Washington’s Lady Warriors punched their ticket to State Friday after they defeated No. 8 Anadarko, 78-18, in the Area championship at Madill.

It’s the fourth consecutive State tournament appearance for Washington, winning State last season after being runners-up the prior two years.

The Warriors didn’t get off to their normal hot start in the Area finals but took a 12-4 lead after the first quarter.

“We got off to a slow start but stayed relentless and intentional in our habits and it benefitted us,” head coach Kale Simon said. “We got it turned around and the game turned our way.”

Washington took a 33-12 lead into halftime.

They were dominate in the second half and didn’t allow Anadarko to score in the fourth quarter.

Harper Johnson led all scorers with 13 points.

Briley Beller (12), Preslee Johnson (12), and Hadley Beard (10) were also in double figures.

As Simon prepared his team for the State tournament he said he was having them remember to do the details that have gotten his team to this point.

“This time of year it’s very important that the little boring habits we practice and live for every day is what butters the bread,” he said. “We need to be consistently reliable rather than brilliant one day. This time of year you have to focus to give your best in every moment, respond to that moment and put it on repeat. That’s what wins championships.”

Washington is 28-1 this season.

Boys

The Washington boys team closed out their season after losing to Dickson, 55-37.

The Warriors finished with a 12-18 record.

“The season was up and down,” head coach Trevor Smith said. “We started off going 1-8 into the Christmas break. We were in so many close games. The difference was three points or less in 12 of our games. But those games prepared us for the playoffs and those super close games. When we got to those playoff games we were comfortable in them.”

The Warriors will graduate six seniors off the team in Owen McCalip, Jack McKimmey, Jace Myers, Miller Orr, Cole Beard and Jax Mitchell.

“Those guys will be missed,” Smith said. “Not all of them played a whole lot before this year and they were contributing factors and had great senior years.”