Roland sweeps Antlers for district championships

After not playing in the Class 3A District Tournament last season, the Roland High School basketball teams got to play in one this season on Saturday night at the Ranger Dome where they emphatically swept the visiting Antlers squads.

The Lady Rangers routed the Lady Bearcats 56-12 in a game in which senior Haven Freeman scored her 1,000th career point.

Then, the Runnin’ Rangers took care of the ’Cats 77-36.

Both the Lady Rangers (19-4) and the Runnin’ Rangers (22-1) will play in this week’s Class 3A Regional Tournament, where they will begin Thursday at the Ranger Dome as the Lady Rangers will meet Valliant at 6 p.m. and the Runnin’ Rangers will face Hugo at 7:30 p.m.

The Roland-Valliant girls winner will meet the Spiro-Kiefer winner for not only the regional title at 6 p.m. Saturday in Checotah, but also automatically will qualify for a spot in next week’s Class 3A Area Tournament in Seminole.

The Roland-Valliant girls loser will meet the Heavener Lady Wolves, who got a regional consolation quarterfinal bye, in the consolation semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday in Checotah, with the winner playing for the regional consolation title and a trip to the Class 3A Area Tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday in Checotah.

The Roland-Hugo boys winner will meet the Heavener-Kiefer winner for not only the regional title at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Checotah, but also automatically will qualify for a spot in next week’s Class 3A Area Tournament in Seminole.

The Roland-Hugo boys loser will meet the Spiro-Checotah winner in the regional consolation semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Checotah, with the winner playing for the regional consolation title and a trip to the Class 3A Area Tournament at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Checotah.

GIRLS

ROLAND 56, ANTLERS 12

It was over early as the Lady Rangers jumped out to a 22-0 lead after a period.

The Lady Bearcats (6-18) finally dented the scoreboard when Avery Babb scored a basket with 7:09 left in the first half to cut Roland’s lead to 22-2. It ended up being the only points in the first half for Antlers.

The Lady Rangers finished the first half on a 19-0 run, capped by a basket by Halle Freeman with five seconds remaining before halftime, to put Roland ahead 41-2 at halftime, which became a 48-7 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

The Lady ’Cats finally reached double figures when Hallie Friscia hit a free throw with 4:30 left in the game to cut the Antlers deficit to 50-10.

“It feels good,” Roland second-year girls coach Scott Nelke said about actually getting to celebrate a district championship in front of the hometown fans. “I like playing, and I know they like playing. Last year, we had about a week and a half off because our (regular) season ended on a Tuesday (and the Lady Rangers received a bye into the regional tournament without having to play in a district tournament). I like this better — playing (in the district tournament).”

For the game, Ryanne Nelke scored a game-high 14 points and Haven Freeman added 13 points to lead Roland, followed by Halle Freeman and Molly Carver with eight points each, Julianna Trujillo with six points, Lilly Cole with four points and Danika Sevenstar with three points.

While the Lady Rangers are just three wins from a return trip to the Class 3A State Tournament, Nelke and his players are only thinking about one thing — Thursday night’s regional championship semifinal opponent, the Valliant Lady Bulldogs.

“We talked about it,” he said. “It’s just one game at a time. We’re starting to prepare for Valliant. That’s all we’re going to worry about. Whatever happens there, we’ll go on to the next day.”

BOYS

ROLAND 77, ANTLERS 36

The Runnin’ Rangers scored the game’s first nine points en route to a 28-10 lead after the first quarter en route to a 5115 halftime advantage and a 65-28 lead after three periods.

“Being able to play (in a district tournament), luckily getting a win out of it, helps us out,” Roland boys coach Eddie Lewis said. “I’d rather do that than have a bye (into the regional tournament) for sure.”

For the game, Roland put five players into double figures, led by Buck Triplett and Kayden Hartt with 11 points each, while Kade Shook, Damonte Owens and Josh Bower scored 10 points apiece. Mason Kemp had nine points, followed by Nate Criswell with six points, Cason Perryman and Landon Fowler with four points each and Raesean Perryman with two points.

Like Nelke and the Lady Rangers, Lewis and the Runnin’ Rangers are not getting caught up on being just three wins from the Class 3A State Tournament. Their focus is on the Hugo Buffaloes for Thursday night’s regional championship semifinals.

“That’s a long ways away,” he said. “Right now, it’s Hugo on Thursday night. We got to focus right there.”