By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but the gym was so delightful.

Monday night marked the first basketball game in the new (and toasty) Osceola High School gym, as the OHS girls welcomed Sebring in a 5A District 5 game.

The Kowgirls (7-5) ran their winning streak to four going into a Wednesday night game at Celebration on the strength of their defense, which forced 27 Blue Streak turnovers in a 48-31 win.

Junior Diaz, who knocked down the first 3-pointer in a game in the new building, came off the bench to lead Osceola with 12 points. Montana Bass (who had six steals) and Amber Paige (nine rebounds) each added 8.

OHS Coach Barner Cooks said his team needed the lift after dropping to 3-5 after a loss to Poinciana on Dec. 3.

“­We needed to do something. We started over, made everybody turn in their uniforms and had tryouts,” he said. “We’ve had some kids play big since then.”

The first basket in the new gym was scored just three seconds into the game. Center Iyanna Price batted the opening tip to Jasmine Ramos. She found a sprinting Bass alone under the hoop and got the building’s first assist when the freshman easily converted the lay-up.

It was 10-9 after a sloppy first quarter that featured nearly as many turnovers (15) as points, and 19-18 at the half before Osceola pulled away in the third quarter by scoring the first seven points of the frame, despite missing their first seven shots.

The defense locked down on Sebring (4-6) in the second half, forcing 15 turnovers. Center Shannon Williams led the Blue Streaks with 16 points and seven rebounds. She knocked down the first free throw in the new gym; point guard Maria Lopez hit the first one for Osceola in the third quarter.

Cooks said the play of Lopez, despite not showing on the score sheet (four points, three steals) has been a big key to the Kowgirls, who will try to advance to the playoffs for the 11th time in 12 years.

“It looks like we might be out of our slump, and I’m sure the new gym helped,” Cooks said. “Maria played big tonight running the offense and breaking their press when they came at us.”

The Kowgirls will play in the Jones Christmas Tournament in Orlando Monday.