Redskins come up short in thrillers

Redskins v Wampus Cats

Coach Bobby McAdoo and the 2023/24 Redskins got the new season started on November 28 falling just short by two points to the visiting Wampus Cats of Atoka. The final score was 45 to 43. A sizable part of McAdoo’s squad had but one week of practice due to the football playoff season.

Atoka, with an entire new squad from last season, seemed to be the team with the most “rust” showing early on. In fact, the Redskins, led by senior Reid Cason, were leading 10 to 0, before the Cats could find the rim. Cason established himself early inside using his 6’10” height and near 7’ wingspan for buckets and nearly all the available rebounds.

On the off chance a rebound got away, it would fall to the high jumping Sam Walker. Drew Anderson and Brock Rumer each had a bucket as did Sam Walker. Cason had two buckets and after one quarter and the Redskins lead 12 to 6.

In the second, a defensive steal at the free-throw line for Cason, who reversed behind his back, and then took it the length of the floor for a slam dunk got the Redskins faithful on their feet. That made the score 14 to 6. Hayden Seeney had a nice three pointer to take the score to 19 to 9. Off a long pass and dunk from Rumer to Cason, the score swelled to 21 to 9 and Atoka called a timeout. Scores by Rumer, free throws by Sam Walker and Oliger tooktheRedskinstohalftime leading, 25 to 17.

In the third, the Cats fast guards began to get layups and cut the score to 25 to 21 at the 6:47 mark. Cason scored underneath on a missed shot byRumer.Thescorewasback to a ten-point lead, 31 to 21. Nearthethree-minutemark, a defensive break down allowed two steals turned into bucketsclosedthegapto31to 26. Parks Ratzlaff responded with a bucket. Another steal and bucket brought the score to 33 to 30 after three.

As the fourth quarter got underway, Atoka got a charging call on a spin move from Cason. The foul was his fourth, pretty much eliminating any aggressive play for him the rest of the quarter. Atoka took a one-point lead, their first lead of the night at 34 to 33.

However, Cason responded quickly with a huge slam off a missed shot. He was fouled by two Cats on the dunk, even though neither was called. The score was back in favor of the Redskins 35to34atthe5:00mark.Sam Walker was called for a foul as he made his way back up the floor.

Rumer had a steal and then a layup to tie the score at 39 all. Ratzlaff was fouled hard on the opposite end of the floor, hit both free throws to bring the score to 41 to 39, Redskins at 2:45 to play.

The Cats took the lead back after a steal and layup. SamWalkeransweredwitha bucket underneath off a pass from Cason - tied up, 43 to 43 with 1:30 to play. The Cats took it down to 12 seconds and took a timeout.

With nothing open on the inbounds play, the Cats called a timeout again. The Cats inbounded and the player bowled over Sam Walker, who was set in the lane. He scored and made it 45 to 43, Atoka. Redskins called timeout with 6.2 seconds to play. On the ensuing play, Ratzlaff brought the ball all the way up court to Cason who was fouled with 5/10ths of a seconds showing.

He missed the first eliminating the chance of a tie. After another timeout, Cason set up to hope for a tip in. As the shot was short and both teamscrashedtheboards,the official waved everything off and called a lane violation on Cason. Atoka won 45 to 43.

Box Score: Cason with 16 points, three on dunks, and lots of rebounds. Rumer was next with eight, Sam Walker had seven. Ratzlaff had four, Anderson and Seeney, each had three and Oliger with two.

Redskins v Cougars

The Redskins and Coach Bobby McAdoo showed that they are still struggling to get that first win. They fell on December 1, in overtime to Ada, 62 to 57. It was a tough, hard-fought contest and there were bright spots in the game for the Redskins to build on.

It was apparent early on thatCoachMcAdoowantedto establish senior Reed Cason’s presence with his size down low. Ada had no one to stop him. If the Cougars wanted to win, they would have to find another way.

Cason was ready for the task and responded with four buckets and was getting to the free throw line. He was 1 of 4. Eli Oliger was good in the first quarter with two buckets and was 1 of 2 from the line. Sam Walker had an inside bucket. Parks Ratzlaff was 2 of 2 from the line. Brock Rummer was fouled on a three attempt at the buzzer and hit all three. The score was tied 21 to 21 after one quarter.

Cason continued what he started in the first by getting three more buckets. The only thing stopping him was foul trouble. He picked up his third with 3:00 to go in the quarter. Rumer had a three and Sam Walker was 1 of 2 from the line. That was all the scoring for the quarter and the Cougars pulled out to a three-point lead, 34 to 31 at the half.

The third quarter had Cason back off the bench with three fouls. It didn’t slow his offense down. He added four more buckets from inside the paint. Rumer added another three and Sam Walker had two free throws. The Redskins still found themselves down, now by four points, 48 to 44.

The Cougars kept fighting and increased their lead to 11 at one point in the fourth. The Redskins comeback was just getting rolling. Cason had another field goal.

A timeout was called with 3:48 to play and the Cougars lead was down to 53 to 51. Coming out of the timeout, Cason went to the line for free throws and tied the game up at 53 all.

He ended up with a bucket and was 3 of 4 from the line. Everyone was getting to the line, Drew Anderson was 2 of 2, Sam Walker was 2 of 2, Rumer was 1 of 2, and Ratzaff was 1 of 2. Problem was no one was scoring buckets. Both teams struggled with the last minutes of game and the score was 55 all.

The Ada Cougars were more efficient in the overtime period. With 2:14 to play, the Cougars lead 56 to 55. Cason tied the game going 1 of 2 from the line. That was the lastpointstheRedskinscould manage, and the Cougars pulled to a 62 to 57 win.

Box score: Cason had another stellar night. He finished with 29 points. Next was Rumer with 10, Sam Walker with seven, Oliger had five, Ratzlaff had four, and Anderson with two.