The Central Tigers played for the Class 2A Regional Tournament title Monday night in Dale, but they had to face the No. 1 Dale Pirates in the finals. Regardless of the outcome, the Tigers (17-7) will advance to this week’s area tournament in McAlester, which will take place this Thursday through Saturday.
The Tigers reached the regional finals with a 46-40 win over Oktaha on Friday night in Hulbert.
The Central Lady Tigers captured the Class 2A Regional Tournament consolation championship with a 50-35 win over the Hulbert Lady Riders, who Central’s girls beat Feb. 14 at the Central Gym for the district title, on Monday afternoon in Dale.
The Lady Tigers (206), who opened the Class 2A Regional Tournament with a heartbreaking 55-54 loss to Oktaha in Friday’s regional championship semifinals in Hulbert but stayed alive in the postseason with a 53–46 win over Meeker in Saturday’s regional consolation semifinals in Dale, will join the Tigers at the area tournament in McAlester as Central’s girls will meet the loser of Monday night’s Class 2A Regional Tournament final between Big 8 Conference rival Howe and Calera, which took place in Wilburton.
In the boys’ victory over Oktaha in a battle of Tigers, Central rallied from a 9-8 opening-period deficit to take a 2616 halftime lead. Oktaha made the game interesting as it outscored Central 24-20 in the second half, but the Muskogee County Tigers’ rally fell short.
For the game, Aidan Sainer scored 11 points and Josh Brunk added 10 points to lead Central, followed by Paitton Merrill, Hardy Buzzard and Noah Buzzard with six points each, Braxin Goodson with four points and Gavin Randolph with three points.
In the girls’ regional consolation championship win over Hulbert, the Lady Tigers led 12-4 after a quarter, 25-13 at the half and 32-24 after three periods. Central doubled up Hulbert 12-6 in the fourth quarter to keep the Lady Riders at bay.
For the game, Cambree Bair scored 14 points and Ayrland Jiles added 11 points to lead Central, followed by Hadlie Woods with eight points, Haley Cheek with seven points, Paris Campbell with six points and Ryleigh Pierce and Cheyenne Busch with two points apiece.
In the girls’ regional championship semifinal loss to Oktaha, Oktaha’s 18-11 fourth quarter propel its Lady Tigers to the one-point, comefrom- behind victory. In defeat, Central put a quartet of players into double figures, led by Cheek’s 15 points, followed by Woods with 14 points, Bair with 11 points and Jiles with 10 points. Pierce and Busch scored two points apiece.
In the girls’ regional consolation semifinal victory over Meeker, the Lady Tigers led 10-6 after a quarter, 23-16 at the half and 35-26 after three quarters. The Lady Bulldogs did outscore the Lady Tigers 2019 in the final period, but their rally came up short.
For the game, Central put a trio of players into double figures, led by Woods with 13 points and Bair and Cheek with 11 points apiece. Jiles scored seven points, while Pierce, Busch and Campbell scored four points each.
