The new court at Roger Sharp Activity Center did not get christened as Muldrow basketball fans would have liked in Friday night’s home openers against Alma, Ark.
The Lady Bulldogs lost 49-34 to the Lady Airedales, then the ’Dogs fell 61-44 to the Airedales.
The Muldrow teams opened the season with road NOAA Conference games Dec. 3 at Stilwell, splitting the games — with the Lady Bulldogs prevailing 48-40, but the ’Dogs lost 61-57.
In the Muldrow girls’ win over Stilwell, the Lady Bulldogs (1-1 overall, 1-0 in NOAA Conference play) jumped out to a 19-11 lead over the Lady Indians after a quarter, but Stilwell cut its deficit to 23-22 at halftime. An 11-8 third quarter for Muldrow upped its advantage to 34-30 after three quarters, then a 14-10 final period sealed the deal.
For the game, Kayla Ellingberg scored a game-high 13 points and Jensi Fields added 10 points to lead Muldrow, followed by Kilah Ellingberg with seven points, London Hardin with six points, Danica Tune with five points, Emma Fields with four points and Maysi Fields with three points.
In the Muldrow boys’ loss to Stilwell, the Bulldogs (0-2, 0-1) fell behind 18-12 after a quarter but cut their deficit to 28-25 at halftime. After the Indians increased their advantage to 44-39 after three quarters, the ’Dogs made a fourthquarter rally by outscoring them 18-17, but the Muldrow rally fell short.
In defeat, Teaguen Collins scored a gamehigh 28 points to lead Muldrow, followed by Parker Sevenstar with 17 points, DeShawn Willson with seven points and Jesse Kilinc with five points.
In the Muldrow girls’ loss to Alma, the Lady Bulldogs enjoyed a 14-7 lead after a quarter, but as the game progressed from there, the Lady Airedales began to slowly and surely take over the contest.
Alma’s girls outscored Muldrow 42-20 over the final three quarters to win going away, which included a period of 5:24 scoreless.
A pair of free throws by Maysi Fields with 1:47 left before halftime gave Muldrow a 22-15 lead, but the Lady Bulldogs would not score again until Jensi Fields hit a free throw with 4:23 remaining in the third quarter to cut Alma’s lead to 35-23. After Maysi Fields’ three throws, the Lady Airedales 20 unanswered points.
“We’re playing with a young group,” Muldrow girls coach Jana Armer said. “We’re learning. Sometimes we don’t see the openings or the correct pass to make. Right now, the game is a little fast for us. It will eventually slow down, but for now it’s a little bit fast.”
In defeat, Maysi Fields led Muldrow with 10 points, followed by Jensi Fields with eight points, London Hardin, Kilah Elalingberg and Kayla Ellingberg with four points each, Gracie Prewett with three points and Danica Tune with a free throw.
In the Muldrow boys’ loss to Alma, the ’Dogs led 20-12 after a quarter en route to a 33-24 halftime advantage.
However, the Airedales opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run to take a 35-33 lead with 5:33 left in the period and never relinquished the lead.
“They (the Airedales) picked up the intensity (in the second half), and we missed some easy shots and missed open shots,” Muldrow boys coach Terry Collins said. “It’s hard beating a good team like that.”
In defeat, Collins scored 18 points and Sevenstar added 14 points to lead Muldrow, followed by Kilinc with six points, D.J. Massey with three points, Jaxson Anstine with two points and DeShawn Willson with a free throw.
