TAHLEQUAH — The Fort Gibson and Tahlequah Lady Tigers on Saturday showed early on the effects of having played the previous night.

The two teams combined for 44 turnovers, 28 in the first half, but it was Fort Gibson that righted its ship as they defeated Tahlequah 49-40 at the Tahlequah Multipurpose Activities Center.

Fort Gibson, 17-1 and No. 1 in the Class 4A Okrankings.com coaches poll, committed 16 turnovers while Tahlequah had 28.

However, Fort Gibson shot 26.8 percent (15-of-56) while Tahlequah converted 38.5 percent (15-of-39) to keep the game close heading into the fourth quarter.

“We were playing hard in the first half, but couldn’t throw it in the ocean,” said Fort Gibson coach Jerry Walker. “Both of us played last night and it showed. It was a good game and they are a good team. We both forced a lot of turnovers.”

FGHS senior Julia Hill, who had seven points before fouling out with 3:57 remaining, said one reason for the difficulties in the quick turnaround was the makeup of Tahlequah.

“They had more skill than the team we played last night.” she said, referring to a 64-4 romp at Okmulgee where she and the other starters saw scant playing time after the half. “It’s hard to go from playing very little one night to a full game the next. As for me, I go 90 miles an hour and sometimes that doesn’t go with my shots.”

Jodi Glover led Fort Gibson with a game-high 15 points, six of which came in the opening of the fourth quarter as FGHS turned a 33-27 lead into a 44-29 advantage with 4:52 remaining. Tahlequah, 11-4 and No. 9 in Class 5A, had two players finish in double figures with Casey Beaston pouring in 12 points while Randee O’Donnell finished with 10 points.

“Our bench really helped us out tonight,” Jerry Walker said. “Hannah Cantrell, Susie Kilpatrick and Taryn Dunn, those three really picked up the intensity and got it going north and south. That is what we wanted, to make it a full-court game.”

Tahlequah coach Chad Walker knows that protecting the ball is prerequisite to defeating a strong opponent.

“That hasn’t been us the last couple of weeks,” the Tahlequah coach said, talking about his club’s willingness to take care of the ball since the beginning of January. “They’re a good team, and I’m glad to see we can play with them. They’re a state-championship ball club, and I’ve got freshmen and sophomores on the floor competing with them. I’m pretty proud (of our group).”

The Tahlequah boys built a 17-point lead, 47-30, with 6:32 left in the game than had to hold on for dear life to earn the win. Fort Gibson chipped away at Tahlequah’s margin and with 23.6 seconds left trailed 54-52.

After Lane Wright made the front end of a one-and-one, putting Tahlequah up 55-52 with 20.2 seconds left, FGHS worked the ball down the court and watched Jordan London’s game-tying three at the buzzer clang off the side of the rim.

“I thought our kids battled back and played hard,” said Fort Gibson coach Gary Hendrix. “We had to tie at the end. I couldn’t be prouder of the guys.”