PRESTON - The Henryetta varsity basketball teams came up on the short end of a pair of decisions last Friday evening at the Jim Waller Event Center. The Knights and
PRESTON - The Henryetta varsity basketball teams came up on the short end of a pair of decisions last Friday evening at the Jim Waller Event Center.
The Knights and Lady Knights suffered losses to their county rivals, the host Preston Pirates and Lady Pirates, with the boys game going down to the wire.
The Lady Knights (7-11) found themselves on the short end of a 60-47 outcome last Friday in their meeting with the 2A No. 15 Lady Pirates to give Preston the season series sweep.
In the nightcap, the Knights (10-9) rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half and had a chance to knock off the host Pirates for the first time this season, but a last-second shot attempt was just off the mark to put the Henryetta cage squad on the losing end of a heartbreaking 67-65 outcome. The 2-point loss was the third this season for the Knights, having been defeated in the season opener December 4 at home, as well as dropping their first-round battle with the Pirates January 21 at the 2019 Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okmulgee County Basketball Tournament in Okmulgee.
Henryetta returned to action on Tuesday, hosting its arch rival, the Morris Eagles and Lady Eagles. The Knights and Lady Knights will travel to Eufaula Friday for a Heartland Conference showdown with the Eufaula Ironheads and Lady Ironheads, beginning with girls action at 6:30 p.m. Friday's boys contest will follow at approximately 8 p.m. in Eufaula.
In last Friday's girls game, the Lady Pirates took the opening frame by a 13-5 margin, then edged the Lady Knights 16-15 in the second stanza for a 29-20 halftime advantage.
The Preston cagers extended their lead to 39-27 with one quarter remaining after coming out of the third period with a slim 10-7 margin. The Lady Knights attempted a comeback in the final eight minutes of regulation, putting up 20 points in the final quarter. The host Lady Pirates countered with 21 points in the frame to escape with the 13-point victory, 60-47.
The Lady Knights' top scorer in the county meeting was Lauren Lee with 15 points. Autumn Blackbear was next for Henryetta with 12 - all coming on four 3-point baskets. Mattie Blackbear was next for HHS with eight, followed by Kaylie Hamric and Ashlyn Green with four each and Kim Fowler and Danielle LaSarge-Taylor two apiece.
Leading the offensive attack for Preston was Abbie Long with a game-high 26 points. Aiyonna Tecumseh also reached double figures for the Lady Pirates in the county battle, finishing with 11 points.
In the boys contest last Friday, both teams tallied 16 points in the opening period. The host Pirates took the second stanza 15-7 for a 31-23 halftime advantage.
The Knights took the back-and-forth third quarter by a 20-18 margin to make it a 49-43 contest with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
In the final frame, the scoring continued to go back and forth with Henryetta outscoring the host Pirates 18-12 in the first six minutes of the quarter to deadlock the score at 61-61. With 1:27 left in regulation, Lance Porter scored an inside basket to put the Pirates on top, 63-61, then Micah Lowe answered 24 seconds later for a 63-63 contest. Cace Love sank a pair of free throws with 42.3 seconds remaining to put Preston back on top, 65-63. Colten Wion calmly made a pair of charity tosses for the Knights with 28.6 seconds left to once again tie the game - 65-65. The Pirates worked the clock down, looking for the perfect shot attempt. Williams drove the baseline and put up a shot attempt on a running jumper with the shot touching nothing but nylon with 5.3 seconds left, giving the host Preston squad a 67-65 advantage. The Knights got off a shot at the buzzer, but the attempt was just off the mark, giving the host Preston Pirates the thrilling 67-65 decision. The Knights were led in scoring by Wion with 21, followed by Drew Brown with 20. Other Henryetta scorers in the county battle were Jerad Fife with nine, Daniel Bear seven, Alex Hudson six, and Micah Lowe two. Williams led all scorers with a game-high 24 points. Love (12) and Turner Howk (11) also reached double figures for Preston. ---
Girls Game
Preston 60, Henryetta 47 Henryetta - 5 - 15 - 7 - 20 (47) Preston - 13 - 16 - 10 - 21 (60) Henryetta Scoring: Lauren Lee 15, Autumn Blackbear 12, Mattie Blackbear 8, Kaylie Hamric 4, Ashlyn Green 4, Kim Fowler 2, Danielle LaSarge-Taylor 2. Preston Scoring: Abbie Long 26, Aiyonna Tecumseh 11, Ahmiah Tiger 7, Aaliyah Harrison 6, Maycie Jones 6, Rylee Pinkston 3, MaKayla Smith 1. Free Throws: Henryetta 3-8; Preston 10-14. Three Pointers: Henryetta 8; Preston 4. ---
Boys Game
Preston 67, Henryetta 65 Henryetta - 16 - 7 - 20 - 22 (65) Preston - 16 - 15 - 18 - 18 (67) Henryetta Scoring: Colten Wion 21, Drew Brown 20, Jerad Fife 9, Daniel Bear 7, Alex Hudson 6, Micah Lowe 2. Preston Scoring: Jarron Williams 24, Cace Love 12, Turner Howk 11, K.J. Bagby 6, Jaden Skupien 6, Jarvis Demery 4, Anthony Craig 2, Lance Porter 2. Free Throws: Henryetta 20-27; Preston 14-18. Three Pointers: Henryetta 5; Preston 5.