State, area playoff schedules

Howe’s girls will play in the state tournament against Okarche while five other county teams are hoping for a trip to Oklahoma City by way of the area tournament.

The Lady Lions, 29-2, are making their fourth straight trip to the state tournament. Sixth-ranked Howe faces fifth-ranked Okarche Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City.

Photo by CRAIG HALL Talihina's Jordan Eagleroad goes in for a basket during a game at Pocola earlier this season. The Tigers will be looking for another trip to the state tournament with a win against Haworth on Friday.

Okarche won its area tournament on Friday with a 63-58 win over Dewar.

The only other county team still in the winners’ bracket is the Talihina boys. The Tigers beat Wister Saturday 88-29 to win their regional tournament.

Talihina faces Haworth on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at McAlester for the area championship and a trip to the state tournament. The Tigers lost to Haworth early in the season without Taggart Lockhart, but did beat Haworth to make the state tournament last year.

Haworth is ranked seventh in the state while Talihina is third.

Heavener’s girls take on Vian on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Muskogee. After falling to Sequoyah Tahlequah 46-42 on Saturday, the Lady Wolves (22-3) will have to win three games to make the state tournament.

Vian is not ranked but won the losers’ bracket at the Stigler regional to advance.

Spiro’s boys also lost a shot at a regional championship on Saturday, falling to Keys in the finals despite having an eight-point lead going into the final quarter.

The Bulldogs, 14-11, face Valliant on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Muskogee. Spiro will have to beat Valliant and win two more games to make the state tournament. Valliant is ranked 13^th and has posted wins over Broken Bow and Hugo this season.

Poteau’s boys downed Muldrow on Saturday for the fourth win over the Bulldogs this season to advance to the area playoffs. The Pirates face NOAA foe Stilwell at 3 p.m. on Thursday at East Central University in Ada. The two teams split their games this season.

Wister is the only other county team still alive. The Wildcats got hot in the postseason prior to the loss to Talihina, beating Savanna and Gore to advance to the regional championship.

The Wildcats take on Davis at 8 p.m. Thursday at McAlester.