Golden Day at Coliseum

KINGFISHER COUNTY took center stage on the very fi rst championship Saturday at the OG&E Coliseum. There were six OSSAA basketball state champions crowned on that day and half of them were from the county. Each one had signifi cance beyond winning a gold ball and being deemed state champion. For the Okarche Warriors in Class A (top photo, waiting to rush Superintendent Josh Sumrall and grab the gold ball), it was a three-peat as the Warriors downed Caddo 84-65 in the fi nal game of the day. Okarche became just the fourth Class A boys program to achieve that feat. The Lomega girls did their own rushing in Class B-II. First, they rushed past the rest of the class and dominated en route to beat Leedey 71-44 in the championship game. It was Lomega’s 17th title (extending a record) and it was the ninth for coach Kevin Lewallen, who now holds that record for girls coaches in Oklahoma. Instead of a dogpile at center court, the Lady Raiders made a u-turn and surprised Lewallen tackling him to the ground in celebration. Lomega made it a county sweep for B-II as earlier in the day, the Dover boys won their fi rst-ever state championship. They out-classed Duke 49-26 to claim the title. For stories on Dover and Lomega’s championship seasons, see inside this edition. For more coverage on Okarche’s historic run to the three-peat as well as more on Lewallen’s journey to the most decorated girls basketball coach ever, see this weekend’s edition. [KT&FP Photos by Michael Swisher]