NORMAN – When it needed points to get going and baskets to maintain the lead in its closest game of the season, El Reno High School's girls basketball team went back to what it does best – attacking the paint.

El Reno senior post player Pauline Black-Harmon and junior Lilly Thomas combined for 37 points, 23 of those coming in the second half, as the Indians defeated Del City 54-48 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Class 5A Girls Oklahoma State High School Basketball Championships.

“I love feeding our posts. It helps bring up my spirits because they are both very good down low. I may be a little biased but they are the best two posts in the state. They are good at what they do,” said El Reno senior point guard Nazhoni Sleeper.

The win moved El Reno, the tourney's No.1 seed, to 26-0 on the season and into the semifinals for a rematch with Coweta. The Indians defeated CHS by 56 points (79-23) in the semifinals of the Shawnee Invitational in January.

“Everyone is here to win, therefore, we have to show up and play no matter who it is. It doesn't matter if it's Del City, Midwest City or Coweta, we've got to show up every day and every quarter - plain and simple,” said El Reno head coach Jennifer Douglas.

El Reno struggled early with turnovers and trailed 6-0 before Thomas scored a basket and two free throws. Raegan Bugaj's rebound and put-back (4:42) of a missed jumper by Sleeper tied the game.

Reserve post Carley Kihega scored a fastbreak layup (3:15) for El Reno's only lead of the first period. Del City scored the final five points for an 11-8 lead.

Emmary Elizondo opened the second period with a game-tying 3-pointer that sparked an 11-2 run for El Reno. Black-Harmon had three baskets and a pair of free throws in that break, while Bugaj added a bucket and free throw as EHS led 22-15 at the break.

El Reno tried to pull away in the third period with a 9-of-15 shooting effort that included a trey and nine points from Thomas, six by Black-Harmon and another bucket from Kihega.

The Indians led 41-26 after three periods but Del City kept rallying back. The Eagles made multi-point runs to close the gap, the last trimming EHS' lead to 52-45. However, it was answered with an inside basket by Black-Harmon with 32.1 seconds left.

“We let the game play us rather than us play the game. We played toward Del City rather than playing El Reno basketball,” said Douglas of the game that had three ties and three lead changes.

El Reno closed the contest shooting 23-of-50 (46 percent) from the floor including a 2-of-10 effort from the 3-point line. The Indians outscored Del City 40-20 in the paint.

Black-Harmon led that charge with 20 points off 9-of-15 shooting. She came close to a double-double with nine rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot.

Thomas followed with a line of 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. Bugaj added six points and five assists, while Sleeper and Kihega closed with four points each and combined for five rebounds.