By CRAIG HALL
Heavener, Spiro split the games Friday as the both teamss rallied down the stretch to get wins in a pair of exciting basketball games between the two LeFlore County rivals at Heavener Friday night.
Read more: Heavener, Spiro split games FridaySpiro’s girls overcame losing their best player late in the fourth quarter to rally to a 55-45 win while the Wolves won a nailbiter that was not decided until the final minute, 65-62.
Both teams resume action in the LeFlore County Tournament, which starts Monday.
Girls
Heavener appeared to be in good shape to pick up the win in the fourth quarter as the Lady Wolves trailed, 45-41, when the Lady Bulldog’ leading scorer Brynleigh Graham fouled out..
Spiro rallied, outscoring Heavener 10-4 down the stretch to complete a sweep of the season series.
The Lady Bulldogs won the game by completing 14-17 free throws while Heavener went 6-7.
Mia Billings led Heavener with 18 points. Kiana Craig paced Spiro with 19 points, Riley Darneal scored 11 and Kamdyn McClure finished with 10.
Heavener, now 5-9, plays Bokoshe to open the LCT at 3 p.m. Monday at Bokoshe.
Spiro, now 10-3, gets a bye in the opening round of the LCT and plays the Poteau/Cameron winner 3 p.m. Tuesday at Panama,
Spiro 55, Heavener 45
Spiro 14 12 10 19—55
Heavener 13 11 11 10—45
Spiro—Darneal 3 5-5 0 11; Harris 2 0-0 3 3; Craig 6 2-2 0 19; Perdue 0 0-0 1 0; Steele 2 1-2 1 5; K. McClure 4 1-2 0 10; Graham 2 5-6 5 9. TOTALS 19 14-17 7 55.
Heavener—May 0 0-0 2 0; Baker 2 0-0 2 4; Rogers 2 0-0 4 6; Hill 1 0-0 0 3; Faulkenberry 1 4-4 2 6; Billings 8 2-2 2 18. TOTALS: 17 6-7 15 45.
Boys
As good as the girls’ game was, it came in a distant second as far as excitement goes compared to the nightcap.
The game was close throughout as the teams were tied at 46 going into the final quarter when Heavener, now 6-8, edged out the Bulldogs, now 6-7.
The Wolves took the lead for good on a pair of free throws from Brandon Sanchez with 1:58 left. Geren Palmer hit both free throws to build a 5-point lead.
Spiro rallied as Johnnie Clayton hit a pair of 3’s in the final minute to trim the deficit to 63-62 before Sanchez nailed both free throws for Heavener with 26 seconds left.
The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game but could not answer, giving Heavener the win to avenge the earlier 51-45 loss at Spiro earlier in the season.
Heavener really won the game on free throws. The Wolves finished 17-20 while Spiro was 4-9.
Ryand Roberts led Heavener with 18 points, Sanchez added 16 and Palmer finished with 15
Heavener 65, Spiro 62.
Sir Thomas led Sppiro with 19 points. Clayton added 14 and Travis Moody scored 13.
Heavener 15 16 15 19–65
Spiro—Clayton 5 0-0 1 14; Williams 1 0-0 2 2; Gist 2 0-0 0 4; Spears 2 0-0 0 4; McMillian 2 0-2 0 6; Thomas 7 4-9 2 19; Evans 0 0-0 1 0; Johnson 0 0-0 1 0; Moody 5 0-0 5 13. TOTALS: 24 4-9 12 62.
Heavener—B. Sanchez 4 8-10 2 16; Clubb 2 0-0 0 4; J. Sanchez 1 0-0 4 3; Palmer 5 5-5 0 15; Roberts 7 4-5 1 18; Barnes 2 0-0 2 5. TOTALS: 21 17-20 9 65.
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