FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Carl Junction girls basketball team settled for the runner-up plaque at the Taco Bell Tournament of Champions.
Short-handed Carl Junction suffered an 82-59 setback to a solid Sapulpa, Oklahoma, squad in the event’s championship game on Saturday night at Northside High School.
It was Carl Junction’s first loss of the season after five wins.
Carl Junction senior guard Destiny Buerge scored a game-high 39 points. A Pittsburg State signee, Buerge made 12 field goals, including five 3-pointers, to go with 10-of-13 free throws. Buerge scored 106 points in the three tourney games.
Sophomore forward Dezi Williams added 12 points for Carl Junction.
Carl Junction played nearly all of the game without junior forward Kylie Scott, who was limited by an ankle injury she suffered during Friday’s game.
Sapulpa’s Stailee Heard, an Oklahoma State recruit, scored 25 points. Tyla Heard added 20 for the Chieftains. Two others reached double figures for Sapulpa, as Taylor Bilby scored 11 and Raegan McQuarters added 10.
Sapulpa scored the first eight points of the game and led 22-10 by the end of the first quarter. Buerge had eight of CJ’s 10 points in the opening frame.
In the second quarter, a hoop inside by Williams and back to back treys from Buerge cut Carl Junction’s deficit to six, but the Chieftains finished the first half on an 18-6 run for a 44-26 halftime advantage.
Carl Junction scored the first 11 points of the third quarter, with Williams scoring six and Buerge scoring five during the spurt. Those points cut CJ’s deficit to 44-37.
But the Chieftains used an 11-5 run to go up 55-42. Carl Junction got treys from Klohe Burk and Buerge late in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs trailed 61-48 entering the fourth period.
Sapulpa scored eight unanswered points early in the final frame to take a 20-point lead at 69-49.
Buerge and Scott were named to the all-tournament team, while senior Hali Shorter was one of the Heart of a Champion award recipients.
Carl Junction will take on Gentry (Arkansas) at 3:30 on Monday at the Mustang Classic at McDonald County High School.
1 thought on “GIRLS HOOPS: Buerge scores 39, but Carl Junction falls to Sapulpa in TOC title game”
I very proud of our lady Bull Dogs they work hard play hard they’re outstanding .I am very proud of Dezi Williams she is a go getter and can’t wait to see how she does her Junior year she works hard and she’s outstanding for a sophmore Im’ extra proud she is my oldest Great Granddaughter
And one of my Shinning Stars. I have six they all shine
are all gifted in sports, we have been blessed God is so Good to us all are healthy thank you Jesus.