NORMAN – A halftime pep talk woke up El Reno High School's defense over the final two periods as the Indians defeated Coweta 47-19 in the semifinals of the Class 5A Girls Oklahoma State High School Basketball Championships.

The 28-point victory, the second of the season over Coweta, moved El Reno to 27-0 on the season and into the championship game for the third time since 2019.

El Reno, the tourney's top seed, was set to face third-seeded Sapulpa for the 5A title inside the Lloyd Noble Center. It will be the fourth straight year for the programs to play in the state tourney, with the Chieftains holding a 2-1 record in the three previous meetings.

The Indians win over Sapulpa was a 59-50 decision in 2022 semifinal round.

Gaining another victory over the Chieftains, said El Reno post player Pauline Black-Harmon, will take an effort like El Reno unleashed in the second half against Coweta – which scored only four points.

“Play like we did in the second half on every possession. Every possession matters,” said Black-Harmon.

El Reno's defense shutout Coweta in the fourth period, allowing just 12 shots, while forcing nine turnovers. The Indians' offense scored 12 points off those miscues and outscored the Tigers 17-0 in the period.

“Defense wins championships. We can't do anything without our defense. We know that we have to play defense to be able to score,” said Black-Harmon.

El Reno trailed 15-14 at halftime but got a basket from Emmary Elizondo (7:10) and a rebound and put back by Black-Harmon (6:07) to fashion an 18-17 lead that it would not relinquish.

The Indians defense pressured Coweta into seven turnovers over the final six minutes of the third period. El Reno converted those miscues into 12 points off three baskets and a free throw by Raegan Bugaj and a bucket each from Lilly Thomas and Eryn Roman Nose.

Carley Kihega's free throw (1:16) pushed the lead to 30-19 after three periods. El Reno outscored Coweta 16-4 in the frame.

“We were slacking off on defense and we were not turning it up like we usually do. We were letting them set up and ran the plays like they wanted to do.

“In the second half we turned up the intensity on defense and we made them speed up their offense,” said Bugaj.

The junior guard said the game's turning point was the 12-0 run in the third period set up by the defense.

“It really turned up our intensity and reminded us what we can do and who we really are. Once we got that going it was all up from there. Defense wins ball games and that's what we did today in the second half,” said Bugaj.

Black-Harmon led El Reno in scoring with 10 points off 5-of-8 shooting. She added seven rebounds, three assists and one of the team's 13 steals. Bugaj was close behind with a line of nine points, four assists, three boards and four steals.

Thomas closed with eight points, four caroms and a steal, followed by six points and four steals from Nazhoni Sleeper. Elizondo finished with five points to go along with four from Kihega.