When both Fairview and Tinora get together in any athletic event, one can always expect the best, and then some, from all participants. 

Thursday night at Tinora High School was no different as both schools entered at 1-0 in a huge Green Meadows Conference game. Fairview came in with a 7-4 record, while the Lady Rams entered at 6-4.

The Lady Rams defense had the rough job of stopping the areas leading scored, and among leaders in almost other categories, Kelly Crites.

The initial quarter saw Tinora jump out to a 9-2 lead, eventually leading 13-5 after one-quarter of play. 

The second stanza saw the Lady Rams jump out to a 10-point lead at 16-6 on a Nova Okuley three at the 7:15 mark. Fairview and their swarming defense came up with three straight seals, and within 40 seconds, the Apaches cut the Lady Rams lead to 16-12 with 6:00 remaining in the half. Crites had four quick points during the Apache run.

Tinora would still hold the lead at the half, 25-22, as they would withstand the initial Fairview attack.

The visiting Apaches were led at the half by Crites with eight points, while the host Lady Rams were paced by Nova Okuley with 10.

Quarter three would see both teams dig in, knowing they were in for a battle, giving everything on both ends of the floor. The Tinora defense would hold Crites scoreless in the third period, while Aubrey Hammer would heat up. Still, the Lady Rams held a 34-29 lead through three.

Unfortunately for the Lady Rams in the third period, they would start to accumulate fouls for most starters, as would the team turnovers.

The fourth quarter would see the Apaches finally take their first lead of the game at 36-34 with 5:00 remaining in regulation as Kayla Mavis would give the Apaches the advantage with a runner in the lane. 

Tinora battled back to tie the game at 42-42 and would have the ball with 15 seconds left and a chance to win, unfortunately, a deep Rams three was off, and to overtime the teams went.

The second OT would see the Apaches jump out to a 48-45 lead on a Haley Hammer three with 2:12 left in OT and eventually take a 49-45 lead.  Nova Okuley would get a Lady Rams bucket to cut the lead to 49-47 with 1:10 remaining in the OT period. 

Tinora’s Karli Okuley would foul out in the initial OT period at the 13-second mark. Kelly Crites would head to the line and split the pair, giving Fairview a 52-49 lead, Tinora would grab the missed second free throw and the Lady Rams would take a timeout.

Out of the Lady Rams timeout, Nova Okuley would hit a deep left-wing three at the buzzer to tie the game at 52-52. 

In the second four-minute OT period, Fairview’s Haley Hammer would hit a runner in the lane to put the Apaches in front 54-52. A lead they would never relinquish.

Tinora would have two more starters foul out in the second OT, Addison Lee and Eowyn Blanchard, and saw the Apaches jump to a 57-52 lead with two minutes remaining in the second OT. 

The Lady Rams still would not give in despite the losses. Nova Okuley hit her sixth three for her 24th point with 1:20 left, cutting the Apache lead to 57-55.

Fairview grabbed a 60-55 lead on a Kelly Crites free throw, her 18th point of the night, with 25 seconds left.

The Lady Rams Emma Bailey would nail a right-side three with 2 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 60-58, Tinora, out of timeouts, was unable to stop the clock. 

The Apaches came away with a thrilling 60-58 win over the Lady Rams.

Fairview would shoot 35 free throws to Tinora’s 7.

FAIRVIEW 5-17-7-13-10-8=60
TINORA 13-12-9-8-10-6=58

Fairview scoring: Mavis 8, Sharp2, Crites 18, A Hammer 14, H Hammer 12, Taylor 9

Tinora scoring: Lee 7, K Okuley 10, Blanchard 5, Durfey 7, N Okuley 24, Bailey 5

Three-point goals: Fairview: A. Hammer 4, H. Hammer.

Tinora: N. Okuley 6, K. Okuley 2, Lee, Blanchard, Durfey, Bailey.

Fairview improves to 8-4, 2-0 in the GMC. The Apaches will host a tough Liberty Center team on Tuesday.

Tinora falls to 6-5, 1-1 in conference play. Tinora will host a very good Patrick Henry team on Tuesday.

Below courtesy Mrs. Wells