Tigers’ historic basketball playoff run ends with area losses to Hooker, Merritt

The Central Tigers had a historic perfect football season ended by the Hooker Bulldogs in the Class A state quarterfinals on Black Friday in Blanchard.

Fast forward to the first Saturday night in March. The Tigers made more history as they got to the Class 2A Area Tournament finals at Stride Bank Center in Enid, needing just one more win to get to state. Unfortunately, after losing the area finals 42-40 to Merritt on Friday night, the team that stood in their way of making state in Saturday night’s consolation finals was the Hooker Bulldogs, who spoiled the historic basketball playoff run for Central with a 56- 32 victory.

The Tigers ended the season at 1610.

“My heart goes out to my players foremost,” Central boys coach Caleb Cawhorn said. “My six seniors are my ultimate competitors. I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m not disappointed in them, I’m disappointed for them because I know every night they come out and give me everything they have.”

In the consolation finals, a basket and a free throw by Jace Mendenhall over a stretch of about two minutes cut the Central deficit to 4-3 with 4:52 left in the first quarter. It would end up being the closest the Tigers got to the Bulldogs.

Hooker went on a 13-2 run to take a 17-5 lead with 2:01 remaining in the quarter.

A free throw by Coy Blackburn with 41 seconds left, then a basket by Hardy Buzzard five seconds later, cut Hooker’s lead to 17-8 going into the second quarter.

Hooker outscored Central 13-9 in the second period to take a 30-17 halftime lead, which became a 46-27 advantage going into the fourth quarter.

“We were happy to have the opportunity to play (Hooker),” Cawhorn said. “It is ironic how sports works sometimes. They wanted to play Hooker. They were happy with the opportunity (to play the Bulldogs), unfortunately we just came up short.”

In defeat, Buzzard led Central with seven points, followed by Braxin Goodson with six points, Mendenhall and Joseph Lee with five points each, Aiden Sainer and Paitton Merrill each with three points, Isaac Rogers with two points and Blackburn with a free throw.

In the area finals, the Oilers jumped out to a 13-4 lead after a period, which became a 24-13 halftime advantage.

However, the Tigers rallied in the second half as they outscored the Oilers 12-4 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 28-25 going into the fourth quarter. Central then outscored Merritt 15-14 in the final period, but their rally fell short.

“We had a rough first quarter,” Cawhorn said. “Sometimes that’s tough to overcome. Until the buzzer went off, I thought we were going to win. That’s how much faith I have in them. I couldn’t have been more proud of them.”

In defeat, Sainer scored 13 points to lead Central, followed by Lee and Buzzard with six points each, Blackburn, Rogers and Cade Tucker each with four points and Goodson with three points.