Durant girls won three of four lowscoring slugfests in the season’s opening week while the Lions picked up a lone victory.
Coach Tony Robinson’s Lady Lions opened the year with a 35-31 district win at Tulsa East Central and then posted a 2-1 record to place third in the Madill Winter Classic. They edged Madill (2825) before losing to Caddo (44-33) and bounced back for a triumph against Purcell (37-32).
The Lions, meanwhile, fell at Tulsa East Central (105-54) and then dropped a 53-40 verdict to Purcell before notching their first win as they toppled Era, Texas (47-42). Durant then fell to Harding Prep (65-62) in a consolation championship nailbiter.
Durant resumes district play this week with three pivotal road games beginning with a two-day trip that includes backto- back contests at Tahlequah and Pryor before visiting Claremore on Tuesday.
Girls
The Lady Lions set the tone for a defensive- minded week battling through a tight affair at East Central that saw Iyana Wilson notch 13 points and Abrianna Freeman contribute a strong outing inside with 10 points.
Ella Sorrels tossed in seven, Anslee Morse added four and Avery Blackburn scored one.
Durant managed just three points in the first period against Madill in the tournament opener but still held a narrow 10-8 edge at intermission. The Lady Wildcats knotted things at 18 through three quarters but came through in the clutch as Madill missed a potential tying trey in the waning seconds.
Wilson pumped in 11 points, Sorrels had nine with Freeman checking in with four. Blackburn and Emma Green pitched in two apiece.
The Lady Lions got off to a better start in the semifi nals against Caddo with its highest scoring quarter of the week, claiming a 12-5 advantage through the first stanza. Caddo however erupted for a 19-4 scoring splurge in the second frame to take command.
It was Wilson once again pacing the DHS scoring effort with 12 points. Freeman tallied six, Sorrels had four, Blackburn notched three while Morse, Green and Zoe Lee all contributed two.
The Lady Lions responded to turn back Purcell and claim third place in the tournament, grabbing the early lead and maintaining it the rest of the way. It was 11-5 through one stanza, 21-14 at halftime and 28-21 through three periods.
Wilson and Sorrels each hit double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively. Green posted six, Freeman had five and Morse scored two.
Boys
The Lions trailed powerful East Central only 1511 through one period of the season opener before watching the Cardinals catch fire and run away for the victory.
Tashaun Williams had a huge effort with 26 points for the Lions but it was not nearly enough to stay with the hosts. Joseph Flores scored eight, Malachi Villiere had six, Boston Browder tossed in five as Zach Ervin and Jagger Aiken finished with two apiece.
Durant trailed most of the way in a tournament opening loss to Purcell, falling behind 14-9 after one stanza and 26-23 at the half despite Williams pumping in 16 first half points for the Lion offense. He finished the game with 22.
Browder contributed nine points, Leon Stone had seven and Villiere scored two.
Coach Aaron George’s squad got in the win column for the first time with a big fourth quarter rally to topple Era, Texas.
The Lions were down 1410 through one stanza before snagging a slim 27-26 halftime edge. Era surged back in front 38-37 after three periods.
Villiere scored five in the fourth to spur a decisive 10-4 Durant flurry for the victory. The sophomore ended with a game-high 14 points with Stone also hitting double figures with 11. Browder posted nine, Williams had eight and Braylon King added five points.
A tremendous start in the consolation finals staked the Lions to a 19-8 first period advantage spurred by eight points from Browder.
It was still a 25-22 Durant edge at the half when Harding caught fire from the perimeter by sinking six third quarter treys for a 25-point eruption. Williams countered with 10 points in the frame for the Lions but they were playing catch up the rest of the way.
Williams finished with 24 points as Browder tallied a season-high 18 as well. Stone chipped in eight, Flores had seven and Villiere notched five.
