Stigler basketball to play home opener among full area hoops slate
Stigler's basketball teams host Sallisaw tonight in their home opener tonight. The Panthers are among four teams playing at home in a full slate of area hoops. For all matchups, girls games start at 6:30 p.m. and boys games tip off at 8 p.m.
Stigler vs. Sallisaw
Girls: Panthers (1-0) vs. Black Diamonds
Notes: Stigler beat Pocola 61-27 in its season opener with Shauntey Hays leading the way by scoring 24 points and Madison Gilmore adding 11 points. Stigler won all three games against Sallisaw last season. The Black Diamonds are opening their season in Stigler after going 4-18 in 2015-16.
Boys: Panthers (0-1) vs. Black Diamonds
Notes: Stigler lost 46-28 to Pocola in its season opener with sophomore Jordan Dorris scoring a team-high eight points. Stigler won two of three games against Sallisaw in 2015-16. The Black Diamonds open the season on the Panther court after finishing last season 3-18.
Keota vs. McCurtain
Girls: Lions (0-1) vs. Bulldogs (2-5)
Notes: Jadi Welch scored eight of 15 points in the second half during the season-opening loss at home to Panama on Nov. 29. She showed a greater knack than last year at moving to the ball and driving to the hoop. Lillian Lane led McCurtain with 19 points in a 66-18 home win against Panola on Nov. 29 before losing 68-58 at LeFlore on Dec. 1, with Lane scoring 16 points. Keota won both meetings with McCurtain last season. This is McCurtain coach Bryan Schlekeway's first game at Keota since parting with the school this summer. Schlekeway coached boys basketball for five years at Keota and is two years removed from his last year guiding the Keota girls team.
Boys Lions (0-1) vs. Bulldogs (3-4)
Notes: Phil Lipari and Bryson McClary both scored 11 points in the Lions' season-opening loss at home to Panama on Nov. 29. McCurtain escaped Panola 61-52 at home on Nov. 29 before losing 66-35 at LeFlore on Dec. 1. Keota beat McCurtain 65-59 last season.
Porum vs. Okay
GIrls: Panthers (1-1) vs. Mustangs (2-0)
Notes: Porum took its first lost of the season at Porter on Nov. 29 via a last-second three-pointer. Okay beat Tulsa NOAH 56-36 on Nov. 29. Porum split the two games with Okay last season.
Boys: Panthers (2-0) vs. Mustangs (2-0)
Notes: Porum has started strong after going 8-15 last year. The Panthers scored 118 points in their first two games after failing to score more than 50 in the first four games last year. Porum beat Porter 60-53 on Nov. 29, led by 23 points from Mason Coulston. Okay, the second-ranked team in Class A, beat Tulsa NOAH on Nov. 29.
Quinton vs. Hartshorne
Girls: Savages (1-0) vs. Miners (1-0)
Notes: Quinton, which is ranked 15th in Class 2A, scored its highest since Jan. 13, 2014, in a 71-15 season-opening home win against Arkoma on Dec. 1. Macey McKee scored 21 points. Hanna Pitman had 11 points. Quinton's last meeting with Hartshorne was on Feb. 22, 2014, as the girls in green and white won 63-31.
Boys: Savages (0-1) vs. Miners (0-1)
Notes: Tristan Etchison scored 13 points in Quinton's season-opining 50-39 loss at home to Arkoma on Dec. 1. Hartshorne lost 53-36 to Warner in its opener on Nov. 29. Quinton lost 47-44 to Hartshorne at the Tushka AmeriState Invitational last season.
Kinta at Canadian
Girls: Eagles (3-2) vs. Cougars (1-0)
Notes: The Eagles, which are ranked 17th in Class B, lost 23-16 to Bokoshe at home on Dec. 1. Canadian won its season opener 41-26 at Indianola on Nov. 28. Kinta lost to Canadian 38-26 last season.
Boys: Eagles (5-0) vs. Cougars (1-0)
Notes: The top-ranked Eagles downed Bokoshe 72-37 at home on Dec. 1, led by 23 points from Jude Johnson. Canadian beat Indianola 78-56 in its season opener on Nov. 28. Last season, Kinta beat Canadian 50-30.