Tigers fall in regional finals to No. 1 Dale

The Central Tigers had one thing standing between them and a Class 2A Regional Tournament title — the No. 1 and regional-host Dale Pirates.

The Pirates showed the Tigers why they are No. 1 as Dale defeated Central 83-43 in the regional finals.

The Tigers reached the regional finals with a 46-40 win over Oktaha on Friday night in Hulbert.

The Central Lady Tigers captured the Class 2A Regional Tournament consolation championship with a 50-35 win over the Hulbert Lady Riders, who Central’s girls beat Feb. 14 at the Central Gym for the district title, on Monday afternoon in Dale.

The Lady Tigers, who opened the Class 2A Regional Tournament with a heartbreaking 55-54 loss to Oktaha in Friday’s regional championship semifinals in Hulbert but stayed alive in the postseason with a 5346 win over Meeker in Saturday’s regional consolation semifinals in Dale, will join the Tigers at the area tournament in McAlester as Central’s girls will meet Calera, which lost to Big 8 Conference rival Howe 67-39 Monday night in Wilburton.

The Tigers (17-8) and the Lady Tigers (206) will be at the Class 2A Area Tournament in McAlester from Thursday through Saturday so long as they do not lose another game along the way.

The Tigers will meet Wilburton at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in McAlester in the area tournament consolation quarterfinals, with the winner playing the Christian Heritage Academy-Oktaha winner at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the area consolation semifinals. Should the Tigers win both of their first two games in McAlester, they will play the Rejoice Christian-Dale loser at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the area tournament consolation championship and a trip to state. The Tigers lost to Hooker in last year’s Class 2A Area Tournament consolation finals at Enid’s Stride Bank Center after losing the area finals to Merritt the night before.

The Lady Tigers will meet Calera in the Class 2A Area Tournament consolation quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Thursday in McAlester, with the winner meeting the Rejoice Christian-Oktaha winner in the area consolation semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday. Should the Lady Tigers win both of their first two games, they will play the Howe-Dale loser in the area consolation championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday for the right to go to state. Central lost both Big 8 Conference games this season to the Lady Lions.

In the boys’ regional finals, the Pirates jumped out to a 17-4 lead after a period, which became a 47-20 halftime advantage and a 65-28 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In defeat, Josh Brunk led Central with nine points, followed by Gavin Randolph with eight points, Hardy Buzzard, Noah Buzzard and Cale Stewart with four points each, Aidan Sainer and Kiefer Bailey each with three points and O’Dell Parker, Jake Woods, Brycen Chandler-Eisman and Kyle Reed with two points apiece.

In the boys’ victory over Oktaha in a battle of Tigers, Central rallied from a 9-8 openingperiod deficit to take a 26-16 halftime lead. Oktaha made the game interesting as it outscored Central 24-20 in the second half, but the Muskogee County Tigers’ rally fell short.

For the game, Sainer scored 11 points and Brunk added 10 points to lead Central, followed by Paitton Merrill, Hardy Buzzard and Noah Buzzard with six points each, Braxin Goodson with four points and Randolph with three points.

In the girls’ regional consolation championship win over Hulbert, the Lady Tigers led 12-4 after a quarter, 25-13 at the half and 3224 after three periods. Central doubled up Hulbert 12-6 in the fourth quarter to keep the Lady Riders at bay.

For the game, Cambree Bair scored 14 points and Ayrland Jiles added 11 points to lead Central, followed by Hadlie Woods with eight points, Haley Cheek with seven points, Paris Campbell with six points and Ryleigh Pierce and Cheyenne Busch with two points apiece.

In the girls’ regional championship semifinal loss to Oktaha, Oktaha’s 18-11 fourth quarter propel its Lady Tigers to the one-point, comefrom- behind victory.

In defeat, Central put a quartet of players into double figures, led by Cheek’s 15 points, followed by Woods with 14 points, Bair with 11 points and Jiles with 10 points. Pierce and Busch scored two points apiece.

In the girls’ regional consolation semifinal victory over Meeker, the Lady Tigers led 10-6 after a quarter, 23-16 at the half and 35-26 after three quarters. The Lady Bulldogs did outscore the Lady Tigers 20-19 in the final period, but their rally came up short.

For the game, Central put a trio of players into double figures, led by Woods with 13 points and Bair and Cheek with 11 points apiece. Jiles scored seven points, while Pierce, Busch and Campbell scored four points each.