Pocola teams advance

Pocola teams advance at the basketball Class 2A state tournament with wins Thursday at the State Fairgrounds while Howe’s girls were eliminated by third-ranked Hartshorne in another quarterfinal game.

The third-ranked Pocola boys play second-ranked Hooker in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. for the second straight season after winning, 49-38, last season. It will also be a rematch of a Class A football from from this year Hooker won.

Pocola overcame a 36-25 deficit in the third quarter to defeat #4 Riverside, 54-51 in overtime in Thursday’s quarterfinal game. Houston Stroops led Pocola with 21 points and Dakota Terrell added 20.

Black Diamond Conference rivals Pocola and  Hartshorne meet in the semifinals at 6 p.m. The two teams split in the regular season with Pocola winning, 68-60, at home Jan. 7 while the Lady Miners won the second contest at home Feb. 7, 68-50.

Pocola’s girls defeated a previously undefeated Okemah team, 60-39, as Allyssa Parker scored 37 points before the Lady Indians.

Hartshorne buried four 3’s late in the game to hold on to defeat eighth-ranked Howe, 64-57, giving the Lady Miners a 3-0 edge over Howe this season

Kaydence Delt led Howe, which finishes 22-8, with 19 points. Teammate Slatey Free added 16.

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