BOYS BASKETBALL: HENNESSEY 47 | OKARCHE 37
By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
Okarche dropped two straight games last week, falling to Thomas-Fay-Custer at home on Friday before a road loss to Class 3A No. 13 Hennessey Tuesday.
The Warriors (10-8) ran out of gas late against the Terriers (9-5), giving up a 11-4 run in the fourth quarter on route to a 47-42 loss.
Okarche jumped out to a 12-10 lead after the first quarter, but entered halftime trailing 23-22 after a strong run by Thomas in the second quarter. The Warriors regained the lead in the third with a 16-13 run before the Terriers sealed the game in the final eight minutes.
Senior Kaleb Harris led the team offensively with 25 points while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out a team-high three assists. Junior Logan Kroener chipped in 10 points and finished with four steals on the defensive end. Junior Joseph Schaefer scored four points and pulled down six boards, sophomore Brayden Stover scored two points with six rebounds and sophomore Evan Endres scored one point.
The Warriors forced 20 turnovers on the defensive end, leading to 16 points, and kept the Terriers off the three-point line, allowing just four makes on 13 attempts. Thomas won the rebound battle 38-25 shot 45-percent from the field during the win. Camden Billy led the team with 13 points and nine rebounds.
A slow start out of halftime led to a 47-37 loss at Hennessey (12-2) Tuesday night.
The Warriors battled in the first half and built a 19-17 lead after the first 16 minutes.
However, they allowed a 14-3 third-quarter run that all but sealed the loss before a high scoring fourth quarter.
Harris again led Okarche offensively, scoring 19 points, including a 5-for-8 night from three-point range. He also grabbed two rebounds and two assists. Kroener scored eight points with two boards while Schaefer, senior Koby Mingus and freshman P.K. Harris all scored two. Endres chipped in one point.
Okarche turned their shooting woes around in the second half, drilling six of 13 attempts down the stretch after going just 7-for-25 in the first 16 minutes. The Warriors forced 13 turnovers on the defensive end and held Hennessey to just 37-percent shooting. Angel Rodriguez led the Eagles with 20 points and six rebounds.
Coach Aaron West’s team looks to rebound this weekend at the 2020 Coyle Invitational.
The Warriors open the tournament against Class B Okeene today at 11:20 a.m. and with a win would advance to the semifinals and take on either Class 2A Watonga (6-7) or 2A Crescent (3-11) Friday at 4:40 p.m. The tournament championship game is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Saturday.
Okarche returns to town Tuesday to host Crescent in the final home game of the regular season. Tip off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
