Okarche's Jett Mueggenborg (11) fights through Preston defenders, Jermaine Bolden (20) left, and Tanner Young (10) right, in the Warriors season-opening home loss Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo by Robert Medley)
The Preston Pirates rolled into town for the home openers for the Okarche boys and girls basketball seasons Friday, Nov. 3.
The girls, trailing by 20 points in the third quarter, managed to mount a comeback and cut the lead to four in the third quarter.
Okarche’s Jadyn Rother (00) drives along the baseline in the Lady Warriors’ season-opening loss to Preston Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 in Okarche. (Photo by Robert Medley)
A three-pointer from Scout Payne cut the lead to six points with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter. Then Kylie Harper intercepted a Preston pass, but at the other end of the court, a dish to Payne in the paint was mishandled and the chance to pull closer was lost on a traveling call.
A barrage of three-pointers from Preston’s Anistyn Garner halted the Okarche hopes.
The final score was Preston 64 and Okarche 57.
Boys lose by 20
The boys have four of five starters who have returned from the 2023 state tournament team that finished the year 26-3.
But the team struggled to keep up with Preston’s pace and accurate outside shooting Friday night.
Preston finished the 2022-2023 season with a 28-5 record.
Okarche was down 22-15 at the end of the first quarter, and found themselves trailing at the half 42-26 but fell behind by double digits in the third quarter and didn’t catch up. The final score was 75-55.
The boys lost the season-opener 75-55.
Okarche’s Easton Roby (33) drives around Preston’s Jervais Goree (2) in the Warriors’ season-opening loss at home Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo by Robert Medley)
Okarche Warriors basketball Coach Aaron West walks along the bench in the season-opening loss Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo by Robert Medley)
Okarche’s Jadyn Rother dribbles against Preston in the season-opening home loss Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo by Robert Medley)
Okarche’s Scout Payne (20) drives past a Preston defender, Taylan Starr (2)
Okarche’s Jett Mueggenborg (11) fights through Preston defenders, Jermaine Bolden (20) left, and Tanner Young (10) right, in the Warriors season-opening home loss Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo by Robert Medley)
Okarche girls’ basketball Coach Haley Mitchel strolls the floor in the season-opening home loss Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 to Preston. (photo by Robert Medley)
Okarche Lady Warriors’s assistant coaches, Kaylene Ullom, left, and Skye Tilley, right, go over plans during a timeout of the season-opening loss to Preston Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo by Robert Medley)
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