ENID — STILLWATER — Chris Fitzpatrick scored 21 points as Enid’s boys took a step closer to a second straight Centennial Conference championship with a hard-earned 48-43 win over archrival Stillwater Tuesday.

Rani Melvin had 16 points and Haley Rasp added 13 as the Pacers won the girls game 44-43 to raise their record to 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

The win broke a three-game losing streak for the Plainsmen, who now are 12-7 overall and 5-1 in conference. Stillwater fell to 7-12, 3-3. Ponca City is 3-2 in conference.

“We still got one more game to ensure us a part of the title,’’ said Enid coach T.J. Scholz. “Hopefully, we can take care of business next week (with games against Sand Springs Monday and Bartlesville Feb. 19).’’

The Plainsmen led most of the game, answering any Stillwater threat. The Pioneers got to within one point of Enid twice in the third period but were unable to take the lead.

Alex Budke cut the Enid lead to 33-31 with a basket early in the fourth period but the Plainsmen answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a Fitzpatrick layup.

A Fitzpatrick layup gave the Plainsmen a 46-38 lead with less than 25 seconds remaining. Stillwater cut the lead to 46-43 on a Josh Pierre basket with 1.2 seconds left but Fitzpatrick iced the game by hitting two free throws.

Scholz said Enid switching to a zone was a major factor in the win.

“That gave them some problems because it helped us slow down the game,’’ Scholz said. “The guys played hard. They did a good job blocking out ... much better than we did the last two games (losses to Ponca City and Harding).

“We did a good job limiting them to one shot and we kept them from getting easy baskets.’’

The win gave the Plainsmen the sweep of the season series. Enid will be back in action Friday and Saturday with games at Lawton Eisenhower and Lawton High School.

The EHS cagers will be home for the first time since Jan. 5 when they host Sand Springs Monday at the Mabee Center.

GIRLS

ENID 44, STILLWATER 43

Free throw shooting, a liability most of the season for the Pacers, became an asset Tuesday.

Enid was 18 of 21 from the foul line for 86 percent, including 12 of 14 in the fourth quarter.

“Free throws won us the game,’’ said Enid coach Layne Jones. “We have been in a funk, but when you make some like that, it gives you confidence. I was pleased with how the girls responded under pressure.’’

Rasp hit two free throws with 2:49 remaining to give Enid the lead for good at 37-36. That was Enid’s first lead of the game as Stillwater had quarter leads of 15-12, 26-19 and 33-30.

Rasp had nine points in the final period, the last coming on a free throw with six seconds left to make it 44-41. She had hit two free throws to give Enid a 43-38 advantage with 44 seconds remaining.

That’s when the fun began.

Abby Wieligman hit a free throw with 5.2 seconds left. Rasp fouled LaNesha Middleton on the rebound when Wieligman missed the second.

Middleton hit the first shot but Stillwater retained possession on the rebound.

However, the Lady Pioneers were unable to get off a shot on the inbounds play as the Pacers swept the season series for the second straight year.

“We just hung around and battled back,’’ Jones said. “Haley had a great second half. Rani really played well. We need to build on this. It definitely gives us some momentum going into Friday and Saturday.’’