Boys team
By Brent Smith
Redskins traveled to Ada on Friday, December 3 to take on the 5A Cougars. They very nearly pulled off the upset. However, the Redskins lost by 2 points, 49 to 47.
Coach Taylor Wiebener was looking for a bit more intensity from his team after their lackluster effort in defeating Atoka earlier in the week, and he got it. His team responded and fought literally to the last buzzer.
In the first quarter, sophomore Reid Cason found his matchup out weighting him by a lot, maybe as much as 65 lbs. Unable to physically move the guy, Cason had to make the most of his height advantage.
He had two field goals and a free throw. Brady Brister was off to a good start with two field goals. Mason Burkhalter added a field goal. The Cougars found themselves in a dog fight, tied at 11 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Coach Wiebener had senior Jahiem Nash giving rest to Cason. He was able to counter the physicality of the beefy Ada center. He responded with two buckets and several rebounds.
Dakota Wiebener had a long range three, and Brister added a bucket and two free throws. Brycen Ward was 2 of 2 from the line. The score was all tied at 19.
However, seconds later, Wiebener came up limping and had to be helped off the court. The Redskins went to the locker room with a onepoint lead, 25 to 24. Third quarter action saw Cason getting loose inside. At the 5:27 mark, he had a twohanded slam and was fouled. He repeated that again with 3:30 left in the quarter. Another slam and a free throw.
Cole Morgan and Nash both had free throws. Despite the heroic,s the Redskins found themselves with a six point deficit of 39 to 33.
Brister did most of the damage in the fourth quarter, he had all the team field goals. With the clock showing 4:20 left to play, Brister hit his first of two three-pointers.
His teammates were getting to the free throw line, as well. Braden Matchen was 3 of 4 and Burkhalter and Cason added singles. With 58 seconds to play, Coach Wiebener called a timeout with the Redskins trailing 47 to 44.
Brister’s three-point attempt was no good. Ada countered with a field goal and went up 49 to 44. Again, Brister fired away from way out. This time, he connected at the buzzer. Unfortunately, it was not enough to seal the win. The final score was Cougars 49 to Redskins 47.
Box score: Brister led the way with 17 points, he was followed by Cason with 12. Nash had five, Wiebener had three, as did Matchen. Ward with two, Gill, Morgan, and Burkhalter all with one each. From the line, the team managed 16 of 29 for 55%.
The Redskins will return to action on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, when the Wildcats of Madill come to call at the KMAC.
Girls team
The Lady Redskins traveled to Ada on Friday night for the second game of their season. Coming off a win on Tuesday over Atoka, Coach Chad Rummer’s girls were anxious to take on the Class 5A Lady Cougars. They would have preferred a win but they succumbed to the height and speed of Ada. Ada won 66 to 53.
Coach Rummer warned early on that the Ada girls were led by a freshman point guard that is being hailed as one of the top recruits in the nation for the Class of 2025. He did not exaggerate. The ninth grader finished with 25 points. It was near impossible to match her speed.
In the first quarter, the freshman scored Ada’s first bucket and they never trailed. Olivia Quapaw matched her with a three-pointer. Lanie French had a bucket and Kaya Wiebener had a three of her own. Still, the Lady Redskins trailed after one, 13 to 8.
Second quarter action found the Lady Redskins fighting for position on the 6’4” Lady Cougar center. Emily Bellettini gave it all she had but was giving away too many inches in height. She did manage two inside buckets. French had another bucket and a free throw. Wiebener was 2 of 2 from the line. At the intermission, the Lady Redskins were now trailing 31 to 17.
The third quarter was better offensively. Jacie Herndon had a three, Wiebener had another three and added two free throws. Quapaw had a bucket and a free throw. Bellettini again had two field goals and a free throw. The Lady Redskins were now trailing by 11, 44 to 33.
Senior Raegan Davis got things started with a free throw in the next quarter. Quapaw had two more threepointers. Herndon had a bucket and was 2 of 2 from the line. Kamry Bohannon had a bucket and was 2 of 2 from the line. Bellettini had two buckets and a free throw. This was good for a 20-point effort, but they still came up short, 66 to 53.
Box Score: Belettini led the team with 14 points, Quapaw was right behind her with 12. Wiebener finished in double figures with 10, followed by Herndon with seven. French had five, Bohannon had four and Davis with one. As a team, 13 of 16 from the free throw line for a sparkling 82%.
Next up for Coach Rumer and his team will be the Lady Wildcats of Madill, next Tuesday, December 7 at the KMAC. The Lady Redskins are 1 and 1 in the new season.