Sports

Fittingly, the program that won more than any other in “The Big House” captured the very first victory at the new site of the state tournament.Lomega christened OG&E Coliseum on Tuesday morning with a 65-36 domination of Arnett in the Class B-II girls state quarterfi nals.

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.

Millwood’s defense stifl ed Hennessey enough to claim a regional championship.The seventh-ranked Lady Falcons allowed single digits in three of the quarters Saturday to claim a 3A regional title 49-29 against Hennessey.The Lady Eagles aren’t out of it, though.

Another fast playoff start has the Kingfisher girls basketball team one win away from another trip to the state tournament.The sixth-ranked Lady Jackets jumped on Mannford early and were never threatened Saturday in a 51-31 victory in a Class 4A regional championship in Cushing.

Cashion did a good job of slowing down Merritt’s offense.Merritt’s defense just did a better job of stopping Cashion.The fourth-ranked Oilerettes advanced to a 2A area championship game with a 42-28 victory over Cashion in a regional final Saturday in Watonga.

There was no area heartbreak this time.One year removed from back-to-back losses at the area tournament ending the Lady Raiders’ state tournament streak, the top-ranked team in Class B-II didn’t put itself in that position again.Lomega put the hammer down on No.

The biggest difference between the Okarche girls road to the state tournament between this year and last?Coach Brett Tahah didn’t arrive at home and go into labor on Saturday night.“I can just get some sleep this year,” the second- year Okarche coach said.

Dover’s boys waited 32 years between appearances No. 6 and No. 7 in the state basketball tournament.The time lapse between No. 7 and No. 8 was slightly less.

The most storied smallschool basketball program in Oklahoma will play the very first state tournament game in the new OG&E Coliseum.A new era tips off this year as State Fair Arena - aka “The Big House” - has been razed and the new arena makes its debut this year.

Aaron West is always intense on the sidelines of basketball games, but rarely has outbursts of emotions.So when Ethan Kirby knocked down his second 3-pointer to give the Warriors a big early lead on No.