The Okmulgee varsity basketball program closed out the regular-season portion of their 2022-2023 schedule Monday evening at Hugo High School.
The Okmulgee varsity basketball program closed out the regular-season portion of their 2022-2023 schedule Monday evening at Hugo High School.
The Okmulgee cage squads, who will begin postseason play this Friday at home against Bethel, were unable to end their regular season on a winning note, suffering double-digit losses to the host Buffaloes and Lady Buffaloes by margins of 46-15 (girls) and 55-41 (boys), respectively.
Friday’s playoff opener at home against Bethel will be for the Class 3A, Area II, District 4 championship and will start with girls action at 6 p.m. followed by the boys district title game at 7:30 p.m.
Wins over Bethel on Friday will put the Okmulgee squads in the winner’s bracket of next Thursday’s regional tournament opener at Prague High School at 6 and 7:30 p.m., while losses to Bethel will drop Okmulgee into the regional consolation quarterfinals Thursday at 1:30 and 3 p.m. at Prague High School.
In Monday’s girls game at Hugo, the Lady Bulldogs trailed 7-4 after one and 24-9 at halftime.
The Okmulgee ladies were outscored 16-6 in the third quarter to go into the final frame down by a 40-15 margin.
In the final stanza, the host Lady Buffaloes took the period by a 6-0 advantage to hand the visiting Lady Bulldogs the 46-15 setback.
Okmulgee’s top scorer in the regular- season finale was Skye Sanders, who finished with a team-best nine points. The other Lady Bulldog scorers at Hugo were Chassidy Keesee, Rhonisha Smith, and Daijah Ghoston with two points apiece.
In Monday’s boys battle with Hugo, the Bulldogs were outscored 14-8 in the opening period, then edged out the host Buffaloes 12-11 in the second quarter to go into halftime down by five, 25-20.
Hugo took the final two frames by margins of 17-14 and 13-7, respectively, to hand the Okmulgee cage squad the 55-41 defeat.
Jaxsun Fulton led the way offensively for the Bulldogs on Monday with a team-high 17-point performance.
Braeden Williams also reached double figures for Okmulgee in the regular-season finale with 10 points. Other Bulldog scorers at Hugo were Darin Miles with eight, Allen Thierry seven, and Jeremiah Harley two.
--- Girls Game
Hugo 46, Okmulgee 15
Okmulgee: 4 - 5 - 6 - 0 (15) Hugo: 7 - 17 - 16 - 6 (46) Okmulgee Scoring: Skye Sanders 9, Chassidy Keesee 2, Rhonisha Smith 2, Daijah Ghoston 2.
--- Boys Game
Hugo 55, Okmulgee 41
Okmulgee: 8 - 12 - 14 - 7 (41) Hugo: 14 - 11 - 17 - 13 (55) Okmulgee Scoring: Jaxsun Fulton 14, Braeden Williams 10, Darin Miles 8, Allen Thierry 7, Jeremiah Harley 2.
