Following a well needed break to start the week, the Durant High School basketball teams returned to action last Friday with a district road split of games at Tulsa Rogers.
The Lady Lions remained tied for second in the District 5A-4 standings at 7-2 in league play with a crucial 41-32 road victory as they held off a late charge by the Ropers.
Inboys’action,Durantheldaslimlead through three quarters but watched the hosts take control in the final stanza for a 52-37 decision that dropped the Lions to 3-6 in district action.
Durant begins a string of five consecutive home games to wrap up the regular season this week, including Tulsa Memorial on Friday and Tahlequah on Tuesday night.
Girls
It was a strong start for the Lady Lions as six Abrinna Freeman first quarter points helped stake them to a 12-2 advantage after one period. Ella Sorrels added nine in the second frame leading to a commanding 28-7 halftime cushion.
The second half was an entirely different story as Durant managed just three points in the third stanza but fortunately allowed just seven to maintain most of the lead, which proved to be enough despite being outscored 18-10 in the fourth.
Sorrels pumped in 18 to lead all scorers while Freeman contributed a season- high 16 points as well. Iyana Wilson chipped in four and Rachel Cordell had three to round things out.
Boys
Much like the earlier meeting between the two squads, the Lions battled toe-to-toe with the Ropers for three quarters before a massive fourth stanza proved decisive in the loss.
Kolton Mason and Leon Stone contributed first period treys as the teams fought to a 12-all deadlock which extended to 21-21 at intermission. Mason added another three pointer in the third quarter as four Durant players scored in claiming a 30-29 advantage heading to the last stanza.
That’s when Rogers caught fire and erupted for 23 final quarter points to pull away for the victory. Mason pitched in two more treys in the fourth and finished with a team-best 14 points in the contest.
Ryder Jones tallied six, Stone notched five, Tashaun Williams and Joseph Flores each scored four, Callaway Nabors had three with Carson Robinson rounding out the scoring with two points.