The second-ranked Caddo boys rolled into the Class A state tournament with a 59-49 win over Allen for the Area championship last week while the top-rated Lady Bruins had to bounce back from an area finals loss to turn back Talihina, 7132, and punch their ticket.
Rock Creek saw both its girls and boys seasons come to a halt in the area playoff openers on Thursday. The Lady Mustangs fell to Talihina, 51-33, and the Mustangs also bowed out to Talihina, 52-39.
Each Caddo squad will continue its title quest this week at the OG&E Coliseum in Oklahoma City with championship games slated for Saturday.
Caddo Boys
The Bruins wasted little time in asserting their prowess on Allen by sprinting to a 27-10 advantage through one quarter and never looked back while controlling the boards against the Mustangs, including a whopping 16 on the offensive end. Kale Brister notched eight points in the opening frame, including a pair of three pointers, and Jet Rose added six thanks to a pair of treys.
Allen rallied to narrow the gap to 36-26 at intermission and 47-38 through three periods but could never get much closer despite a rugged free throw shooting performance in which Caddo sank just 53 percent (19 of 36) at the line.
Beck Willingham paced four Bruins in double figures with 15 points, cashing in nine of his 11 free throw tries.
Brister posted 12 points while Rose and Noah Bacon also hit double figures with 10 apiece. Jake McKay scored six, Corbin Stoner had four and Ezra Melton finished with two points.
Caddo Girls
In a 44-35 area finals upset at the hands of Allen, the Lady Bruins looked like they might also roll to victory after erupting early for a 19-13 scoring edge through one stanza. They only managed 16 points over the final three periods as the shooting percentage dried up.
Caddo connected on just 29 percent from the field for the game, including 16 percent beyond the arc, which left the door wide open for the Lady Mustang comeback.
Allen narrowed the gap to 2422 at halftime and took command with an improbable 16-2 flurry in the third with the Lady Bruins’ only points coming on a Belle Hookom basket. Caddo hit only one for eight from the field and also committed four turnovers.
Kayden Prince topped the scoring with 10 points as Hookom and Emma Daniel tossed in seven apiece, Harlee Taylor ended with six and Brilee Tyson scored five.
The Lady Bruins reprieved themselves in the area consolation final, doubling up Talihina (10-5) in the first period ahead of exploding for 19 points in the second stanza and 25 during a monster third quarter blitz.
Prince scorched the nets on 15 of 28 shooting and a blistering nine three pointers while pumping in a career high 39 points. Hookom had a large performance as well, pitching in 13 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.
Daniel contributed seven, Taylor had six, Tyson scored four with Braylee Malone adding two.
Rock Creek Girls
The Lady Mustangs were dead even after one period as both teams tallied 11 points, but a 14-5 offensive surge in the second frame put Talihina in front for good.
Rock Creek closed to within 3426 heading to the final stanza with another massive run put it away to end the Lady Mustang season.
Carlaysia Brown hit a pair of three pointers and notched a game-high 17 points but no other Lady Mustang reached double figures. Maddie Williams and Audrey Knight tallied seven apiece as Mahlia Venegas wrapped up with two.
Rock Creek Boys
Talihina jumped in front in the first stanza and left the Mustangs playing catch up the remainder of the contest.
It was 14-6 after one period, 28-15 at the half and 40-25 following the third frame.
Cameron Brown had a huge second half for the Mustangs with 14 of his team-best 20 points after the break.
J.W. Edelen posted seven, Kelton Teal had five, Ryder Ribera scored three with Jarret Barfield and Jakeb Munholland rounding out the scoring with two each.