Basketball season winding down: Girls finish season as bi-district champs, boys advancing to post-season play

by Michelle Dillon Staff Writer
Courtesy Photos/Shannon Capps
Troup Tiger Quincy Kincade defends against a Hughes Springs Mustang in the bi-district playoff Monday, Feb. 18. Courtesy Photos/Shannon Capps
Troup Tiger Quincy Kincade defends against a Hughes Springs Mustang in the bi-district playoff Monday, Feb. 18.

Three Cherokee County girls’ basketball teams ended post-season play as bi-district champions. The boys’ basketball teams ended their regular season this past week with two teams advancing to post-season play.

Girls basketball

Bullard

The Bullard Lady Panthers defeated the North Lamar Panthers, 67-30, in the 4A-Region II bi-district championship game Tuesday, Feb. 12, but were defeated at Area level play, 47-53.

The Lady Panthers tipped off against the Brownsboro Bears Friday, Feb. 15, at Whitehouse and took the first quarter lead, 13-9. By halftime, Brownsboro had narrowed the gap and were down by only two points, 23-25. Third period scoring resulted in a 15-14 margin in favor of the Bears, but Bullard retained a single point lead, 39-38.

The final frame belonged to the Bears with a 15-8 margin over Bullard, giving Brownsboro the 53-47 victory.

Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Maidens won in the 5A-Region II bi-district round over the Sulphur Springs Wildcats, 57-46.

They fell in the Area playoff against the Poteet Pirates, 40-57.

The Maidens were down by a single point following first quarter play, 9-10.

The game remained close through the second period which resulted in a halftime score of 19-24.

The Maidens fell further behind the Pirates, by an 18-14 margin, in the third quarter resulting in a 41-33 lead for Poteet.

The final frame belonged to the Pirates, 16-7, ending the game in a 57-40 loss for Jacksonville.

Rusk

The Rusk Lady Eagles beat the Center Roughriders, 35-30, to obtain the 4A Region III bi-district championship status Tuesday, Feb. 12.

They competed against Lorena at Area Friday, Feb. 15, where they were dropped by the Leopards, 40-21.

Boys basketball

Troup

The Troup Tigers hosted Winona for the final game of the season, overwhelming the Wildcats 67-39.

Quincy Kincade sank five three-pointers and totaled 23 points to become lead scorer for the team. Kris Johnson dropped in nine points. Weslee Ross and Grayson Driggs each sank eight points, including two treys for Driggs. Kedrick Frazier also sank two three-pointers and had a total of seven points. Desmon Deason added six points while Blake Wood dropped in four and Jordan Elliott, two.

The Tigers (21-4, 12-2) took on the Hughes Springs Mustangs (16-15, 8-6) Monday, Feb. 18, at Union Grove High School to determine 3A Region II bi-district champions.

After leading at halftime, 31-24, the win came down to the final moments of the game. With just a minute and 36 seconds remaining, Troup held a two-point lead, 44-42.

With only 21 seconds, the Tigers were ahead by a single point. A free throw put Troup up by two, giving the Tigers the 47-45 win and the bi-district championship title.

Weslee Ross was lead scorer with 13 points, including three treys. Kedrick Frazier, with three three-pointers, sank a total of 11 points. Grayson Driggs hit two three-point shots for six points. Kris Johnson sank five points and Desmon Deason added two.

The Tigers advance to Area and will face the winner of the Commerce versus Redwater game. The Area round game will take place Friday, Feb. 22.

Bullard

The Bullard Panthers hosted Gilmer in the final game of the season Tuesday, Feb. 12. The Panthers lost to the Buckeyes, 53-46.

The team brought down 41 rebounds, had nine assists, nine blocks and stole the ball 12 times.

The Panthers hit 26 percent of field goals compared to Gilmer’s 33 percent, but dropped 77 percent of free throws compared to 61 percent for the Buckeyes. Both teams hit 20 percent of three-point attempts.

Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Indians played their last season game on the road against the Hallsville Bobcats, losing 54-63. The team finished sixth of eight teams in 5A-District 16, ranking just behind Hallsville.

Alto

The Alto Yellowjackets ended the season Friday, Feb. 15, by hosting the Cushing Bearkats who finished first in 2A-District 21 standings.

Though the margins in each quarter were close, the differences were enough to add up to a Cushing win, 58-44. The largest margin of the game came early with a 12-6 first quarter score in favor of Cushing.

Alto managed a closer 9-12 margin in the second period, but the halftime lead for the Bearkats was 24-15.

With a four-point deficit in the third frame, the Yellowjackets fell further behind, 26-40. Alto kept pace in the final quarter with just a single point difference, but the win went to Cushing.

Lead scorer for Alto was Marlon Warren with 12 points. Fred Thacker followed with 10 and Skyler Atkins dropped in eight points. Jay Pope and Kurinsai Jackson sank five points each and Will Dixon added four points.

New Summerfield

The New Summerfield Hornets completed the regular season on the road at Mt. Enterprise, defeating the Wildcats 61-43.

The Hornets end the season with a 7-3 district record, placing them second in 2A-District 21 standings behind Cushing (9-1).

The Hornets were scheduled for a bi-district playoff against Tenaha Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Whitehouse.