Both Kingston teams notched impressive wins to open the rugged New Years Classic last week as the Redskins managed a third-place finish while the girls claimed fourth.
Playing a host of rugged foes, the Lady Redskins posted a 1-3 record last week withthelonewincomingover Class2ApowerLatta(46-40). They fell at Lone Grove (6054) early in the week before closing with losses to Broken Bow (48-37) and Sequoyah Tahlequah (54-32).
The 8-4 Redskins had a strong week with three wins after starting with a triumph at Lone Grove (66-58). They then avenged a football playoff defeat by toppling Marlow (54-51) ahead of a loss to juggernaut Dale (82-46) in the semifinals.Kingstonbounced back to avenge another loss that came earlier this season to Sequoyah Tahlequah (67-45).
Kingston will be at home Friday for a rematch with Marshall County rival Madill.
Girls
A busy week of action started pretty rough for the Lady Redskins as they spotted Lone Grove a 24-4 lead after one period and could never completely recover.
It was still a 36-15 deficit at intermission before leading scorer Cassidy Walker caught fire in the second half withadozenpoints.Kingston reeled off a 22-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter and 17-13 in the fourth but ran out of time in the comeback bid.
Walker finished with 12 points to lead the Lady Redskins as Dextry Bowerman tacked on nine and Avery Ludrick added eight.
Kingston rebounded a bit to topple Latta in a battle of Top10rankedfoesintheNew Years Classic opening round.
Coach Chad Rumer’s club trailed 25-22 at the half before outscoring the Lady Panthers 12-7 and 12-8 in each of the final two frames in surging to the victory. Freshman Dilynn Weeks had a big performance and was the only Lady Redskin to reach double figures with 11 points. Bowerman and Taylie Wiebener pitched in nine apiece.
In another Top 10 battle, the Lady Redskins dropped the semifinal verdict to Class 4A’s fourth-ranked Broken Bow.
TheLadyRedskinstrailed only 14-12 through one frame but went into an offensive dry spell as they were outscored 24-13 over the following two stanzas as the visitors took control.
Walker and Bowerman each tallied 10 points for Kingston.
Boys
A big third quarter surge proved decisive for Kingston in the week’s opening victory at Lone Grove as they rallied from a 32-28 halftime deficit. The Redskins erupted for 25 third quarter points and held the lead the rest of the way.
Brock Rumer sparked the offense with 20 points as Jack Hinsley also reached double figures with 13. Blane Henry tallied nine, Lander Burkhalter scored eight and HaydenSeeneyfinishedwith seven points.
Kingston followed with its first revenge game of the weekinturningbackMarlow to advance to the tournament semifinals.
The Redskins won every quarter up to the final one but had built a 41-35 edge by that point and held off the Outlaws from there. Hinsley led all scorers with 22 points as Rumer tossed in 15.
PowerhouseDalecameout gunning from the start in the semifinals and provided the knockout blow in the first half. It was 19-9 after one period, 46-18 at half and 71-32 throughthreeframes.Rumer posted 14 points and Hinsley had 11 for the Redskins.
After losing to Sequoyah in December on the road, Kingston got its revenge in a big way with a balanced offensive attack that took command early.
The Redskins were up 18-13 after one stanza, 39-25 at intermission and 60-34 following the third quarter.
Hinsley notched 19 points, Rumer hit for 16 and Henry reached double digits as well with 12. Seeney contributed eight, Hudson Everhart had five, Parks Ratzlaff tallied four and Burkhalter rounded things out with three points.