The Okmulgee varsity basketball program kicked off its 2023-2024 season in winning fashion Tuesday night at home against the Tulsa Webster Warriors.
The host Lady Bulldogs, who introduced new head coach Dametria Dawson in the season opener, began Tuesday’s cage contest at historic Brock Memorial Gymnasium with a 51-11 thrashing of the visiting Lady Warriors, while the Bulldogs capped off the season-opening sweep in the nightcap, defeating their Tulsa Warrior foes by an 81-53 decision.
Tuesday’s win in the girls game was the first head coaching win for Dawson, who took over the reins of the Lady Bulldog cage program after Mariah Miles took a coaching job at another Oklahoma high school during the offseason.
The Okmulgee cagers will return to action this Tuesday (Nov. 28) with a trip to Hilldale High School in Muskogee and a showdown with the talented Hilldale Hornets and Lady Hornets. Tuesday’s first road game of the new season will get underway with girls action at 6:30 p.m. followed by the boys contest at approximately 8 p.m.
In Tuesday’s girls season opener, the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 16-2 advantage after the first eight minutes of action, then outscored their foes 13-4 in the second stanza for a commanding 29-6 lead at the halftime break.
The Okmulgee ladies took the final two frames by margins of 12-2 and 10-3, respectively, to walk away with the season-opening 51-11 victory.
The Lady Bulldogs were led offensively by senior Cora Love, who finished with a game-high 19-point performance.
Other Okmulgee scorers in the season-opening win were Caedence Smith and Brylee Edlin seven each, Daijah Ghoston six, Natori Yates five, Mallory Rivas three, and Addison Yates and Takiyiah Jones two apiece.
In the boys season opener on Tuesday, the Bulldogs came out of the opening frame with a 22-12 advantage, then doubled up on the Warriors in the second quarter, 18-9, for a 4021 margin at the intermission.
A 15-0 run to begin the third period sparked an 18-8 advantage for the Okmulgee gentlemen in the stanza, extending their lead to 56-29 with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
The scoring went back and forth in the final period with Tulsa Webster putting up 23 points in the stanza. The host Bulldogs countered with 23 points in the quarter to thwart any comeback attempt by the visitors, walking off the Brock Gym floor with the 81-53 decision.
Senior Jaxsun Fulton led the Okmulgee offensive attack in the season opener, finishing with a game-high 21 points. The other Bulldog players to join Fulton in double-digit scoring in the opener were Malakhi Baccus with 12 and Allen Thierry with 10.
Other Okmulgee scorers against Tulsa Webster were Nolan Yates and Tyler Corn with seven apiece, Issac Brand six, Larry Yahola five, Jeremiah Harley and Chase Spain four each, Javin Hutchinson three, and D.J. Liggons two.
— Girls Game
Okmulgee 51, Tulsa Webster 11 Webster: 2 – 4 – 2 – 3 (11) Okmulgee: 16 – 13 – 12 – 10 (51) Okmulgee Scoring: Cora Love 19, Caedence Smith 7, Brylee Edlin 7, Daijah Ghoston 6, Natori Yates 5, Mallory Rivas 3, Addison Yates 2, Takiyiah Jones 2. — Boys Game
Okmulgee 81, Tulsa Webster 53 Webster: 12 – 9 – 8 – 24 (53) Okmulgee: 22 – 18 – 18 – 23 (81) Okmulgee Scoring: Jaxsun Fulton 21, Malakhi Baccus 12, Allen Thierry 10, Nolan Yates 7, Tyler Corn 7, Issac Brand 6, Larry Yahola 5, Jeremiah Harley 4, Chase Spain 4, Javin Hutchinson 3, D.J. Liggons 2.
