Both the Caddo girls and boys basketball teams each punched their ticket for this week’s Class A state tournament for a fourth year in a row after winning area consolation titles on Saturday.
Caddo’s girls dropped a 48-38 area title loss to Amber-Pocasset but bounced back to eliminate Alex, 50-43, and stay alive.
On the boys’ side, the Bruins finished off a successful run through the tournament loser’s bracket, winning three straight elimination contests in the area. They stopped Binger-Oney (66-56), Thomas (4639) and finally Oklahoma Christian Academy (54-42).
The second-ranked Lady Bruins were heading into the state event with a 23-4 record while the secondrated Bruins also carried a 23-4 mark with them.
Girls
A slow start against Am-Po proved futile for the Lady Bruins as they were down 18-11 through one period and 29-16 at the half.
Coach Kolby Johnson’s unit narrowed the gap to 42-32 at the end of the third period as they got the offense going to double their first half scoring total. That’s as close as it got, however, as each team tallied six points in the final frame.
Jaycie Nichols connected on seven of 14 field goal attempts to record a team-high 15 points along with pulling down eight rebounds as well as five steals. Belle Hookom also just missed a double-double with nine points and eight boards. Kayden Prince added seven points.
Although it wasn’t as dominant as their regional title win over Alex, the Lady Bruins got it done down the stretch in the consolation final.
Caddo was in front 14-7 through one stanza and 25-17 at halftime before the Lady Horns came alive to close to within 37-35 heading to the fourth. Nichols came up big in the final frame along with Hookom and Prince as all tallied double figures.
Jaycie Nichols sank four three pointers while drilling eight of 14 shot attempts en route to 21 points.
Hookom tossed in 10 points as did Prince, who also contributed six rebounds and four steals. Jordyn Nichols pitched in nine points for the Lady Bruins.
Boys
Caddo sizzled the nets for 61 percent shooting and needed just about every bit of that shooting to hold off Binger-Oney in the area opener that pitted a pair of Top 10 foes.
The Bruins led 19-16 through one quarter, 3428 at halftime and 50-40 to gradually distance themselves.
Parker Bearden had a huge performance with 21 points and 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists. He connected on seven of nine from the field, including a pair of treys.
Freshman Beck Willingham was red hot from behind the arc, sinking five three pointers on the way to 17 points. Noah Bacon also contributed 17 on seven of 10 shooting from the field. Kale Brister notched seven points and five assists.
Defense was more the story against Thomas as neither team shot the ball very well, including a 33-percent effort by Caddo from the field which proved to be enough.
The Bruins held an 11-8 lead at the end of one period but watched the Terriers go in front 23-22 at halftime. It was tied at 31 through three and the veteran Bruins pulled it out in the final frame.
Brister led all scorers in that one with 16 points, including three treys, and pulled down seven rebounds. Bacon tallied 13 points with Willingham adding nine points and eight boards.
The OCA finale was knotted at 20 through two quarters but Caddo began to assert itself after the break, including a decisive 21-12 fourth period burst.
Willingham cashed in seven of 12 shooting for 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Bacon tossed in 13 while Brister and Jake McKay contributed eight each.
