![Heavener's Canyon Ford](https://i0.wp.com/leflorecountyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/990A1151-copy.jpg?resize=640%2C889&ssl=1)
By CRAIG HALL
Things did not look good for Heavener’s boys heading into their Black Diamond Conference basketball game Tuesday night.
The Wolves were down one starter, Isaac Cook, who was out sick, Pocola had just won the 2025 LeFlore County Tournament championship three days previously and the Wolves had not defeated the Indians in some four years.
But something happened during the expected easy win.
Heavener put up a fight, leading or trailing by a small margin until the end of the contest when with the Indians ahead, 57-54, the Wolves’ Julian Sanchez hit a 3-point basket shortly before the buzzer from the top of the key, which hit the backboard and through the net, sending the game into overtime (See video above).
Pocola had rallied back from a 47-40 deficit going into the fourth period, using the height and skill of Dakota Terrell, who had a monster final quarter and overtime.
Heavener took a lead in overtime as a Pocola player was called for a technical at the end of regulation. Rogelio Garcia hit one of two free throws for a 62-61 lead.
But the Indians went on a 9-0 run and eventually outscored Heavener in the extra period, 14-3, as the Wolves’ hopes for the upset were dampened as starters Brandon Sanchez and Canyon Ford fouled out in overtime, sending Heavener deep into the bench.
Pocola, ranked third in Class 2A, improves to 13-5 after a brutal early schedule. Heavener is 10-8. The Wolves host Wilburton in homecoming games Friday.
Dakota Terrell finished with 31 points to lead the Indians.
Garcia paced the Wolves with 18 points.
Boys
Pocola 71, Heavener 60
PHS 15 11 14 17 14–71
HHS 15 12 20 10 3–60
Pocola—Hardwick 5 0-2 5 11; Ty Terrell 1 2-4 4 5; Dunigan 1 1-2 1 4; Gorgon 0 0-0 1 0; Dakota Terrell 9 6-13 1 31; Stoops 5 4-6 1 15; A.J. Terrell 2 1-4 0 5. TOTALS: 23 14-31 13 71.
Heavener—Zaid Rodriguez 2 4-4 1 8; Canyon Ford 3 2-2 5 9; Rogelio Garcia 5 5-7 4 18; Hagen Ritter 0 0-0 3 0; Brandon Sanchez 4 0-0 5 9; Spencer Clubb 4 1-2 4 9; Julian Sanchez 3 0-0 2 7; Geren Palmer 0 0-0 1 0. TOTALS 21 12-15 25 60.
Girls
The earlier game did not have any drama. Undefeated Pocola built a huge lead early and emptied the bench in a 53-26 win by the 2nd-ranked team in Class 2A that could have been much worse.
The Lady Indians, which also won the LCT Saturday, improve to 15-0 going into a game Friday at Class 4A Broken Bow.
Heavener is 4-14 and also hosts Wilburton Friday in homecoming.
Pocola 53, Heavener 26
PHS 18 20 13 2–53
HHS 2 2 8 14–26
Pocola—Parker 8 0-0 1 16; Jerrell 0 0-0 1 0; Warren 6 0-0 0 16; Merritt 1 2-2 1 4; Taylor 1 0-0 1 2; Phillips 1 0-0 1 2; Combs 1 0-0 0 3; Hardwick 3 0-0 1 8; Masterson 0 0-0 1 0; Pargo 1 0-0 0 2. TOTALS: 22 2-2 7 53.
Heavener—Taylee Baker 0 2-2 0 2; Mia Billings 3 2-2 1 8; Allison Palmer 0 0-0 1 0; Valeria Sanchez 0 0-0 1 0; Zaidi May 0 0-0 0 0; Julie Cook 1 0-0 0 3; Keira Doyle 1 1-2 0 3; Kaitlin Hurst 3 0-0 0 7; Nayeli Rangel 1 0-0 0 3. TOTALS: 9 5-6 3 26.
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