Jackets to begin consolation climb
![CROSTON MARTIN dribbles down the baseline during the Jackets’ regional final against North Rock Creek. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]](https://www.kingfisherpress.net/sites/kingfisherpress.etypegoogle10.com/files/styles/article400/public/b9a4eb520e_Ar01204018.jpg?itok=ubHTqjjw "CROSTON MARTIN dribbles down the baseline during the Jackets’ regional final against North Rock Creek. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]")
CROSTON MARTIN dribbles down the baseline during the Jackets’ regional final against North Rock Creek. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
Kingfisher’s path to the state tournament will have to go the route of the consolation bracket if it’s going to take place.
The Jackets suffered their first playoff defeat Saturday when the offense got going too late in a 54-45 loss to No. 4 North Rock Creek in a Class 4A regional final in Cushing.
The win moves the Cougars (23-1) into this week’s area final against No. 8 Catoosa.
The Jackets, meanwhile, will see a familiar foe in the area consolation quarterfinals when they play Perkins-Tryon at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Kellyville.
The Demons knocked off KHS 59-57 in the semifi nals of the Buckle of the Wheatbelt Invitational in January en route to winning the tournament.
Other than a mid-firstquarter surge against North Rock Creek, Kingfi sher’s offense struggled to get on track.
Michael Easley made a 3-pointer at the 2:45 mark of the first to give the Jackets a 9-7 lead.
However, they were outscored 21-6 the rest of the half, including 15-4 in the second quarter.
The Jackets had just eight field goals and 23 points through three quarters, but were still hanging around.
KHS limited the Cougars to 8 points in the third and trailed by 13.
Multiple times in the second half the Jackets got their deficit to 11 points, but couldn’t quite get it to single digits.
That finally happened when Easley drained another 3-pointer with 2:20 left, That got KHS within 48-39.
North Rock Creek had chances to gain a bit more distance, but only went 6 of 11 from the free throw line in the fourth.
Easley’s free throws with 1:05 to play made it 49-41 and then Isaiah Carillo’s short jumper got the Jackets within 50-43 with 24 seconds left.
But that’s as close as KHS got as the Cougars held off any further charge.
North Rock Creek’s balanced scoring was led by Kohen Warden’s 13 points. The Cougars also got 10 from Tyson Watkins.
Easley led KHS with 16. He scored 11 of it in the fourth quarter.
Cash Laird got 9 of his 11 in the second half and Hayes White scored 9.
The Jackets, ranked 10th, dropped to 19-8. Perkins-Tryon is 23-4 and ranked 12th.