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Lady Lions Emma Green and Abrianna Freeman are shown with Sulphur players during the Madill Tournament. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat -
Caddo Bruin Kale Brister leaps in the air during the game with Durant at the Madill Winter Classic. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat
Durant and Caddo split basketball contests in the Madill Winter Classic last week with the Lady Lion victory propelling them to the tournament third place trophy.
In girls action, Durant used a big second stanza to take the lead and then held off the Lady Bruins by a 37-33 count.
The Class A top-ranked Caddo boys, meanwhile, rolled to a monster advantage in the third period before holding off the Lions, 63-55, in what was the tournament opener.
Girls
Each team managed only four points in the first quarter before the pivotal second frame when Emeri Morse and Maya Dodson combined for 10 points to push Durant to an 1813 edge at intermission.
Jaycie Nichols powered in seven points in the third period, singlehandedly equaling the Lady Lions as Caddo notched an 11-7 scoring edge. That narrowed the gap to just 25-24 prior to a back-and-forth final period.
Kennedy Lafevers and Dodson connected on crucial three pointers that managed to hold Caddo at bay.
Sydney Grover led the Durant scoring with 11 points while Dodson and Morse tallied eight apiece. Iyana Wilson and Lafevers both scored three and Ella Sorrels added two.
Caddo, meanwhile, was spurred by Nichols’ 17 points as the lone Lady Bruin in double digits. Kadey McKay pumped in five with Harlee Taylor scoring four as well as two apiece from Rylan Peevyhouse, Kayden Prince and Jordyn Nichols.
Boys
Caddo got off to a strong start as Durant struggled shooting early on, especially from the perimeter.
The Bruins built a 15-7 edge after one quarter and then outscored the Lions by a 17-14 count in the second to extend the advantage to double figures at halftime. Sophomore Kale Brister had 10 of the 32 Caddo points before the break.
Scoring leader D.J. Dill tossed in 11 in the third as the Bruins continued to extend the margin before he left the game with an ankle injury late in the stanza.
That seemingly opened the door for Durant, which tallied just 33 points in the first three periods, as they erupted with 22 points in the fourth to make things interesting.
Ryder Jones led that charge, posting nine points in the stanza. Kolton Mason also canned a pair of treys and Jaylon Saxon added another three pointer.
Caddo, however, had the answer at the free throw line with Carson Culbreath, who sank eight of 12 charity tosses down the stretch to ice the victory.
Three Bruins reached double figures with Dill leading the charge with 19 points. Culbreath notched 16 and Brister had 12. They also picked up eight from Parker Bearden, four by Gavin McMichael and two each from Corbin Stoner and Rance Richardson.
Saxon tossed in 20 in leading the Lions, which also got 17 from Jones. Mason and Callaway Nabors pitched in eight points apiece, Brady Thomann had three with Tashaun Williams also contributing two.