ADA-The East Central Oklahoma Classic came to a close for the Durant Lion basketball teams on Saturday.
The loss to the 6-A team Stillwater Lady Pioneers on Friday, 51-40, sent the Durant Lady Lions to faced off against Ponca City Lady Cats for seventh place on Saturday. The Lady Lions took a slim 38-36 lead into fourth quarter against the Lady Cats, but the lead faded away in the final seconds and Lady Lions fell 47-45.
The Durant Lions found themselves battling it out for seventh place against the Duncan Demons on Saturday after losing to the 6-A team Supulpa Chieftains 64-35 on Friday. The Lions snapped it’s losing streak with a dominating 57-44 win over the Demons.
Girls:
The Durant Lady Lions captured a 28-16 halftime lead, but the Stillwater Lady Pioneers fought their way back to a 47-45 victory and claimed seventh place at the East Central Oklahoma Classic in Ada.
Despite hot hands from Katie Caraway, who led the Lions in scoring with 13 points and teammate Rheagan Jones had 12 points, the Lady Lions shooting went cold after half time.
“We turn the ball over way too many times and we couldn’t shoot. I think for the whole tournament we didn’t shot over 30% from the field,” said head coach Chad Rumer, “In this game we were 20% from two point range and overall for the we shot 28%. We aren’t going to win any games when shoot that bad.” said Rumer.
The Lady Cats took a early 5-0 lead in the waking minutes of the first quarter. The Lady Lions bounced back and went on a 8-1 run in closing minutes of the period. Caraway and Jones scored all 8 points in the first period.
Caraway hit two 3-pointers and layup in the beginning minutes of the second period to give the Lady Lions a 16-10 lead. The Lady Cats clawed back into the game and with 3:00 minutes left Durant led 17-14. Then the Lady Lions hit three 3-pointers, two by Kylie Manning and Jones had the other. Morgan Steve hit both of here free-throws and the Lady Lions led, 28-16 at the half.
Then the momentum flipped in favor of the Lady Cats in the second half.
Ponca came out with the hot hand and worked the ball in paint and it paid off. The Lady Cats went on a 10-2 run and cut into Durant’s lead 31-26 with 3:19 left in the third period.
The Lady Lions shooting went cold and the Lady Cats shot off another 10-7 run and the Lady Lions lead shrunk to 38-36 heading into the final frame.
The game became a war in the fourth quarter. Both teams had fight in them all the way to the final buzzer.
The game was tied at 42 with 3:17 left in the game. Jones would grab a lose ball and head back for a bucket that gave the Lady Lions it’s final lead of the game, 44-42. Then the Lady Cats went to the free throw line and closed out the game.
“The positive thing that came from this game was we only had 16 turnovers. But you can’t have 16 turnovers and only shoot 28%. Like everyone says in Oklahoma, it’s all pre-season until you make it to the playoffs.” said Rumer.
Kenzi Clapp brought home the All Tournament Team player award.
Boys:
Durant Lions and the Duncan Demons clashed in Ada’s East Central Oklahoma Classic on Saturday for seventh place. A little sweet revenge for the Lions, Duncan beat Durant earlier this season, and this time the Lions beat up the Demons to the tune of 57-44.
The Lions shot lights-out from the field, making 61% of their shots.
“We came out and played to our potential today, we didn’t for the first two games but we today. We had a vendetta against Duncan,” said head coach Jason Wilkerson, “They put it on us pretty good at their place and they were pretty cocky about it in the paper. So I posted that all over the locker room and saw that, and the team has have been thinking about it and wanted another shot at them.”said Wilkerson.
The bad blood between these teams sparked a close game in the first quarter. The Demons came out hot and went on a 10-0 run to begin the game.
Then Lions fought back and closed the gap with a 15-8 run that began at the 5:45 mark and trailed 18-15 after the first period. Cole Hughes began the run with a 3-pointer and two free throws. James Donelan pitched in 4 points, Zac Cater, Jalen Harris and Will Engle had 2 points apiece in the first period.
The Lions hot shooting continued in the second period and the Lions would take the lead from Duncan and never looked back.
Engle would tie the game 18 to begin the second period. The Demons shooting would go cold to the point of freezing as they only scored 4 points in the period and the Lions took a 26-22 lead into half time. Harris would make two back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lions in front.
The Lions kept their foot on the throats of the Demons in the third period and widen their lead by 14 points.
Cater, Hughes and Cameron Schuessler all pitched in on a 8-2 run to begin the second half. Durant continued to roll with another crippling 11-7 run and went into the final frame with a 45-31 lead. Sky Lowe led the run with 4 points, Hughes had a 3-pointer, Derek Penz and Harris had two points.
The Lions never let the Demons get close and the Lions rolled to a seventh place victory over the Duncan Demons, 57-44.
“This was the best overall performance we have played all year long.” said Wilkerson.
Hughes finished with 15 points, Harris had 12 points, Lowe and Cater had 8 points, Donelan had 4 points and Engle had 5 points.
Hughes won the All Tournament Team player award.
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