Basketball playoffs in full swing now

With the beginning of the Class 4A (Sallisaw and Muldrow) and Class 3A (Roland) playoffs this week, we are in full-blown playoff mode now.

The Lady Diamonds and Black Diamonds will travel to meet Wagoner at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Class 4A District Tournament, with all four squads advancing to next week’s regional tournament — which will begin Feb. 27 at Paul Post Field House before moving the rest of that weekend to Muldrow’s Roger Sharp Activity Center.

In the other Class 4A District Tournament of interest, the Muldrow teams will entertain Stigler’s squads at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Friday at Roger Sharp Activity Center, with all four teams moving into the regional tournament for all three days next week at Muldrow.

The Lady Rangers and the Runnin’ Rangers will be entertaining the Antlers teams for the Class 3A District Tournament at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ranger Dome, with all four teams advancing to the regional tournament at the Ranger Dome on Feb. 27 before moving the rest of the weekend to Checotah.

Both the Class A and 2A teams remaining will be in regional tournaments this week.

In Class A, the Gore Pirates will meet Riverside Conference rival Okay at 7:30 p.m. in Okmulgee, with the winner playing not only for the regional tournament title at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Okmulgee but automatically will advance to next week’s area tournament in Stroud.

Our other Class A team left, the Webbers Falls Lady Warriors, will be facing elimination all week at the Class A Regional Tournament as they will meet Afton in the consolation quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Thursday in Cameron in hopes of winning out to make them the regional consolation champion and earn a trip to next week’s area tournament in Cleveland, Okla.

In Class 2A, the Central teams will face the Oktaha squads in a battle of Lady Tigers and Tigers at the regional championship semifinals at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Hulbert, with the winner not only playing for the regional title at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Dale but automatically receiving a berth into the area tournament next week in McAlester.

The other Class 2A teams still alive, the Vian Lady Wolverines and Wolverines, will be facing elimination all week at the regional tournament in Talihina on Thursday afternoon before the action moves to Colcord the rest of the week. The Vian teams will meet the Warner squads at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Talihina and must win the entire rest of the week to not only win the regional consolation titles but earn spots in the area tournament at Okmulgee.

We’ll have full Class 4A and 3A District Tournament and Class A and 2A Regional Tournament coverage in next Wednesday’s edition.

GORE ALUMNI GAME SLATED FRIDAY NIGHT

The 2025 Gore Alumni Basketball Game will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Gore Lower Elementary School Gym.

The player fee is $10 per person, with the entry fee for non-players at $3 per person.

The match-up will put the evennumbered year graduates against the odd-numbered year graduates.

For those interested or for additional information, e-mail april.smith@gorepublicschools.org or trobbins@gorepublicschools.org.

GANS DONKEY BASKETBALL GAME SLATED MARCH 13

The 2025 Gans Donkey Basketball Game between the Gans Senior Class of 2025 and the Cherokee Nation will take place March 13 at Bryant “Big Country” Reeves Fieldhouse.

The cost is $8 for those who purchase tickets prior to the event, or $10 at the door the night of the event.

WEEK 9 INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Another week down, another banner pair of outings for Roland freshman Damonte Owens, who scored 32 points in Friday night’s NOAA Conference home win over Checotah after hitting for 26 points three nights before in Roland’s conference road win over Poteau.

Muldrow’s Teaguen Collins also had a banner week last week, scoring 24 points in the NOAA Conference road win over Checotah on Feb. 11 before scoring 21 points in Friday night’s conference road win against Sallisaw.’

Speaking of Sallisaw, Cooper Jackson scored 21 points in the Black Diamonds’ NOAA Conference road loss Feb. 11 at Stilwell.

In the Vian Wolverines’ Class 2A District Tournament loss to Talihina, Masyn Wright scored 22 points to lead the way.

In the Webbers Falls Warriors’ seasonending loss to Cameron in the Class A District Tournament, Chevy Cole scored 20 points.

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David Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by calling (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by emailing him at davids@cookson.news.