The Merritt Oilerettes started their basketball season with a singular goal — making a Gold Ball contribution to the trophy case at Merritt Gymnasium.
The 28-3 team has been one of 2A’s top ball clubs for the entire year, showing talent and promise at every position and deep into the bench. Several of the girls who come off the bench would start almost anywhere else. To say the stacked team shows promise for many years is an understatement.
In the first game, the Merritt girls beat the Pocola Indias 56-48.
Abby Hartman led the Oilerettes with 20 points. She also had eight rebounds. The girls went on two different 10-point runs that made the difference in the win.
Chloe Stout put on a shooting clinic in the third quarter with 12 points.
The girls also had 14 assists on 18 baskets.
Stout put in 15 points, Marlie Mong scored 10, Carnes added nine, and Ella Porter put in two points.
In the Friday game against the Riverside Indian Lady Braves, the Oilrettes brought home a 56-38 victory.
Mong brought down the big points with 22 and ten rebounds. She also made major assists.
The game was tight at the half, with Merritt leading 21-19. But then the Oilrettes turned on the heat.
Hartman scored 19, Stout added 7, Hallie Smith knocked out five and Ella Porter scored four points.
The final game on Saturday, tension was high as both the Oilerettes and the Dale Lady Pirates vied for the championship.
The game came down to the wire with the Merritt girls fighting until the last seconds for their 25-23 win.
There were nine lead changes, but the girls never lost focus.
Hartman was lead scorer with 11 points. Mong added eight, Stout scored four and Ella Porter put in two.
