Boys
The 2022 New Year's Classic was off and running. The opening rounds tipped off in the early afternoon of J anuary 7, 2022, and wound down on J anuary 9. The first game was a success with a Redskins victory over the Atoka W ampus Cats. The final score, not even close, 69 to 33.
These teams met earlier this season and it was a close one resulting in a 49 to 42 Redskin win. Coach Wiebener's team did not t ake control of that game until late in the fourth quarter. This was not the case for this game.
The Redskins scored first and often in the first quarter. Seniors Mason Burkhalter , Braden Match en and Dakota Wiebner all found their shots early on with Brady Brister hitting the boards and threading the needle with his passes. Burkhalter h ad five, Matchen was good for four, Wiebnerwas hitting the three-pointers and h ad three in the quarter. Sophmore Reed Cason's eight points inside h ad him off to a good start. The Redskins led 25 to 14 at the quarter.
In the second, Burkhalter and Wiebener each had two three-pointers. Matchen again h ad an inside bucket. When the first h alf closed, it was a 39 to 17, Redskin's lead.
If Atoka h ad any plans of making a comeback, they needed it to start in the third quarter . Giving up a 20-point outburst by the Redskins would not get them closer. Cason again owned the paint hitting four field goals.
Matchen and Gage Gill eachhadinside buckets. Burkhalter was good for a three and a two-point field goal. Tucker Rumer connected for a three himself. The W amp us Cat s could manage only nine points and found themselves down 59 to 26.
Coach Wiebener started going to the bench early and by mid-way in the quarter, had all the second-string in. In fact, all the scoring was by the reserves. Hayden McKinney h ad a three-pointer and a two-point goal. Eli Oliger was 1 of2 from the line. Drew Anderson and Brycen Ward both h ad field goals. The final score, Redskins 69, Cat s 33.
Boxscore: Burkhalter and Cason each had 16 points. Wiebener had 12 points, all from three-point ra nge. Matchenhad 10points. McKinney with five, Rumer with three, Gill and Ward each with two and Oliger had one. From the free throw the team was 3 of 5 for 60%.
The Redskins advanced to meet the Marlow Outlaws Saturday night .
The Redskins took down th e if 5 team in Class 3A, Marlow Outlaws on J anuary 7. The final score was 43 t o 39. In the first, the Redskins appear ed a little "light" compared to the Outlaws. Marlow looked to intimidate the Redskins, but they were not having it, not if Brady Brist er had anything to say about it.
He had his best game of the season, and it came at a good time. He was aggressive and it set the tone for the entire game. It seemed as if the t eam fed off his energy. He had two buckets inside, hit a free throw, then he poped out for a three. With 2:31 to play in the quarter, trailing 14 to 7, Marlow called a timeout. Dakota Wiebener hit a three-pointer, then Mason Burkhalter added his own three. Braden Matchen got a bucket inside. Brister again hit a field goal. At the horn, the Redskins led 20 to 12.
The second quarter h ad the Outlaws pulling a little closer. With 6:28 left in the h alf, Marlow called another timeout. The score h ad not changed. It was stuck on 20 to 12.
One reason it was stuck, Reed Cason h ad the only score the Redskins could man age. He was 1 of 2 from the line. Despite scoring one point in the quarter, the Redskins were still clinging t o a four-point lead, 21 to 17, going to the locker room.
As a spor t s fan might guess, what they had was a defensive battle. Mat chen h ad a field goal. Reed Cason still fighting inside managed two field goals. Again, Marlow wanted a timeout. The score now sits at 27 t o 18 with five minutes left in the quarter . Coming out of the timeout, Brister went inside for a thunderous dunk. This brought the crowd to their feet. The score was now 29 t o 27.
In the fourth quarter, Marlow could get no closer. The score was 35 to 30. Then, Brister hit for three. The score was 40 to 32.
Burkhalter was rebounding like a wild man. The Outlaws were not getting any second chance buckets. With only two minutes left, Brister had another field goal. Marlow was forced to foul. Brister was the target.
In fact, he was fouled for three consecutive plays. He would go 2 of 5 from the line and the Outlaws had a glimmer of hope. Now only trailing, 42 to 39. They set themselves up for a three-point attempt and that was all it was, an attempt. The long range shot stuck between the glass and the rim, and stayed there.
The rule is that is a jump ball. The possession arrow was to the Redskins. Also scoring in the quarter, Matchen had a field goal, Cason was good for two buckets. Brister fouled again. He went 1 of 2 and the final score was 43 to 39.
Box score: Brister lead the scoring with 19 points. Next up was Cason with nine, Matchen had six. Burkhalter finished with five followed by Wiebener with three and Tucker Rumer was 1 of 2. As a team from the line, 7 of 11 for 64%.
The Redskins met the Dale Pirates to bring home the second-place spot. First quarter action was fast and furious. Brister had a field goal and a three pointer. Mason Burkhalter had a field goal, as did Braden Matchen. Matchen added a free throw. So far so good, Redskins led 11 to 7.
In the second, Brister and Wiebener again both had threepointers. Matchen had two buckets inside. The Pirates #33 Forsythe ripped into the Redskins with 11 points alone. Going to the locker room, the Redskins were trailing now, 26 to 21.
Brister managed a dunk that stirred the crowd. Forsythe responded by blocking 6'7" Reed Cason's shot, he took the ball the length of the court and laid it in. Wiebener added two three-pointers and Matchen was popping out to the high post position and :finding the going easier. He had two field goals. At the horn, the Redskins had outscored the Pirates 12 to 10 and now trailed by 3, 36 to 33.
Fourth quarter, Matchen had two three-pointers. Brister had a field goal. Cason got to the line and went 2 of 2. The final score did nor favor the Redskins, 43 to 54.
Boxscore: Matchenlead the team with 15 points, he was closely followed by Brister and Wiebener who both had 12. Cason and Burkhaltereachhad 2 points. From the line, as a team, 3 of 4 for 75 %. After the game and the trophies were handed out, Brady Brister and Mason Burkhalter were each named to the All Tournament Team. Congratulations to them both.