The Beggs varsity basketball program closed out the first-half portion of their regular-season schedule this past Saturday afternoon in Muskogee.
The final opponents for the Demons and Lady Demons in 2023 were the Hornets and Lady Hornets of Hilldale High School.
The Beggs cage squads were unable to go into 2024 on a winning note, as both BHS squads found themselves on the short end of double-digit setbacks to their foes from Hilldale.
The Lady Demons evened their season record at 3-3 with a 43-30 loss to the Lady Hornets in Saturday’s opening contest, while the Demons also fell to 3-3 on the year with a 69-22 defeat at the hands of the host Hornets in the nightcap.
The Beggs cage squads will kick off the second-half portion of their 2023-2024 regular-season schedule January 4-6 at the annual Henryetta Invitational Basketball Tournament.
In Saturday’s girls game at Hilldale, both teams tallied 11 points in the opening frame and nine points in the second quarter for a 20-20 deadlock at the halftime break.
The Lady Demons struggled offensively in the third period, being outscored 18-3 in the stanza to trail 38-23 with eight minutes remaining in regulation. The Beggs ladies took the low-scoring final quarter by a 7-5 margin, but wound up on the short end of a 43-30 outcome.
The Lady Demons were led offensively by Rylee Youngblood, who finished with a team-high 15 points. Other Beggs scorers in the road contest were Konner Stanton with seven, Kamya Stallings six, and Destiny Clay two.
In Saturday’s boys contest, the Demons trailed 19-12 after one and 35-17 at halftime. The Beggs squad was held to a combined five points in the second half, while Hilldale put up a combined 34 points in the final two frames to hand the Beggs gentlemen the 69-22 defeat.
Rickey Smith was tops offensively for the Demons with seven points, followed by Jace Basquez with five, Dakota Hudson three, Jordan Wesley, Ezrah Anderson, and Jaylen Williams two apiece, and Jason Nethon one.
— Girls Game
Hilldale 43, Beggs 30
Beggs: 11 – 9 – 3 – 7 (30) Hilldale: 11 – 9 – 18 – 5 (43) Beggs Scoring: Rylee Youngblood 15, Konner Stanton 7, Kamya Stallings 6, Destiny Clay 2.
— Boys Game
Hilldale 69, Beggs 22
Beggs: 12 – 5 – 2 – 3 (22) Hilldale: 19 – 16 – 15 – 19 (69) Beggs Scoring: Rickey Smith 7, Jace Basquez 5, Dakota Hudson 3, Jordan Wesley 2, Ezrah Anderson 2, Jaylen Williams 2, Jason Nethon 1.