime, we didn’t know what to think,” Bullard said. “But, we had to make sure that we stayed strong.”

Bullard finished with a game-high 12 points. Gutierrez and White each scored eight points the win. Gutierrez was 4-of-6 from the free throw line.

Simien said she can see the progress while she tries to rebuild the program.

“‘I’ve had multiple people come up to me and tell me that they’re a completely different team than they were in November, and that was my goal,” Simienz said. “Going into playoffs, I just want them to continue to focus and progress, like baby steps — don’t do what you did the last game, learn from your mistakes.”

MISSED SHOTS, MISTAKES PROVE COSTLY FOR PC

Putnam City coach Porsche’ Young lamented missed opportunities in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“Some things just didn’t go our way. Some shots didn’t fall,” Young said. “We made a couple of mistakes at the end that with PC West, they end up converting on our turnovers.”

The Pirates trailed for most of the second and third quarter, but freshman Lily Hollins’ trey with 7:01 left gave PC the lead. The Pirates held onto lead for much of the quarter until the West comeback.

Despite the loss, Young liked the intensity but not the result.

“That’s the type of game you want to play when you’re going against your rival.”

Hollins led the Pirates with 11 points.

“She’s learning what to do in certain situations,” Young said of Hollins.

Junior Isabella Martinez added eight points.

Pirate senior Chariyah Williams started the game despite recovering from a preseason injury.

After PC won the opening tip, West honored her and Williams scored an uncontested layup. On the other end, Bullard had an uncontested bucket to tie the game before checking out of the game. Both teams practiced good sportsmanship.

“She’s been loyal to the program. She’s a big piece to the team and a great leader,” Young said. “For her to be out there, getting to see the floor and her first time getting actual minutes (this season), I was so happy for her.”

UP NEXT

West (3-21, 1-13) hosts 4A Harding Fine Arts Friday (Feb. 20) at 6 p.m. for Senior Night.

The Fire Hawks are 0-12 but some scores have not been reported in February.

The Pirates (2-22, 1-13) finishe the regular season at top-ranked Putnam City North (23-1) Friday (Feb. 20) at 6 p.m.

The Panthers routed Capitol Hill, 82-5, last Tuesday (Feb. 13)

	1	2	3	4	OT1	F
Putnam City West (3-21, 1-13)	4	14	5	11	7	41
Putnam City (2-22, 1-13)	7	5	78	15	1	35