Sallisaw takes 2 from Hilldale to sweep Class 4A District Tournament titles for first time since 2014
The for-the-first-time-since moments continue for the Sallisaw High School basketball teams.
The Lady Diamonds and Black Diamonds both knocked off Hilldale for the second time in five days as the Sallisaw teams swept the Lady Hornets and Hornets to sweep the Class 4A District Tournament titles for the first time since doing so against Muldrow in 2014. However, both teams needed strong second halves to make it happen.
The Lady Diamonds rallied from a five-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Lady Hornets 47-35, while Black Diamonds used a strong second half to pull away from the Hornets for a 45-39 victory.
Both the Lady Diamonds and Black Diamonds were slated to face the host Fort Gibson teams Tuesday night in the Class 4A Regional Tournament championship semifinals. The winners not only will play for the regional championship on Saturday night at Muldrow High School’s Roger Sharp Activity Center, but automatically will earn a berth into the area tournament the following week in Seminole.
Tuesday night’s losers will have to play in the Class 4A Regional Tournament consolation semifinals on Friday in Muldrow to try to stay alive to play for the regional consolation title and a trip to the area tournament in Seminole.
GIRLS
SALLISAW 47, HILLDALE 35
Down 27-22 after Hilldale’s Ella Roach hit a 3-point basket with 4:15 left in the third quarter, the Lady Diamonds (18-6, matching last season’s win total) ended the period on a 10-0 run, capped by Katelyn Carlton’s 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining, to put Sallisaw ahead for good at 32-27 entering the final period.
The Lady Diamonds built as much as a 13-point lead on two occasions in the fourth quarter against the Lady Hornets (11-13), the last time coming at 4633 on Sydney Weedon’s free throw with 1:41 left to play.
“On the offensive end, Hannah (Palmer) got going and hit multiple shots,” Sallisaw Lady Diamonds coach Greg Pratt said about the comeback. “Katie (Carlton) got one to fall late in the third quarter. On the defense end, it started with Sydney Weedon. Sydney started making multiple plays in a row — coming up with some steals and rebounds. She ignited us. She got a steal and led a 2-on-1 and made a great pass to Katie (for a layup). She turned around and got another steal, and we went down there and scored on it. Things we do starts with our defense.”
For the game, Palmer scored a game-high 22 points to lead Sallisaw, followed by Weedon with nine points, Carlton and Emma Martin with seven points each and Alayna Locust-Trammell with two points.
BOYS
SALLISAW 45, HILLDALE 39
After a basket by Hilldale’s Brady Scott put the Hornets (9-15) ahead 22-17 with 7:33 left in the third quarter, the Black Diamonds (14-10), winners of four straight, ended the period with as 14-4 run, capped by Rowdi Nickell’s buzzer-beating basket, to put Sallisaw in the lead at 31-26, an advantage the Black Diamonds would not relinquish.
The Black Diamonds enjoyed as great as a nine-point lead three times in the fourth quarter, the last time coming at 44-35 on a free throw by Rowdi Nickell.
“I’m really proud of the guys,” Sallisaw Black Diamonds coach Zac Rogers said. “I thought we had some freshmen, Austin Edgemon, Calvin Fitzpatrick, Luke Warner and Rowdi Nickell, really step up and play some big minutes there in the second half. Grayson Griffey, his presence in the paint was really important for our defense being able to get some stops there late, and we were able to get out there and run a little bit.”
For the game, Griffey and Asa Ulrich each scored 10 points to lead Sallisaw, with one of Griffey’s baskets coming on a breakaway slam dunk as part of the third-period ending run to put the Black Diamonds ahead for good. Fitzpatrick had six points, followed by Brodi Nickell with five points, Elijah Hill with four points and Tae Muskrat-Flynn and Rowdi Nickell with three points apiece.
