Catoosa holds off Jacket comeback

A wild comeback came up just short and left the Kingfisher Yellowjackets just shy of the state tournament.

Trailing by 17 in the third quarter, KHS fought back to tie the game in the fourth, but eventually fell 60-54 to No. 8 Catoosa in a Class 4A area consolation championship game Saturday in Kellyville.

The loss ended 10thranked Kingfisher’s season with a 21-9 record.

The Jackets staved off elimination with wins Thursday against Perkins- Tryon and Friday against Tulsa McLain.

The latter saw Kingfisher outscore McLain 23-12 in the fourth quarter and win despite making no 3-pointers.

Michael Easley scored all 17 of his points through three quarters, but the Jackets trailed 27-26.

Cash Laird and Hayes White took over in the fourth.

The two combined for 21 points in the quarter and went 13 of 17 from the free throw line.

Both were quiet until then.

Laird scored 12 of his 14 in the final quarter while White had 9 of his 11 in the final eight minutes.

That Kingfisher trio had Kingfisher in good position against Catoosa.

They scored 26 points in the first half as the Jackets led 30-29 at the break.

But the Indians caught fire early in the third quarter to stake a 17-point lead.

Easley scored 7 to help the Jackets crawl back within 48-44 by the end of the quarter.

The Jackets were down four in the fourth when Laird found Easley for a basket underneath with 6:07 to play.

Freshman Collin Farrar then tied it up with a steal and a bucket 12 seconds later.

But Catoosa outscored the Jackets 10-4 the rest of the way.

Kingfisher had the ball down by two, but turned it over with 1:40 left. The Indians pushed it back to a two-possession game 40 seconds later.

Easley scored 17 points and had 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Laird added 10 points and Jackson Willbanks scored 6 to go with 5 rebounds.

The Jackets also got 15 points from White.

His 14th point gave the senior 1,000 for his career.

Alexander Timmons led the Indians with 14 points and 8 rebounds.