The Preston varsity basketball program began their journey towards a second-straight state tournament appearance with a sweep of their Class 2A, Area II, District 5 championships last Saturday evening at the Jim Waller Event Center in Preston.
The Preston varsity basketball program began their journey towards a second-straight state tournament appearance with a sweep of their Class 2A, Area II, District 5 championships last Saturday evening at the Jim Waller Event Center in Preston.
The Preston cage squads took home the championship plaques with double- digit wins over the visiting Stroud Tigers and Lady Tigers.
The seventh-ranked Lady Pirates kicked off the district title sweep with a 47-35 victory in the opening contest, while the fifth-ranked Pirates cruised to the district crown with an 88-31 decision in the nightcap.
The district tournament sweep puts the Preston squads into Thursday’s winner’s bracket round of the Class 2A, Area II regional tournament at Stroud High School with the Lady Pirates taking on the Chouteau-Mazie Lady Wildcats at 6 p.m. followed by the Pirates squaring off against the Chelsea Dragons at 7:30 p.m.
Wins on Thursday will put the Preston cage squads into Saturday’s regional championship contests at 6 and 7:30 p.m. in Stroud against the winners of Thursday’s winner’s bracket games in Okemah between Okemah and Pawhuska (girls) and Christian Heritage and Tonkawa (boys), while losses on Thursday will put the Pirates and Lady Pirates into Friday’s consolation semifinal games in Stroud at 6 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
In Saturday’s girls district title game against Stroud, the Lady Pirates overcame a 12-8 deficit after one quarter to lead 24-17 at halftime. The Preston ladies extended their lead to double digits - 39-25 - with a 15-8 advantage in the third period. The visitors from Stroud managed just a 10-8 margin in the final frame to award the host Lady Pirates the 47-35 decision and the district championship.
Anistyn Garner was the top offensive contributor for the Preston ladies in the district title win with a gamehigh 20 points. Emilie Stidman was next for the Lady Pirates with nine, followed by Savannah King with six, Josie Cope four, Shaunassi Jordan and Pheobey Finch three each, and Taylan Starr two.
In Saturday’s boys district championship contest, the Pirates led wireto- wire, taking the first three quarters by margins of 20-8, 28-3, and 17-8, respectively, for a commanding 65-19 lead with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
The Preston gentlemen put the finishing touches on the lopsided victory by outscoring the Tigers 23-12 in the final frame for the 88-31 decision.
Jervais Goree was one of four Pirate players to score in double figures on Saturday, finishing with a game-high 19 points. Pheonix Finch (17), Giorgio Dunn-Spencer (14), and Hunter McElhannon (12) were the other Preston double-digit scorers against Stroud.
The remaining offensive contributors for the Pirates in the district title win were Tanner Young with nine, Jayden Smith eight, Cayden Hollier six, and Ethan Moore three.
--- Class 2A District Tournament Championship Girls Game
Preston 47, Stroud 35
Stroud: 12 - 5 - 8 - 10 (35) Preston: 8 - 16 - 15 - 8 (47) Preston Scoring: Anistyn Garner 20, Emilie Stidman 9, Savannah King 6, Josie Cope 4, Shaunassi Jordan 3, Pheobey Finch 3, Taylan Starr 2.
--- Boys Game
Preston 88, Stroud 31
Stroud: 8 - 3 - 8 - 12 (31) Preston: 20 - 28 - 17 - 23 (88) Preston Scoring: Jervais Goree 19, Pheonix Finch 17, Giorgio Dunn-Spencer 14, Hunter McElhannon 12, Tanner Young 9, Jayden Smith 8, Cayden Hollier 6, Ethan Moore 3.
