Whitesboro splits with Haileyville

By KRISTI BRANSCUM
HAILEYVILLE-Whitesboro’s girls downed Haileyville, 62-50, while the Bulldogs missed a last-second chance to win and fell, 46-44.

In the girls’ game, things were going Haileyville's way early as they were shooting very well and Whitesboro couldn't seem to buy a basket.

The score at the end of the first quarter was 16-8 in favor of Haileyville. Things quickly changed in the second, and the Lady Bulldogs put 23 points on the board while holding Haileyville to just five.

Katey Johnson got hot and the team got fired up. Shawnna Ward's three pointer at the end of the half put Whitesboro on top 31-21 and gave them all the momentum they would need. The Lady Bulldogs were still hot in the third as Kelsey Branscum put five quick points up for Whitesboro and the lead grew to 16.

The score after three was 49-37. Whitesboro got some quality minutes from its bench as the Lady Bulldogs continued to shoot well in the fourth and went on to the 62-50 win.

Johnson led Whitesboro with 24 points. Ashley Quinn had three treys to add nine points. Branscum and Ward each had 8 points, Whitney Ward 7, Jayde Tidwell 4, and Brooke Woodall 2. Cassie Christian led Haileyville with 14, while Kaylen Duff added 13, and Hayli Lightle 10.

The boys’ game was a close one throughout. Both teams struggled to score early as Whitesboro had a 9-4 lead after the first quarter. The shooting got better in the second and Whitesboro was on top at the break 24-21 behind the hot shooting of Dylan Means, who had 16 first half points. The teams stayed close, but Whitesboro maintained the lead after the 3rd quarter, 37-31.

 Haileyville gave the Bulldogs all they wanted and continued to stay within reach as the Bulldogs never could pull away. The Bulldogs began to turn the ball over and Haileyville took advantage and got within one point. With a minute and a half left, Whitesboro's Dexter Morgan converted one of two free throws to put the Bulldogs back up by two.

Haileyville got fouled on their end of the floor and converted both free throws to tie the game at 44 with 20 seconds left. Haileyville then stole the inbound pass and took a 46-44 lead on a basket with 4.6 seconds left.

Morgan attempted a three point shot, but came up short and the Bulldogs suffered the heartbreaking loss, 46-44. Means scored 23 points for the Bulldogs. Dustin Ward added 11, Morgan five, Chance Davis and Morgan Nunley two points each, and Quintin Ludlow one.

Haileyville's Jordan Caldwell scored 15. Whitesboro will be playing in the Rock Island Conference Tournament when they return from Christmas break.