As the regular season nears its conclusion, high school basketball teams across Okmulgee County are gearing up for the start of District competition. Last week’s games provided thrilling moments, shocking comebacks, and hard-fought battles as teams aimed to fine-tune their play before heading into win-or-go-home matchups. Here’s a recap of the action and a look ahead at District pairings.

— Beggs Splits Against Preston

The Beggs Golden Demons faced a tough challenge against a dominant Preston team, falling 7447 in their matchup. The Pirates struggled to contain Preston’s offensive firepower, falling behind early and never quite recovering.

However, the Lady Demons secured a hard-fought 41-35 victory over the Lady Pirates, proving their resilience ahead of District play.

Next up, Beggs will take on Henryetta on Friday in a pivotal matchup before Districts begin. Both Preston teams will face Stratford on Friday at home, with the Lady Pirates playing at 6 p.m. and the Pirates tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

— Knights Rally to Defeat Eagles

One of the most dramatic games of the week saw the Henryetta Knights mount a stunning comeback against the Morris Eagles, erasing a 20-point deficit to claim a 76-65 victory.

The game saw eight lead changes, but the Knights’ resilience shone through. A crucial three-pointer by Nakona Johnson gave Henryetta the lead for good, and Skylar Greenhaw led the charge with 26 points. The Knights dominated the third quarter, outscor- ing the Eagles 20-6 to flip the script after trailing at halftime.

Henryetta will now prepare for a showdown against Okmulgee, while Morris faces a tough test at Kellyville on Friday.

— Dragons Survive Thriller Against Kinta The Dewar Dragons edged out Kinta in a nail-biting 50-49 victory. Tanner Wilson (16 points) and Skelly Taylor (15 points) led the scoring effort, while Joseph Moore chipped in 10 points to help secure the win.

The Lady Dragons also found themselves in a dramatic battle, prevailing in overtime with a 63-59 victory against Kinta. Skylar Phillips was the hero of the night, dropping an impressive 33 points. Tajaya Lewis added 15 points, helping Dewar stay in control down the stretch.

Both Dewar teams then faced Little Axe, with the Dragons falling 63-50, while the Lady Dragons continued their winning ways with a 53-44 triumph.

Dewar’s District journey will begin on Feb. 15 at Drumright, where both teams received a firstround bye.

— Schulter Stays Hot Ahead of Districts

Schulter picked up two key wins last week, defeating New Lima 62-55 and edging Prue 40-36. The Lady Bulldogs also secured a tight 40-35 win over New Lima before falling to Prue 54-34.

With Districts looming, the Lady Bulldogs will travel to Braggs on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup. The Bulldogs will also head to Braggs on Friday for a District game against Watts at 6 p.m.

— Wilson Falls in Back-and-Forth Battle Against Crooked Oak Wilson suffered a tough 68-59 loss to Crooked Oak in a game that saw seven lead changes. Despite leading by 10 at halftime, Wilson couldn’t hold on as Crooked Oak surged late.

Ke’shon Shelburn led Wilson with 21 points, while Za’brien Shelburn added 14. The team’s rebounding was strong, with Wilson collecting 31 boards and assisting on 13 of their 23 made baskets.

The Lady Tigers, however, dominated Crooked Oak with a commanding 67-35 victory.

In District play, the Lady Tigers will face Haileyville on Thursday at Midway at 6 p.m., while the Tigers take on Mason on Friday at 6 p.m.

— District Matchups Set

With the regular season winding down, some teams now shift their focus to District play, where every game is a must-win. Others are waiting to see who they will face. Here’s a look at key matchups:

• Preston vs. Stratford (Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Preston) • Lady Pirates vs. Stratford (Friday, 6 p.m. at Preston) • Morris at Kellyville (Friday)

• Henryetta vs. Okmulgee (Friday)

• Schulter Lady Bulldogs at Braggs (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.)

• Schulter Bulldogs vs. Watts (Friday, 6 p.m. at Braggs)

• Dewar (boys and girls) first-round bye, play Feb. 15 at Drumright

• Wilson Lady Tigers vs. Haileyville (Thursday, 6 p.m. at Midway)

• Wilson Tigers vs. Mason (Friday, 6 p.m.)

With District play set to begin, teams will need to bring their best performances to keep their seasons alive. Expect more thrilling action as these teams battle for a spot in the playoffs.