Woodward, Okla. — OKLAHOMA CITY  - Third-ranked Seiling moved into the semifinals of the Class A girls basketball tournament but Vici’s upset bid in Class B girls fell short against Cyril Thursday 48-30.

Seiling, 23-3, took an early lead and never trailed in defeating Merritt 47-37 at the State Fairgrounds Arena. The Wildcats will face Howe or Okarche in the semifinals today at noon.

Vici lost to to-ranked Cyril 48-30 at Choctaw High School.

Aubrey Colvard and Kari Trammell scored 15 points each as Seiling advanced for the first time in three tries under coach Brady Hamar. The Wildcats lost in the first round in 2007 and 2008 and missed the state tournament last year.   

This time, the Wildcats took control early as Colvard hit a pair of treys in the first period to spark a 13-6 lead. Trammell took over inside most of the second quarter and gave Seiling it’s widest lead at 24-11.

But in the final two minutes of the half, Merritt started forcing turnovers and used a 7-0 run to close the gap to 24-18,

When Paige Martindale scored to start the third quarter, Merritt was within 4 points at 24-20.

Colvard got free for a bucket, then Chelsea Tate and Trammell scored to rebuild the lead to 10 at 30-20.

Merritt hung around though and twice closed within 6 before Seiling finished the third period with a 33-25 lead.

Free throws helped the Wildcats hold off the Oilers in the fourth period.

Seiling converted 12 of 17 opportunities as Merritt had to foul in over to try and catch up. And, on one of the misses, Tate grabbed her own rebound and scored.

Merritt made one more run and cut the lead to 43-37 with 51.7 seconds left, but Caitlin Nichols and Chelsie Livingston each hit two free throws in the closing seconds for the final margin.

In addition to solid free throw shooting, Seiling hit over 50 percent from the field (14 of 32) while Merritt was just 14 of 45 from the field and the Oilers had problems scoring from the perimeter.

Martindale, the Oilers top player, finished with 9 points before fouling out midway through the fourth period. Bailey Carnes, a freshman led Merritt with 10 points and Aston Nagle scored 8, all in the fourth quarter.

Tate finished with 6 points for Seiling and Livingston and Nichols had 5 each. Addie Shuck scored 1.

Merritt closes its season at 20-8.

The other Class A girls semifinal will have Chattanooga against Calumet at 10:30 a.m.

Cyril’s was just too big and strong for the Vici girls.

The Lady Pirates, 23-3, used the inside strength of Shelbi Skaggs and Emily Horn, plus some timely outside shooting to end Vici’s season.

Vici shot under 30 percent from the field against the rugged Cyril defense and saw its season end at 22-11.

Freshman Amelia Tyree led Vici with 8 points while seniors Chesney Watkins and Jonna Gregory scored 6 each.

The game was a defensive battle from the start.

Vici scored the first four points, but Cyril came back with 10 unanswered, keyed by a steal and layup from Shelbie Laughlin, to go up 10-4.

Watkins hit a three-pointer to get Vici within 10-7 going into the second period.

Cyril again opened things up on scores by Chelsea Reynolds and Laughlin, off yet another steal, to go up 18-9.

Erica Morris answered with a trey for Vici and Gregory scored inside to get the Indians within four, 18-14 at the half.

But in the third period, Cyril began to extend the lead as Cassidy Boggs hit a three-pointer and Laughlin a jumper.

Vici didn’t score until Tyree’s three-point play at the 3:38 mark.

Reynolds answered immediately for Cyril and the Pirates led 30-20 after three periods.

A 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter put the game away.

Horn led Cyril with 12 points and Laughlin and Skaggs scored 11 each.

Rounding out the scoring for Vici were Jade Lee and Morris with 5 each.

Also in Class B girls, Forgan edged Caney, 51-45.

The Vici boys lost to No. 1-ranked Roff in a later game Thursday night, 61-34.

In a Class B boys game from Carl Albert High School, the Hammon Warriors upended Glencoe 35-34 to earn a spot in today’s 9 a.m. semifinal.

Seth Roebuck’s free throw with 3 seconds left provided the winning point for the Warriors

Hammon will play defending champion Red Oak, a 60-59 winner over Timberlake.

In Class A boys, Okarche edged Turpin 42-39 and Garber downed Thomas 39-21.