Lady Diamonds win district championship

The Sallisaw Lady Black Diamonds rallied to win their 24th district basketball championship in school history and first since 2017 with a 34-25 Class 4A District Tournament victory over the host Wagoner Lady Bulldogs on Saturday night at Hughes Event Center.

The Black Diamonds could not hold off two explosive quarter runs by No. 14 Wagoner during a 72-48 loss that decided the boys district champion.

Both the Lady Diamonds (17-7) and the Black Diamonds (9-15) will be in this week’s Class 4A Regional Tournament, which will begin Thursday at Paul Post Field House before moving to Muldrow’s Roger Sharp Activity Center for action Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Diamonds will meet Broken Bow at 6 p.m. Thursday at Paul Post Field, with the winner meeting the Muldrow-Locust Grove winner for not only the regional championship at 6 p.m. Saturday at Roger Sharp Activity Center but also automatically will earn a berth in the Class 4A Area Tournament next week in Okmulgee.

The Sallisaw-Broken Bow loser will meet the winner of Thursday’s regional consolation quarterfinal game between Stilwell and Stigler — both of which have been swept by the Lady Diamonds — at 6 p.m. Friday in Muldrow in the regional consolation semifinals, with the winner playing for the regional consolation title at 1 p.m. Saturday in Muldrow and earning a trip to the area tournament next week in Okmulgee.

The Black Diamonds will meet NOAA Conference rival Poteau at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Paul Post Field House in the Class 4A Regional Tournament consolation quarterfinals. The Sallisaw-Poteau winner will meet the Muldrow-Stilwell loser in the regional consolation semifinals at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Roger Sharp Activity Center, with the winner playing for the regional consolation championship at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Muldrow for the right to qualify for next week’s area tournament in Okmulgee. The Black Diamonds were swept in NOAA Conference action by both the Bulldogs and the Indians this season.

GIRLS

SALLISAW 34, WAGONER 25

Senior Kayli Macon fueled the second-half comeback with 14 of her game-high 16 points. However, she did more.

Macon fought for loose balls on the floor and generally helped prevent easy Wagoner field-goal attempts.

“She takes care of the dirty stuff (on the floor),” Sallisaw girls coach Eric Carr said. “That’s what a senior does. She’s been good for us.”

The Black Diamonds’ 11-0 run in the final 6:05 in the contest sealed the district title.

The team defense was superb, too, as the Lady Bulldogs managed just two fourth-quarter points.

The last time Sallisaw and Wagoner met was during the Jan. 25 Pryor Invitational Tournament. The Black Diamonds prevailed 38-31 led by Hannah Palmer. Palmer finished this district game with eight points.

Unofficially, Macon finished with six rebounds and two steals. She made 5-of-7 free throws during the fourth quarter rally.

The Lady Bulldogs (10-12) took advantage of Sallisaw’s two-point second quarter to build their 18-11 halftime lead.

That would be the cue to unleash Macon in the final two quarters.

As for other Lady Diamonds scoring, Alayna Locust-Trammell scored six points, while Katelyn Carlton and Channing Wilson scored two points apiece.

BOYS

WAGONER 72, SALLISAW 48

The Bulldogs (15-7) have lived and died on 3-point baskets and fastbreak speed to win most of its games. This district title game was a perfect example of both.

The ’Dogs hit eight treys to break free in the game that was closer in the second half than the final score indicated.

The Black Diamonds trailed by only 10 points before missing four free throws that could have made the game much closer.

Tae Muskrat-Flynn kept Sallisaw close in the first half with four 3-pointers.

Wagoner coach Dante Swanson then glued a defender to Muskrat-Flynn in the second half to limit his scoring to just two.

Muskrat-Flynn finished with a team-high 16, while Cooper Jackson tallied 15 points with 11 of those coming in the second half. Cooper Cox scored 11 to complete the Black Diamonds that eclipsed 10 points. Brodi Nickell, Cooper Carter and Tryson Daniels scored two points apiece.

Wagoner’s JaShawn Davison hit a game-high 29 points to lead all scorers.