By CRAIG HALL
The semifinals of the 2024 basketball LeFlore County Tournament are set after Thursday’s quarterfinals which saw the biggest upset in the tournament so far along with the best games.
The biggest was Poteau crushing Spiro, 52-39, while there were two nailbiters in the boys’ game. Heavener rallied late to defeat Howe, 57-52, and Wister posted a 57-54 win over Panama. The girls also featured a 55-52 win for Spiro over Whitesboro.
Aside from loser’s bracket games, all the other games will be held at Spiro, including all four semifinals played on the same day, which is a first.
In the first semifinal at 4 p.m., the Howe girls play Spiro. At 5:30 p.m., the Heavener and Poteau boys play; while at 7 p.m. Pocola’s girls play Poteau. At 8:30 p.m., the Pocola boys take on Wister in a repeat of last year’s finals.
The girls’ final is 7 p.m. Saturday with the boys following.
The Heavener and Howe boys were tied at 44 after three quarters. After a Heavener basket, Howe rallied for six straight points. The Wolves answered by outscoring the Lions, 11-2, down the stretch. Zaid Rodriguez scored six points for Heavener, making several big plays including the go-ahead layup with 1:53 left. He also scored the tying points on the previous trip down the court.
Here is Friday’s schedule:
Winner’s bracket
Boys
At Spiro
Semifinals
Heavener vs. Poteau 7 p.m.
Pocola vs. Wister 8:30 p.m.
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Girls
Howe vs. Spiro 4 p.m.
Pocola vs. Poteau 7 p.m.
Losers bracket
Boys
At Cameron
Cameron vs. LeFlore 5:30 p.m.
Talihina vs. Panama 8:30
At Arkoma
Whitesboro vs. Arkoma 5:30
Spiro vs. Howe 8:30
Girls
At Arkoma
LeFlore vs. Arkoma 4 p.m.
Heavener vs. Panama 7 p.m.
At Cameron
Cameron vs. Wister 4 p.m.
Talihina vs. Whitesboro 7 p.m.
Thursday’s scores
Winners bracket
Boys
Heavener 57, Howe 52
Wister 57, Panama 54
Poteau 52, Spiro 39
Pocola 68, Talihina 35
Girls
Spiro 55, Whitesboro 52
Howe 64, Talihina 48
Pocola 63, Heavener 43
Poteau 59, Poteau 43
Losers bracket
Boys
LeFlore 68, Bokoshe 48
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