Knights outduel Demons for 3rd at Henryetta; Dewar, Schulter also place 3rd
Last weekend was a busy three days for all eight Okmulgee County high school boys basketball programs.
The eight boys cage squads – Beggs, Dewar, Henryetta, Morris, Okmulgee, Preston, Schulter, and Wilson – competed in seven different 3-day tournaments last Thursday-Saturday with two (Beggs, Henryetta) battling six other teams for hardware at the same event.
The top boys teams in Okmulgee County last weekend were the Preston Pirates and Wilson Tigers, who swept through their competition to capture tournament championship trophies. The Pirates, after backto- back runner-up finishes, stood atop the boys bracket as champions of the 2024 Mike Kerr Classic in Morri- son with a 59-46 victory over the Frontier Mustangs in this past Saturday’s championship contest, while the Tigers were crowned the boys team champions of the 2024 Depew Invitational Basketball Tournament this past Saturday with a hard-fought 52-48 victory over the Liberty (Mounds) Tigers in the title game.
Three county teams took home third-place hardware this past Saturday with the Henryetta Golden Knights defeating their county rivals, the Beggs Golden Demons, 69-27 in the boys third-place game at the 2024 Henryetta Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Dewar Dragons finishing third at the 2024 Jeff Hart Memorial Coliseum Classic in Lawton with a 48-42 victory over the Navajo Indians, and the Schulter Bulldogs earning the thirdplace plaque at the 2024 Graham- Dustin Chieftain Classic with a 59-50 win over the Maud Tigers.
Besides Beggs’ fourth-place finish at Henryetta, the other two county teams competing in tournament action this past weekend were the Morris Eagles, who finished sixth at the 2024 Warner Eagle Cherokee Classic with a 6462, overtime, loss to the Spiro Bulldogs, and the Okmulgee Bulldogs, who finished eighth at the 2024 Lincoln Christian Winter Classic following a 53-47 loss to the host Lincoln Christian Bulldogs.
Below are summaries from each tournament that featured an Okmulgee County varsity boys basketball team this past weekend.
— Henryetta Invitational First Round
Beggs 62, Bristow 42
The Demons doubled up on the Purple Pirates 14-7 in the opening period, while Bristow escaped the second stanza with an 18-11 margin to deadlock the score at 25-25 at halftime. The Beggs cage squad went back in front, 46-29, with eight minutes remaining in regulation after taking the third quarter by a 21-4 advantage, then edged the Purple Pirates 16-13 in the final frame to put the finishing touches on the decisive 62-42 victory.
The Demons were led by Rickey Smith with a team-best 24 points, followed by Dakota Hudson with 17 and Brayden King 10. Other Beggs scorers against Bristow were Jaylen Williams with five, Ezrah Anderson four, and Jordan Wesley two.
— Henryetta 66, Metro Christian JV 50 The Knights came out of the opening frame with a narrow 15-14 advantage, then outscored the Patriot JV squad 18-12 in the second period for a 33-26 lead at the intermission. The Henryetta gentlemen extended their lead to 11 (55-44) after taking the high-scoring third quarter by a 22-18 advantage, then completed the opening-round win by outscoring their foes 11-6 in the final stanza.
Skylar Greenhaw led a trio of double-digit scorers for the host Knights with a teamhigh 20 points. Talon Weaver (18) and Nick Hudson (14) also finished in double figures for Henryetta in the opening-round victory. Other Knight scorers in the first round were Hunter Gobin with six and Jacob Nail and Will Perez four each.
— Semifinals
McLoud 67, Beggs 58
The scoring was close throughout the contest with McLoud leading 11-9 after one and 26-20 at halftime. The Demons were edged 2221 in a high-scoring third period for a 48-41 deficit, then were outscored 19-17 in the final frame to suffer the 67-58 setback.
The top offensive performer for Beggs in the semifinal loss was Rickey Smith with 21 points. Joining Smith in double figures against McLoud was Jaylen Williams with 11 points. The remaining Demon offense featured the trio of Jaxon Remington, Brayden King, and Dakota Hudson with seven points apiece, Jace Basquez three, and Ezrah Anderson two. — Okemah 51, Henryetta 48 The Knights trailed by five, 16-11, after the first eight minutes of action, then went into halftime ahead by one, 21-20, following a 10-4 advantage in the second period. Okemah went back in front, 37-31, after a 17-10 margin in the third quarter, while the Henryetta gentlemen tallied 17 points in a comeback attempt in the final stanza. The rally was thwarted as Okemah countered with 14 points in the frame to hand the host Knights the heartbreaking 51-48 defeat.
The Henryetta gentlemen were led offensively by Skylar Greenhaw with a team-high 16 points. Other double-digit scorers for the Knights against Okemah were Talon Weaver with 13 and Nick Hudson 12. Hunter Gobin and Will Perez rounded out the HHS scoring with five and two points, respectively.
— Third Place
Henryetta 69, Beggs 27 The Knights outscored their county rivals 15-2 in the opening frame and took a 3511 lead into the intermission after a 20-9 advantage in the second quarter. The Henryetta squad took the third period by a 21-14 margin to extended its lead to 56-25 with eight minutes remaining in regulation. The Knights capped off the third-place finish with a 13-2 advantage in the final frame to walk away with the 69-27 decision and the thirdplace trophy.
Henryetta’s Talon Weaver led all scorers in the county battle with a game-high 16 points. Skylar Greenhaw was next offensively for the Knights with 14, followed by Nick Hudson with eight, Jacob Nail, Issac Whitlock, and Will Perez six apiece, Nakona Johnson five, and Hunter Gobin two.
The Demons’ top scorer in the county showdown was Jaylen Williams with six points. Other Beggs scorers in the third-place contest were Jaxon Remington, Jace Basquez, and Rickey Smith four each, Jordan Wesley, Ezrah Anderson, Gunner Baker, and Dakota Hudson two apiece, and D.J. Strother one.
— Depew Invitational First Round
Wilson 73, Glencoe 51
The Tigers led 15-11 after one and 38-27 at halftime. After both teams tallied 17 points in the third quarter to make it a 55-44 Wilson advantage, the Wilson gentlemen finished their 22-point opening-round win by outscoring the Panthers 18-7 in the final frame.
Zion Shelburn led the offensive attack for the victorious Tigers with 26 points. Zabrien Shelburn was next in the Wilson scoring column with 20, followed by Keshion Shelburn with 15 and Charles Shelburn with eight. Andrew Wilson and Esiah King rounded out the Tiger scoring with two points apiece.
— Semifinals
Wilson 67, Hominy 41
The Tigers came out of the opening frame with a decisive 25-9 advantage, then increased their lead to 23 (46-23) at halftime with a 2114 advantage in the second period. Wilson put the game further out of reach, 64-37, by outscoring the Bucks 18-11 in the third quarter. Hominy ‘won’ the final stanza by a 6-3 margin to make the final outcome, 67-41, in favor of the Wilson Tigers.
Zion Shelburn was tops offensively for Wilson in the semifinal win with 17 points. Other double-digit scorers for the Tigers against Hominy were Keshon Shelburn with 14 and Zabrien Shelburn and Charles Shelburn with 13 apiece. Esiah King and Andrew Wilson rounded out the offensive production for Wilson with six and four points, respectively.
— Championship
Wilson 52, Liberty 48
The Tigers escaped the first quarter with a narrow 1211 advantage, while Liberty took the second period by a 10-9 margin to send the title contest to the halftime break with the score deadlocked at 21-21. Liberty used a 13-10 advantage in the third quarter for a 3-point lead – 44-41 – with eight minutes remaining in regulation. The Wilson gentlemen outscored their foes 21-14 in the final frame to walk away with the 52-48 victory and the tournament crown.
The victorious Tigers were led in scoring by Keshon Shelburn with a team-best 21 points. Zabrien Shelburn also finished in double figures for Wilson in the title game with 18 points. Other offensive contributors for the Tigers in the title win were Zion Shelburn and Andrew Wilson with four apiece, Charles Shelburn three, and Esiah King two.
— Mike Kerr Classic First Round
Preston 53, Oklahoma Christian Academy 51 The Pirates trailed 15-14 after one quarter of action, then went into the halftime break with a 28-26 lead after escaping the second period with a 14-11 advantage. The Preston squad doubled their lead (43-39) after three quarters following a 15-13 margin in the third stanza. OCA put up 12 points in a rally attempt in the final frame, but the Pirates dismissed any comeback bid with a 10-point tally in the quarter for the 53-51 decision.
The Preston squad was led offensively by Giorgio Dunn-Spencer with 14, followed by Jervais Goree with 13, Pheonix Finch 12, and Jayden Smith nine. Tanner Young and Kent Rice rounded out the Pirate scoring with three and two points, respectively.
— Semifinals
Preston 53, Pawhuska 38
The Pirates came out of the opening period with a 16-11 advantage and led 22-20 at the intermission following a 9-6 margin for Pawhuska in the second stanza. The Preston squad took the final two quarters 15-11 and 16-7, respectively, to earn the 53-38 victory and a spot in the title contest.
The Pirates’ top scorer against Pawhuska was Jervais Goree, who finished with a team-best 20 points. Goree was joined in double figures by Giorgio Dunn-Spencer with 14. Othre Pirate scorers in the semifinal win were Tanner Young with eight, Jayden Smith five, Pheonix Finch four, and Ethan Moore two.
— Championship
Preston 59, Frontier 46
The Preston cage squad led 19-13 after one and 32-24 at halftime. After both teams tallied 14 points in the third period to keep the Pirate advantage at eight (46-38), the Preston gentlemen capped off the championship win by outscoring the Mustangs 13-8 in the final stanza.
Pheonix Finch was tops offensively for Preston in the title game, finishing with a team-best 18 points. Other double-digit scorers for the Pirates against Frontier were Jervais Goree with 14, Giorgio Dunn-Spencer 12, and Jayden Smith 10. Tanner Young rounded out the Preston scoring in the title contest with five points.
— Lincoln Christian Winter Classic First Round
Bethany 48, Okmulgee 33
The Bulldogs trailed 15-4 after the first eight minutes of action, then were edged 8-6 in the second stanza for a 23-10 deficit at halftime. Bethany extended its lead to 20 (42-22), heading into the final eight minutes of regulation following a 19-12 advantage in the third quarter. The Okmulgee cage squad managed just a 5-point margin (11-6) in the final stanza to wind up on the losing end of a 48-33 outcome.
Jeremiah Harley (11) and Jaxsun Fulton (10) were tops offensively for the Bulldogs in the opening-round loss. Other OHS scorers against Bethany were Malakhi Baccus with six, Allen Thierry four, and Nolan Yates and Tyler Corn two each.
— Consolation Semifinals
Tulsa Edison 76, Okmulgee 48 The Bulldogs watched a 16-13 first-quarter lead turn into a 38-23 halftime deficit after being outscored 25-7 in the second period. Okmulgee came out of a back-and-forth third quarter with a narrow 18-17 margin to cut the Edison lead to 14 points, 5541, with eight minutes remaining in regulation. The Bulldogs were unable to complete the second-half comeback, as Edison took the final frame by a 21-7 margin to hand the Okmulgee cage squad the 76-48 setback.
The offensive leader for the Bulldogs in the loser’s bracket contest was Jaxsun Fulton with 12 points. Allen Thierry also finished in double figures for Okmulgee in the loss with 11. The remaining Bulldog scorers against Edison were Jeremiah Harley and Malakhi Baccus with six apiece, Joseph Robertson five, Javin Hutchinson and Nolan Yates three each, and Tyler Corn two.
— Seventh Place
Lincoln Christian 53, Okmulgee 47 The Bulldogs tallied nine points in each of the first two quarters, while Lincoln Christian put up offensive totals of 11 and 9 points, respectively, for a 20-18 advantage at the halftime break. Okmulgee came out of the third period with a narrow 19-18 margin to cut the deficit in half, 3837, with eight minutes remaining in regulation. The Bulldogs were unable to overcome the narrow deficit in the final frame, as Lincoln Christian came out of the stanza with a 15-10 margin to hand the Okmulgee gentlemen the 53-47 defeat.
Jaxsun Fulton finished with a gamehigh 27 points for the Bulldogs in the loss, followed by Larry Yahola and Allen Thierry with five each, Malakhi Baccus four, Tyler Corn three, Asiah Leybas two, and Nolan Yates one.
— Chieftain Classic First Round
Schulter 70, Wanette 44
After both teams tallied 16 points in the first eight minutes of action, Schulter took a 33-29 lead into the halftime break after outscoring Wanette 17-13 in the second quarter. The Bulldogs outscored the Tigers by margins of 26-8 and 11-7, respectively, in the second half to walk away with the convincing 70-44 victory.
Bobby Calhoun had the hot hand offensively for Schulter in the opening- round win, finishing with a teambest 29 points. Calhoun was joined in double figures by Zalyn Vinyard and Vincent Bess with 17 and 10, respectively. Other Bulldog scorers against Wanette were Kenta Carder and Connor Hammond with six each and Bradyn Brown two.
— Semifinals
Porum 61, Schulter 28
The Bulldogs found themselves in an early double-digit (22-8) deficit after the first eight minutes of action, then edged the Panthers 12-11 in the second stanza to trail by 13 (33-20) at the intermission. The Schulter offense went cold in the third quarter, being outscored 18-0 in the frame, then were edged 10-8 in the final stanza to suffer the 61-28 setback.
Vincent Bess was the top scorer for the Bulldogs with seven points. Other Schulter scorers in the semifinal loss were Bobby Calhoun and Bradyn Brown with six apiece, Zalyn Vinyard five, Kenta Carder three, and Isaiah Bauer one.
— Third Place
Schulter 59, Maud 50
The Bulldogs led by five, 13-8, after one quarter, while Maud took a 2625 lead into halftime after escaping the second period with an 18-12 advantage. Schulter sent the third-place contest to the final eight minutes of action with the score knotted at 41-41 after a 16-15 margin in third stanza, then doubled up on the Tigers 18-9 in the final frame to walk away with the 59-50 decision and the third-place trophy.
The offensive leader for the Bulldogs in the win was Bobby Calhoun, who finished with a team-best 23 points. Calhoun was joined in double figures by Zalyn Vinyard with 14 and Vincent Bess with 10. Other Schulter scorers against Maud were Connor Hammon with six, Larry Bess four, and Kenta Carder two.
— Warner Eagle Cherokee Classic First Round
Warner 68, Morris 61
The host Eagles came out of the first period with an 18-11 advantage, while Morris cut the Warner lead to four, 32-28, at halftime following a 17-14 margin in the second stanza. Warner doubled its lead to eight, 56-48, with eight minutes remaining in regulation after taking the third quarter 24-20, then countered the visiting Eagles’ 13-point performance in the final frame with 12 of its own to hand the Morris cage squad the 68-61 defeat.
Xavier Harjo proved to be an offensive scoring machine for the Eagles in the loss, finishing with a team-best 33-point performance. Race Casey joined Harjo in double figures with 12 points. Other Eagle scorers against Warner were Robert Woods with eight, Koen Burgess and Tre Robinson three apiece, and Bobby Baker two.
— Consolation Semifinals Morris 67, Wilburton 53
Both teams tallied nine points in the opening frame, while Wilburton took a narrow 26-25 lead into the intermission after coming out of the second period with a narrow 17-16 advantage. The Eagles took the final two quarters by margins of 18-12 and 24-15, respectively, to walk away with the 67-53 decision.
The Morris offense was led by the duo of Xavier Harjo and Race Casey with 23 points apiece. Tre Robinson also finished in double figures for the Eagles with 10. Gage Adkins and Robert Woods were next offensively for Morris with four points each, while Koen Burgess rounded out the MHS scoring with three points.
— Consolation Finals
Spiro 64, Morris 62 (OT)
After both offenses sputtered in the first quarter with Morris coming out on top by a 6-3 margin, the Eagles took the next two frames 18-16 and 13-12, respectively, for a 6-point advantage (37-31), heading into the final eight minutes of regulation. Morris’ bid for a consolation championship plaque went by the wayside in the fourth quarter, as Spiro outscored the Eagles by an 18-13 margin to send the game to a 4-minute overtime period with the score knotted at 50-50. In the overtime period, Spiro came out of the back-and-forth extra frame with a 14-12 advantage to hand the Morris cage squad the heartbreaking 62-60, overtime, defeat.
The Eagles were led offensively by the duo of Xavier Harjo and Race Casey, who finished with 26 and 24 points, respectively. Other Morris scorers in the overtime defeat were Tre Robinson with six, Gage Adkins four, and Bobby Baker two.
— Jeff Hart Memorial First Round
Dewar 42, Waurika 25
The Dragons came out of the opening frame with a 15-5 advantage, then edged the Eagles 7-6 in the second quarter for a 22-11 margin at the halftime break. After the Dewar squad escaped the third period with a 17-11 advantage for a 39-22 lead with eight minutes remaining in regulation, both teams put up three points in a low-scoring fourth quarter to award the Dewar Dragons the 42-25 victory.
Skelly Taylor was tops offensively for the Dragons with 11, followed by Tanner Wilson with 10 and Jeron Brison nine. Other Dewar offensive contributors against Waurika were Remy Martin with five, Vinton Goff, Stoney Yaerger, and Seth Hudson two each, and Johnathon Wilson one.
— Semifinals
Central (Marlow) 55, Dewar 47 The Dragons came out of the opening frame with a 19-14 lead, then Central (Marlow) knotted the score at halftime at 30-30 after taking the second period by a 16-11 margin. After a low-scoring 7-5 advantage went the way of the Bronchos in the third period, the Dewar gentlemen were outscored 18-12 in the final quarter of regulation to end up on the losing end of a 55-47 outcome.
The Dragons’ offensive output was led by Skelly Taylor, who finished with a team-high 23 points. Other Dewar scorers in the semifinal defeat were Remy Martin with eight, Seth Hudson seven, Tanner Wilson four, Johnathon Wilson three, and Stoney Yaerger and Jeron Brison one each.
— Third Place
Dewar 48, Navajo 42
The Dragons took the opening quarter by a slim 12-10 margin, then were outscored 16-3 in the second stanza to trail by 11 (26-15) at the intermission. The Dewar offense overcame its second-period sluggish performance with a 19-6 advantage in the third stanza to go back in front by two, 34-32, with eight minutes left in regulation. The Dragons closed out the 6-point win and third-place finish with a 14-10 margin in the final period.
Leading the way offensively for the Dewar gentlemen in the third-place contest was Skelly Taylor, who tallied a team-best 27-game performance in the win. Taylor was joined in double figures by Jeron Brison with 11, while Stoney Yaerger and Tanner Wilson rounded out the Dewar scoring with six and four points, respectively.
