The Class 4A basketball playoffs got off on the right set of paws for the Muldrow Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs last Saturday night at Roger Sharp Activity Center as they swept the Poteau teams to win the Class 4A District Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs got past the Lady Pirates 51-39, then the ’Dogs bit the Pirates 6044.
The Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs were slated to play in the Class 4A Regional Tournament championship semifinals against the sub-site host Broken Bow teams Tuesday night. Regardless of those outcomes, the Muldrow teams will be back at Roger Sharp Activity Center on either/ or Friday and/or Saturday to conclude the regional tournament.
The Muldrow squads ended the regular season by sweeping road games on Presidents Day night at Heavener as the Lady Bulldogs beat the Lady Wolves 42-41 to give Muldrow girls coach Jana Armer, a member of the Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, her 500th win. A small celebration took place in their locker room that night, but Armer was recognized for the feat prior to the Class 4A District Tournament starting last Saturday night.
The Bulldogs handled the Wolves 67-41 to complete the Presidents Day night sweep.
In the girls district title game, the Lady Bulldogs (15-8) trailed for most of the first half but took a 28-27 halftime lead into the locker rooms. After outscoring the Lady Pirates 9-4 in the third quarter for a 37-31 advantage, the Lady Bulldogs ended the game with a 14-8 final period to seal the deal.
For the game, Kayla Ellingberg scored a game-high 20 points to lead Muldrow, followed by Kilah Ellingberg with 17 points, London Hardin with nine points, Leni Cox with four points and Emma Fields with a free throw.
In the boys’ district championship game, the Bulldogs (16-7) led 15-12 after a quarter, but then outscored the Pirates 18-7 in the second period to take a 33-19 halftime lead en route to a 47-34 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
For the game, the ’Dogs put four players into double figures, led by Jesse Kilinc’s gamehigh 15 points, followed by Parker Sevenstar’s 13 points, Teaguen Collins with 12 points and DeShawn Willson’s 11 points. D.J. Massey had seven points, while E.J. Zanders added two points.
In the girls’ victory over Heavener, Kilah Ellingberg hit the gamewinning free throw with 6.2 seconds left to give the one-point win and Armer her 500th victory coaching Muldrow.
For the game, Muldrow put a trio of players into double figures, led by Kayla Ellingberg as she shared gamehigh honors with 12 points. Kilah Ellingberg and Cox each added 11 points, followed by Hardin with six points and Fields with two points.
In the boys’ win over Heavener, the ’Dogs jumped ahead 20-11 at the end of the first quarter, and the Wolves could never threaten Muldrow.
Muldrow put the game away in the second quarter by outscoring Heavener 18-6 to build a 38-17 lead at the half.
For the game, Kilinc scored a game-high 31 points to lead Muldrow, followed by Collins with 18 points, Sevenstar with eight points, Willson and Jermauree Palmer with three points each and Massey and Brody Israel with two points apiece.
