The opening week of the 2023-24 basketball season was a rough one for the Vian High School teams.

The Vian High School basketball teams split their season openers Dec. 5 against Spiro at B.J. Traw Gymnasium. The Wolverines held off the Bulldogs 49-38, but the Lady Bulldogs spoiled new Vian girls coach John Mays, who is taking over both programs this season, as Spiro beat the Lady Wolverines 53-34.

On Friday night, the Vian squads suffered road losses to the host Eufaula hoopsters. The Ironheads defeated the Wolverines 69-58 right before the Lady Ironheads handled the Lady Wolverines 60-23.

In the boys’ game against Spiro, the Wolverines (1-1) jumped out to a 9-4 lead after a quarter, which became a 23-20 halftime advantage. The ’Dogs outscored the Wolverines 6-4 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 2726, but Vian outscored Spiro 20-15 in the final period to seal the deal.

For the game, Yonsi Grass and Masyn Wright each scored 16 points to lead Vian, followed by Trace Sanders and Jacob Brannick each with six points, Cash Collins with three points and Draighton Fletcher with two points.

In the boys’ contest against Eufaula, the Ironheads jumped out to a 23-15 lead after a period and a 40-26 halftime advantage. The Wolverines outscored them 32-29 in the second half, but their rally fell short.

In defeat, Wright scored a game-high 30 points to lead Vian, followed by Grass with 11 points, Collins with six points, Sanders with five points, Ethan Pollock with three points, Brannick with two points and Fletcher with a free throw.

In the girls’ contest against Spiro the Lady Wolverines (0-1) led 12-10 after a quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs outscored them 22-10 in the second period for a 32-22 halftime lead. Spiro put away the game with a 16-6 third quarter for a 48-28 advantage going into the final period.

In defeat, Maisie Wells led Vian with nine points, followed by Skyelar Locust with eight points, Halli Russell with seven points, Avery Wright and Rayleigh Terrill with four points each and Kiah Richardson with two points.

In the girls’ game against Eufaula, the Lady Ironheads jumped out to a 10-2 lead after the first quarter, which became a 36-10 halftime lead thanks to Eufaula’s 26-8 second period.

In defeat, Wright led Vian with nine points, followed by Terrill with four points and Russell, Richardson, Kala Gibbons, Rebel Simon and Tina Rautenberg with two points apiece.