Buffs fall in battle with Booker T. Washington

Feb. 23—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.

Next up for McAlester, the Buffs will face off against Sapulpa Friday at 6 p.m. — with the winner staying alive in the playoffs.

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: McAlester vs. Sapulpa, 6 p.m. (Booker T. Washington)

G10: Will Rogers vs. Grove, 6 p.m. (Edison Prep)

G11: Pryor vs. Tahlequah, 6 p.m. (Holland Hall)

G12: East Central vs. Durant, 6 p.m. (Collinsville)

G17: Booker T. Washington vs. Claremore, 7:30 p.m. (Booker T. Washington) (Winner advances to Area)

G18: Bishop Kelley vs. Edison Prep, 7:30 p.m. (Edison Prep) (Winner advances to Area)

G19: Holland Hall vs. Coweta, 7:30 p.m. (Holland Hall) (Winner advances to Area)

G20: Memorial vs. Collinsville, 7:30 p.m. (Collinsville) (Winner advances to Area)

SATURDAY FEB. 24

G13: Winner G9 vs. Loser G18, 7:30 p.m. (Booker T. Washington) (Winner advances to Area)

G14: Winner G10 vs. Loser G17, 7:30 p.m. (Edison Prep) (Winner advances to Area)

G15: Winner G11 vs. Loser G20, 7:30 p.m. (Holland Hall) (Winner advances to Area)

G16: Winner G12 vs. Loser G19, 7:30 p.m. (Collinsville) (Winner advances to Area)