The Muldrow High School basketball teams split their road NOAA Conference games with rival Roland in the latest basketball version of “The Battle of 64” on Dec. 19 at the Ranger Dome.
The Lady Bulldogs rallied in the fourth quarter for a 44-38 win over the Lady Rangers, but the Running Rangers took care of the ’Dogs 55-31.
However, the Muldrow squads did not enter the Christmas break the way they had hoped as they suffered a pair of NOAA Conference home losses to Poteau on Thursday night at Roger Sharp Activity Center.
The Lady Pirates stunned the Lady Bulldogs 50-48, then the Pirates downed the ’Dogs 49-45.
In the Muldrow girls’ rival win over Roland, the Lady Rangers (7-2, 2-2 in NOAA Conference play) led 12-5 after a quarter, 25-15 at halftime and 33-23 after three periods, but the Lady Bulldogs (6-2, 2-1) got their bite back in the fourth quarter, where they outscored Roland 21-5 to get the comefrom- behind win. For the game, Cailey Grinstead led Muldrow with a game-high 14 points, followed by Claire Tabor with nine points, Kennady Moore with six points and London Hardin, Katelynn Moore and Kayla Ellingberg with five points apiece.
In the Muldrow boys’ rival loss to Roland, the Running Rangers (81, 4-0) jumped out to a 21-6 lead after a period and never looked back.
In defeat, Teaguen Collins scored 10 points to lead the ’Dogs (3-5, 1-2), followed by Deshawn Wilson and Drew Prewett with five points each, Kashan Bukhari with four points, Hayden Bullock with three points and Parker Sevenstar and Hayden McKinster with two points apiece.
In the Muldrow girls’ loss to Poteau, Grinstead’s free throws with 4:56 left in the first half tied the game at 15-all, but the Lady Pirates (3-5, 2-2) went on an 8-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Parker Patterson with 2:54 remaining before halftime to put Poteau ahead 23-15. The Lady Pirates took a 26-18 lead into the locker rooms at the break.
The Lady Pirates scored the first six points of the third quarter to take a 32-18 lead on Emma Hackler’s basket with 6:33 left in the period.
The Lady Bulldogs ended the quarter on a 18-10 run, capped by three Makynlee Morton free throws, to cut Poteau’s lead to 40-36 after three periods.
Muldrow opened the fourth quarter strong, much like 48 hours before at the Ranger Dome against Roland. The Lady Bulldogs opened the period with a 7-1 run, capped by Grinstead’s basket to give Muldrow a 43-41 lead with 6:03 left to play.
However, the Lady Pirates answered with a 7-0 run, capped by Hackler’s free throws with 58 seconds left to put Poteau ahead 48-43.
Grinstead hit a 3-point basket with three seconds left to cut the deficit to 5048, but Muldrow had no timeouts left, so Poteau did not have to inbounds the ball — and left town with the upset victory.
Hackler scored a game-high 23 points to lead Poteau.
In defeat, Grinstead led Muldrow with 15 points, followed by Kennady Moore with six points, Morton, Hardin, Tabor, Katelynn Moore and Maysi Fields with five points each and Ellingberg with two points.
In the Muldrow boys’ loss to Poteau, the Bulldogs led 15-14 after a period, only to see the Pirates (3-5, 2-2) respond with a 13-7 second quarter to enjoy a 27-22 halftime lead.
A 14-10 third quarter for the Pirates upped their advantage to 41-32 going into the final period.
A 3-point basket by Bukhari with 1:42 left in the game cut Muldrow’s deficit to 46-43, but that was as close as the Bulldogs got. University of Tulsa football signee Dax Collins scored a game-high 19 points and University of Arkansas-Monticello golf signee Connor Whitworth added 11 points to lead Poteau.
In defeat, Muldrow put a trio of players into double figures, led by Bukhari and Sevenstar each with 13 points and Collins with 12 points. Jaxson Anstine had five points, while Prewett added two points.
