The Lady Panthers found a rhythm early and let it fly.

Pittsburg and Kiowa faced off in the semifinals of the Pitt 8 Conference Tournament on Thursday at Crowder, where the Lady Panthers used a hot score in the first half en route to a 62-31 win to advance to the championship game.

Akeira Hawk gave the Lady Panthers an early lead, sparking a scoring run. Aspen Duvall added straight triples while Hawk and Catyn Graham added free throws to take a 17-6 lead after the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Maccie and Mollie Bain combined for seven points for the Cowgirls. But Pittsburg responded with another scoring streak – going 8-2 in the final five minutes of the period to lead 30-13 at the half.

Pittsburg maintained its momentum early in the second half, going 7-2. Kiowa got points from Maccie Bain and Paige Igou, but the Lady Panthers answered with a triple hit from Catyn Graham. After a hard fight, the Lady Panthers found themselves leading 42-24 going into the final period of the game.

The pair battled to the end, but the Lady Panthers would return to the championship game to complete back-to-back titles.

Hawk led the way for the Lady Panthers with 22 points, followed by Catyn Graham with 21 points, Duvall with 15, and Keely Couch with three.

Maccie Bain led the Cowgirls with 10 points, followed by Igou with seven, Mollie Bain with six, Madyson Wolfenbarger with three and Shaylee Nichols with two.

Pittsburg is advancing to face Stuart in the title game, with a clue scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Crowder. Kiowa moves into the third place game at 3pm Saturday at Crowder.

STUART 51, CANADA 34

The Lady Hornets return to the title game.

Stuart and Canada faced off in the semifinals of the Pitt 8 Conference Tournament on Thursday at Crowder, where the Lady Hornets clinched a 51-34 victory and advanced to the championship game for the second year in a row.

The Lady Hornets jumped out early, using a 6-0 run to take the lead. But the Lady Cougars responded with a triple from Dasie Graham to cut the deficit in half. Emery Arnold and Sydney Gray then added five quick points, pushing Canada ahead.

Stuart counterattacked, latching on to passes from Haddie Lindley and Haili Igor to take a 13-8 lead after the opening quarter.

The Lady Hornets kept the momentum going into the second half, catching back-to-back scores from Lindley and Kaylee Ford. Canada responded with a 7-3 run to cut the deficit, but six quick points from Lindley put Stuart up 26-17 at halftime.

The two teams traded blows on the other side of the break, battling back and forth in the third quarter. The Lady Cougars rattled off a late goal, which led to Stuart’s 36-28 lead heading into fourth.

Canada cut the deficit to seven to start the final period, with Stuart calling a timeout with 5:47 left. Lindley was fine at the other end for the Lady Hornets, hitting back-to-back triples from the right to extend the lead to 13 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Arnold answered with a post-up bucket in his next possession for Canada, but Stuart responded with a layup from Jacie Crenshaw.

Stuart and Canada both battled to the last, but the Lady Hornets would seal victory – sending Stuart into his second straight Pitt 8 Tournament championship game.

Lindley led the way for Stuart with 23 points, followed by Igou with nine, Ford with eight, Reagan Wade with six, and Crenshaw with four.

Arnold led Canada with 12 points, followed by Dalaina Watson with eight, Tammanie Anzlovar with six, Graham with five and Gray with three.

The Lady Hornets advance to the title game on Saturday at Crowder to face Pittsburg, with tipoff set at 6:00 p.m. Canada will advance to third place game on Saturday at Crowder against Kiowa, with tipoff set at 3 p.m.