FORT GIBSON – Brooke Palmer may be coming out of the shadows for Fort Gibson’s girls basketball team.

She was primarily a backup to All-Phoenix selection Nana Wallace last season and did not figure prominently in the spotlight this season with her older teammates getting the points and attention.

However, the 5-foot-10 junior’s seven points in the second half helped the Lady Tigers top the Muldrow Lady Bulldogs 65-58 in the Old Fort Classic semifinals at Fort Gibson’s Harrison Field House on Thursday night.

In the other semifinal, Stilwell beat Stigler 53-47 to deny the championship game matchup between Fort Gibson coach Jerry Walker and his son Jeff, the first-year Stigler coach. Fort Gibson plays Stilwell at 7 p.m. Saturday for the championship.

The biggest play for Palmer came with 1:04 left in the third quarter when she rebounded Allie

Glover’s missed 3-point shot attempt, made the putback and sank the ensuing free throw for a three-point play. Fort Gibson increased its lead from 41-39 to 44-39 at that point.

“I concentrated on making free throws and that really helped,” Palmer said. “I think coach (Jerry Walker) was glad I stepped up.”

Indeed, Walker was pleased with Palmer’s play. She was one of four players to score in double figures for the Lady Tigers.

“Brooke is a workhorse,” he said. “She’s a secondary player as she gets points if somebody passes her the ball or gets a rebound. She does all of that behind-the-scenes work. She also kept us in the game by getting to the free-throw line.”

Palmer made all five of her free throws in the second half and 7-of-8 for the game as the Okrankings.com Class 4A No. 1 team improved to 13-1.

Taylor London led the quartet of Lady Tigers in double figures with 17 points after sinking all four of her 3-point attempts in the first half. Jodi Glover had 15 and Julia Hill added 13 points.

Natalee Frederick led 4A No. 14 Muldrow (9-3) with 21 points and Emily Martin added 14.

Meanwhile, Stigler’s Walker was disappointed about not getting the chance to play the Lady Tigers for the title.

“I wouldn’t have minded to play against them because we haven’t been to a tournament championship game this season,” he said. “It would’ve been a good opportunity against a team that’s at the top.”

Sophomore Sara Fountain recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Stilwell (5-7).

“That was a good win for us,” Stilwell coach Marvin Thouvenel said. “We made some mistakes, but we’re trying to cut down on them. I tell my players to keep playing hard and good things will happen if they do that.”

Danielle Bowers and Halie Turrentine led Stigler (6-5) with 11 points each. The Lady Panthers and Muldrow at 4 p.m. Saturday for third place.

In the consolation round today, Locust Grove faces Eufaula at 4:30 and Inola plays Wagoner at 7:20 p.m.

Boys

Jordan Hill and the Fort Gibson boys can look back on the third quarter as the difference.

The Tigers trailed 37-32 at halftime, but ended up losing 72-62 to the Locust Grove Pirates in the semifinals. 4A No. 14 Locust Grove outscored 4A No. 20 Fort Gibson 21-11 in that third quarter to lead 58-43 going into the final period.

“Coach (Gary Hendrix) wanted us to come out and put pressure on (Robert) Shelly,” Hill said. “He was going off on us and we couldn’t get a body on him. That third quarter hurt us a lot.”

Muldrow (9-3) defeated Stilwell 45-37 in the other semifinal and to advance to the Saturday finals against the Pirates (11-2) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Shelly scored eight points in that third period and finished with a game-high 30 points.

“Locust Grove played well in the third quarter,” Hendrix said. “They shot the ball well and hit the boards when they missed it. I think they scored on six or seven consecutive trips. They play really hard and have good shooters,”

David Stone had 16 and Reed Bryant added 11 for the Pirates.

Hill led the Tigers with 18 points, while Thomas Keith and Zach Lindley added 12 each.

In the other semifinal, Nate Hamilton led all scorers and paced Muldrow with 16 points and Dominic Blue added 10. Muldrow led 30-20 at halftime.

Cameron Powell scored 11 points and Chase Littlejohn added nine in the loss as Stilwell (7-5) plays Fort Gibson (9-5) at 5;30 p.m. Saturday for third place.

Meanwhile, Wagoner plays Eufaula at 8:45 p.m. and Stigler clashes with Inola at 5:50 p.m in the consolation bracket.