The Choctaw County boys basketball team warmed up for the Region 4-3A tournament with two wins last week against non-region opponents. The Chargers defeated West Point 53-49 and Eupora 68-37.
In the region tournament at Houston, Choctaw County will play the host team in the semifinals Thursday with a 7 p.m. tipoff.
The West Point game was a roller coaster. The Chargers led 14-4 after one quarter, but found themselves trailing 41-35 through three quarter before outscoring West Point 18-8 in the final period for the victory.
“We had a big lead and we kind of gave it up,” said coach Gary Beals. “They made a few plays and we had some poor shot selection. At the start of the third quarter, we came out flat.”
A press turned the game around in the fourth quarter. “We sped the game up. We executed. The shots that weren’t falling started to fall.”
Jared Bellew led the Chargers with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Tylan Carter had 12 points and Kendall Coleman 11. Mikenigus Randle scored a game-high 16 points for West Point, but the Choctaw County defense held him to two of 12 on three-point shots.
The Chargers had a big first half against Eupora, leading 32-12 after one quarter and 52-20 at the half. “We got after them from the start,” Beals said.
It was Senior Night so Beals started his five seniors – Tray Jobe, Coleman, Bellew, Israel Whitmore and Chris White. Bellew again led the Chargers with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Jobe had 13 points and Carter 12.
The Chargers’ press forced 32 turnovers and Beals gave much of the credit to Ques McNeal. “He got after them.”
Choctaw County finished third in the five-team conference, assuring a spot in the 3A playoffs beginning February 18. The Chargers will play the championship game Friday with a win over Houston or the consolation game with a loss. The teams that meet in the title game will be at home to start the playoffs.
GIRLS
The Lady Chargers also begin tournament play Thursday with an 8:30 game against Aberdeen, Choctaw County was third, assuring a spot in the playoffs.
The Lady Chargers lost to West Point 50-31 while playing shorthanded, but bounced back with a 51-40 victory over Eupora. Two starters, Raquela Graham and Destinee Love, missed the West Point game, but returned to the lineup against Eupora.
LaGenesis Johnson led he team in both games with 13 points against West Point and 27 in the win over Eupora. Jalia James had seven points against West Point and Ty’liyah Alston seven in the Eupora game.
Johnson and Alston are the team’s two seniors who were honored during the Eupora game,
