Sallisaw senior TE, LB anxious for Thursday night’s district showdown

The Sallisaw Black Diamonds were sweating one out Friday night, but they came through with a 14-10 District 4A-4 road win over the Hilldale Hornets.

Among those concerned players was senior tight end/linebacker Braxton Lamb.

“That’s a team we should have beaten a whole lot worse than we did,” Lamb said. “I think we came out unfocused because we knew we should beat them. When you come out unfocused and drowsy, it always leads to a game that’s always like that. We managed to pull it out and get the W.”

Getting such a comeback win can only do wonders for the Black Diamonds.

“I think it showed we are capable of overcoming adversity,” Lamb said. “We’ve showcased that a few times this season. We’ve had some come-from-behind wins. Friday night, midway through the third quarter, we were down 10-7. We had a big play from (quarterback) Brock Streun as he scored a long touchdown (a 73-yard TD run with 9:03 left to play). Our defense didn’t let them get back on the scoreboard. It was just a great job by us Friday night by managing to pull out a W out of a bad situation.”

Now that the Hornets are out of the way, Lamb and the Black Diamonds can focus on the co-district leader, the Poteau Pirates — who come to Perry F. Lattimore Stadium for a 7 p.m. Thursday kickoff.

“Everybody has been looking forward to this game since we lost to Ada, knowing that we would have to come in and play our best ball and come out with a win if we want to come out with a district title,” Lamb said. “The main thing is we have to stay focused in practice this week. We have to have our best week of practice yet. We have to come out Thursday night and be ready to play. We can’t be non-focused and drowsy at the start of the game. We absolutely have to be locked in.”

Thursday night’s match-up is a special one personally for Lamb, who was in the Poteau Public Schools system until the seventh grade. The majority of the Pirates’ players coming into town he either played with and/or are his friends.

“I’ve got a few friends on their roster,” said Lamb, who has been a Black Diamond since his eighth grade. “It’s challenging to go play your best ball when the other team knows everything about you. I grew up with those guys. I just have to stay focused on my game and play my best game. If we all play our best game, I think we have a real shot. We can be friends again as soon as the fourth-quarter buzzer hits. I’m absolutely looking forward to it.”