The Okmulgee varsity basketball team traveled to Haskell this past Friday for a showdown with the host Haskell Haymakers and Lady Haymakers. Friday’s road game was the completion of the home-and-home series between the two teams, which began December 14 in Okmulgee.
The Okmulgee varsity basketball team traveled to Haskell this past Friday for a showdown with the host Haskell Haymakers and Lady Haymakers.
Friday’s road game was the completion of the home-and-home series between the two teams, which began December 14 in Okmulgee.
Both teams earned a win in the first meeting - Haskell took the girls game by a 65-33 margin, while Okmulgee came away victorious in the boys contest, 61-40.
The Okmulgee cage squads will return to the hardwood this Thursday, as they begin play at the annual Muscogee Nation Okmulgee County Basketball Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs will open tournament play Thursday at 5 p.m. against Beggs, while the Bulldogs will begin tournament play Thursday at 9 p.m. against Henryetta.
In Friday’s meeting, the Okmulgee squads suffered a pair of defeats to give the Haskell the season series.
The Lady Bulldogs began the road contest on the losing end of a 71-40 outcome, while the Bulldogs were unable to avoid the sweep in the nightcap, falling by a 53-47 decision.
In Friday’s girls contest, the Okmulgee ladies were outscored 33-9 in the opening frame, then both teams tallied 14 points in the second stanza to send the game to the halftime break with the Lady Bulldogs still trailing by 24 points, 47-23.
The host Lady Haymakers came out of the third quarter with a 12-6 advantage, then edged the visitors 12-11 in the final period to suffer the 71-40 defeat.
The Lady Bulldogs were led in scoring by Tori James with a team-best 22 points. Mariya Tecumseh was next offensively for Okmulgee with seven, followed by Cyann Powell with four and Saniya Hammon three. Rhonisha Smith and Dalazia Hammon rounded out the OHS scoring in the road loss with two points each.
In Friday’s boys showdown, the host Haymakers took the opening frame by a 15-10 margin. The Bulldogs went into halftime with a 3-point advantage - 26-23 - after outscoring Haskell 16-8 in the second period.
Haskell came out of the third quarter with an identical 16-8 advantage to regain its 5-point lead, 39-34, heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
The Okmulgee gentlemen tallied 13 points in the final stanza in an effort to overcome the narrow deficit. Haskell countered with 14 points in the frame to hand the Bulldogs the 53-47 setback.
Darin Miles led the balanced offensive attack for Okmulgee with 10 points. The trio of Makhi Phillips, Allen Thierry, and Topley Powell just missed double-digit scoring with nine points apiece.
D’Mari Harp and Tre Swan were next for the Bulldogs with four points apiece, while Malachi Simmons rounded out the Okmulgee scoring with two points.
Girls Game
Haskell 71, Okmulgee 40
Okmulgee: 9 - 14 - 6 - 11 (40)
Haskell: 33 - 14 - 12 - 12 (71)
Okmulgee Scoring: Tori James 22, Mariya Tecumseh 7, Cyann Powell 4, Saniya Hammon 3, Rhonisha Smith 2, Dalazia Hammon 2.
Boys Game
Haskell 53, Okmulgee 47
Okmulgee: 10 - 16 - 8 - 13 (47)
Haskell: 15 - 8 - 16 - 14 (53)
Okmulgee Scoring: Darin Miles 10, Makhi Phillips 9, Allen Thierry 9, Topley Powell 9, D’Mari Harp 4, Tre Swan 4, Malachi Simmons 2.
