Buffs end season in hard-fought battle with Sapulpa

Feb. 23—The Buffs battled to the end.

McAlester faced off against Sapulpa in Tulsa Friday during the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association Class 5A regional tournament, where the Buffs fought but fell 83-65 to finish a battle-worn season.

Sapupla jumped out early, but the Buffs stayed right on the heels of their opponent to make it a 42-29 Chieftain lead at the half.

On the other side, the Buffs never quit the fight. But Sapulpa used a fourth-quarter push to seal away the win.

Brandon Smith led McAlester with 26 points, followed by DaVantrae McKendrick with nine points, Kayden Harris with eight points, Garrett Pickett with seven points, Davien Pouncil, DeVeion Bickham, and Isaiah Hishaw with four points each, and Alex Dooney with three points.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON 102, MCALESTER 56

McAlester traveled to take on Booker T. Washington Thursday in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association Class 5A regional tournament opening round, where the Buffs fell 102-56.

The Hornets jumped out early, with the Buffs battling back. But as Booker T. gathered momentum, it'd take a 71-25 lead at the half.

On the other side, both teams continued to fight down the stretch — with the Hornets sealing away the win.

Brandon Smith led McAlester with 13 points, followed by Kayden Harris with eight points, Jake Monroe with seven points, DaVantrae McKendrick with five points, Alex Dooney, Isaiah Hishaw, and DeVeion Bickham with four points each, Riley Calistro with three points, and Davien Pouncil and Jaxen Duff with two points each.

Here is the complete Class 5A Boys East Regional Tournament bracket. Schools in parentheses are host sites:

THURSDAY FEB. 22

G1: Booker T. Washington 102, McAlester 56 (Booker T. Washington)

G2: Claremore 70, Sapulpa 50 (Booker T. Washington)

G3: Bishop Kelley 55, Will Rogers 49 (Edison Prep)

G4: Edison Prep 63, Grove 28 (Edison Prep)

G5: Holland Hall 73, Pryor 29 (Holland Hall)

G6: Coweta 51, Tahlequah 47 (Holland Hall)

G7: Tulsa Memorial 54, East Central 37 (Collinsville)

G8: Collinsville 60, Durant 28 (Collinsville)

FRIDAY FEB. 23

G9: Sapulpa 83, McAlester 65 (Booker T. Washington)