The Muldrow High School basketball teams began last week with a home NOAA Conference sweep of local rival Sallisaw on Jan. 28 at Roger Sharp Activity Center, then split Friday night’s conference home games with Stilwell.
On Jan. 28 against Sallisaw, the Lady Bulldogs downed the Lady Diamonds 41-36, then the ’Dogs defeated the Black Diamonds 6552.
On Friday night against Stilwell, the Lady Bulldogs beat the Lady Indians 67-43 to complete the season sweep, but the Indians did likewise to the ’Dogs as Stilwell defeated Muldrow 56-36.
In the girls’ win over Sallisaw, the Lady Bulldogs (11-7 overall, 5-1 in NOAA Conference play) had a 10-9 lead after a quarter and an 1817 halftime advantage. However, Muldrow used a 16-7 third quarter to up its lead to 34-24 going into the final period. The Lady Diamonds tried to rally, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 12-7 but coming up short.
For the game, Kayla Ellingberg scored 10 points to lead Muldrow, followed by London Hardin with eight points, Maysi Fields with seven points, Kilah Ellingberg with five points, Chloee Clark and Jensi Fields with four points each and Gracie Prewett with three points.
In the boys’ victory over Sallisaw, the Bulldogs (13-5, 3-3) trailed 26-17 with 6:56 left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs ended the period with a 19-3 run, capped by a basket by DeShawn Willson with 21 seconds left in the quarter, to put Muldrow ahead 36-29 going into the final period.
The ’Dogs built as much as a 12 point lead twice over the first two-plus minutes of the fourth quarter as a 3-point basket by Jesse Kilinc, who hit six 3s on the night, gave Muldrow a 46-34 lead with 5:52 left to play in the game.
For the game, Kilinc scored a game-high 27 points to lead Muldrow, followed by Teaguen Collins with 17 points, D.J. Massey with eight points, Jermauree Palmer with six points, Parker Sevenstar with five points and Wilson with two points.
In the girls’ win over Stilwell, the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 23-7 lead after a period and never looked back.
For the game, Muldrow put a quartet of players into double figures, led by Kilah Ellingberg’s game-high 16 points, followed by Maysi Fields with 15 points, Kayla Ellingberg with 12 points and Hardin with 10 points. Jensi Fields had eight points, followed by Jaydin Dean with five points and Cherish Atkerson with a free throw.
In the boys’ loss to Stilwell, the Indians took a 10-8 lead after a quarter en route to a 2419 halftime advantage, but then they put away the game with a 20-7 third quarter to take a 44-26 lead into the final period.
In defeat, Sevenstar led Muldrow with 14 points, followed by Wilson with eight points, Massey and Jaxson Anstine with five points each and Collins and Kilinc with two points apiece.
On Friday night during the home NOAA Conference games against Poteau, the Class of 2025 Muldrow High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Archer Ryan and Shannon Watts, will be enshrined.
Ryan, a 1974 graduate of MHS, participated in football, basketball, baseball and track for the Bulldogs. He attended Northeastern State University where he received his degree in education. He spent 40 years as a coach and teacher for Muldrow Schools, 25 of those years as the head baseball coach where he accumulated more than 300 wins. He remains involved in MHS athletics as he does commentary for football and basketball games.
Watts, a 1986 graduate of MHS, participated in football, basketball and powerlifting for the Bulldogs. He was a standout football player for the Bulldogs, playing quarterback for one the most successful teams at Muldrow. His 1985 team made it to the state semifinal game. He was named NOAA Conference Offensive Player of Year and was selected to participate in the Oklahoma vs. Texas Oil Bowl football game.
