County cage squads return to hardwood this week

After a 2-week break to celebrate the holidays, the eight Okmulgee County varsity basketball programs will return to action this week.

Three of the county cage squads kicked off the second-half portion of their regular-season schedules Tuesday evening, including two squaring off against each other in a county battle.

The basketball programs from Preston and Morris met at the Jim Waller Event Center in Preston for a county roundball showdown, while the varsity hardwood teams from Henryetta High School opened 2024 Tuesday at Kellyville and a conference battle with the Kellyville Ponies and Lady Ponies.

Tuesday’s county battle in Preston will be the home opener for the host Pirates and Lady Pirates, who spent the entire first-half of the 2023-2024 campaign on the road.

The other five county varsity basketball programs are scheduled to begin 2024 Thursday with opening-round contests at various basketball tournaments across the state. The three county programs that begin the new year Tuesday with regular- season contests will also see tournament action this weekend. See today’s edition for complete details of this weekend’s tournament action for the eight Okmulgee County varsity basketball programs.

The county cage programs will use the next 6-7 weeks to get prepared for the 2024 postseason, which will begin February 9 and 10 for Classes A and B and February 15-17 for Classes 2A and 3A.

— Upcoming Games Beggs

Jan. 4-6 – Henryetta Tournament Jan. 9 – vs Kellyville Jan. 12 – at Preston — Dewar

Jan. 4-6 – Lawton Tournament Jan. 9 – at Wilson Jan. 13 – vs Webbers Falls — Henryetta

Jan. 2 – at Kellyville Jan. 4-6 – Henryetta Tournament Jan. 12 – at Morris — Morris

Jan. 2 – at Preston Jan. 4-6 – Warner Tournament Jan. 9 – at Liberty (Mounds) Jan. 12 – vs Henryetta — Okmulgee

Jan. 4-6 – Lincoln Christian Tourn. Jan. 9 – vs Tulsa Central Jan. 12 – vs Tulsa McLain — Preston

Jan. 2 – vs Morris Jan. 4-6 – Morrison Tournament Jan. 9 – vs Dale Jan. 12 – vs Beggs — Schulter

Jan. 4-6 – Graham-Dustin Tourn. Jan. 11 – at Wetumka Jan. 12 – vs Bowlegs — Wilson

Jan. 4-6 – Depew Tournament Jan. 8 – vs Hanna Jan. 9 – vs Dewar Jan. 12 – at Midway