By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
SHATTUCK – Okarche overcame adversity last weekend on rout to its first regional championship since 2013.
The Warriors entered the 2019 Class A Regional tournament having won seven straight games dating back to their last bump in the road – a 59-51 to then Class 2A No. 5 Hennessey. With plenty of momentum – and health – going his team’s way, coach Ray West was happy with how his team faced the first bit of problems thrown its way early in the tournament.
“The kids are playing hard and overcoming some adversity,” he said of the team’s two wins over host Shattuck and Laverne Friday and Saturday. “Thank goodness we’re healthy, too. But they overcame foul trouble and a few other things, which is definitely a good sign.”
OKARCHE 74
SHATTUCK 64 (OT)
Okarche overcame its first setback in an overtime win over Shattuck on Friday.
The Warriors got off to a slow start offensively, falling behind 12-3 after the first eight minutes. Shattuck extended the lead in the second quarter as well, entering halftime with a 32-17 advantage.
“We missed layups, three-pointers, bumps off the glass,” West said of the team’s slow start Friday. “We just couldn’t hit a shot. We got good shots, but just missed them. Then finally we got back on track in the second half and got it going.”
Okarche rebounds to cut the lead by eight points with a 19-11 run in the third quarter. Then with 24 points in the fourth, the Warriors tied the game 60-60, forcing overtime. A 14-4 run later, they punched their ticket to the regional final.
Senior Cris Avila led the Warriors with 29 points while senior Tucker Neuenschwander finished with 11. The team shot just 14 percent in the first half, but turned things around to shoot 53 percent in the second.
OKARCHE 77
LAVERNE 64
Early foul trouble was the next hurdle the Warriors cleared on Saturday, scoring 13 points off the bench in a 13-point win over Laverne to capture the Regional championship.
The Warriors jumped out to a 30-16 lead in the first quarter, but Laverne cut the lead by three in the second. It could have been more if not for the team’s bench production helping keep the lead.
“The kids coming off the bench were huge,” West said.
“It is important to trust them. Officiating gets tighter and sometimes you have to go to those guys in big situations. Our guys came off the bench and kept us in it until a couple of the others were able to get back in the game late.”
Senior Kendon Brown and sophomore Logan Kroener combined for 13 points off the bench to help spur the team when it needed it the most. Junior Kaleb Harris also provided a spark, scoring 19 points as well as senior Cris Avila who scored 19. Senior Kalen McCarthy chipped in 11 while senior Tucker Neuenschwander scored 10.
The Warriors outscored the Tigers, 19-16 in the third quarter.
Laverne won the fourth quarter by one point, but it wasn’t enough as Okarche still won by double digits to capture the regional crown.
The Warriors have now reached the Area Tournament 23 out of the last 25 years. They are looking for their first State Tournament appearance since the 2011-12 season.
NEXT UP:
GLENCOE (26-1)
The Warriors face a tough test with a spot in the 2019 Class A State Tournament on the line Friday night at 8 p.m. at the Enid Event Center.
Glencoe is undefeated against Class A this season, going 14-0 with their only loss coming to Class 2A Langston Hughes.
“With Glencoe, they’re not going to try to go very deep,” West said of the team’s next opponent. “We might have to attack them and put a lot of pressure on them, try to get them in foul trouble and get to the line.
“We’re excited to go up there and keep playing. We’ve got two shots to make it now.”
