Lady Bombers defeat Tinker 56-46, advance to MLK finals

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE,Texas --  The Barksdale Lady Bombers took a commanding 34-20 lead at half time against Jan. 20 and never looked back as they beat the Tinker Lady Hawks 56-46.

With the win, the Lady Bombers moved on to face Fort Sill, Okla. Fort Sill beat Barksdale 90-87 in their first meeting of the 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. basketball tournament. Tinker claimed third place in the women's bracket.

Lady Bombers Coach Deon Neil said his game plan was to play a ball-control game, but they had more opportunities to run the court than expected.

"We were taking basically what the defense was giving us," he said. "I realized they weren't playing with much intensity."

Barksdale went on 7-0 and 6-0 runs in the first half, creating separation from their familiar opponent. Guard Keysha Coleman keyed the spurts, scoring all of her 14 points in the first half.

Carlos Hopkins, head coach of the Lady Hawks, said Coleman was a difference in the game.

"Their speed was a factor," he said. "They're point guard in an excellent ball handler."

Tinker took a brief 13-12 lead midway through the first half after Tiffany Perry connected on the first of one-and-one free throws. But Barksdale answered with their first significant run.

Sarah Brown, Charmaine Walker and Juana Ortiz each had field goals to push the Lady Bombers' lead to 19-13. Was soon followed up with their 6-0 run, led by Coleman, Walker and Becky Schliter.

"We never want to let up," Neil said. "You never know what's going to happen."

Barksdale's stingy defense and Schliter's inside presence kept Tinker from getting closer than six points in the second half.

The Lady Hawks had a deep bench, but they weren't able to keep up with the running style of Barksdale.

"Our game is slow and deliberate," Hopkins said. "After we tried to (match their speed) and play their game, that threw us off."

Neil said he looks forward to playing Fort Sill again. He said too many shots were left on the court.

"We played Fort Sill to double overtime," he said. "The difference in that game was not taking open shots."

Hopkins said being the third place team in a tournament isn't a goal, but he gladly accepted the outcome.

We always look forward to coming to the MLK," he said. "This is one of the pinnacles the military has left."

Editor's note: Information about other games in the women's bracket will be added when it becomes available.