Tigers outduel Battiest for Class B regional crown
The Wilson Tiger varsity basketball team continued their historic 2023-2024 season this past Saturday night with a 68-60 win over the Battiest Panthers in the championship game of the Class B, Area III regional tournament at Roff High School.
The regional championship puts the seventh- ranked Tigers (26-1) one win away from their first state tournament appearance since 2002.
The only obstacle standing between the Wilson gentlemen and a berth in the 2024 Class B state basketball championships next week in Oklahoma City is the 11th-ranked Granite Panthers. The two Top 15 teams will meet Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Noble High School in the championship game of the Class B, Area III tournament with a spot in next week’s state tournament on the line.
A win over the Panthers will end a 22-year state tournament drought and only the third state tournament appearance in school history (Wilson also appeared at State in 1970). A loss to Granite will give the Tigers one final chance to punch their ticket to State with an area consolation title game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Noble High School against the winner of Friday’s consolation semifinal contest.
The Tigers began regional tournament play last Thursday evening with a convincing 78-28 victory over the Tipton Tigers in the winner’s bracket contest at Roff High School, while Battiest advanced with a 60-33 win over Boswell last Thursday in Coleman.
In last Thursday’s rout of Tipton, the Tigers led by a narrow 18-13 margin in the first period, then took the final three quarters by a combined 60-15 to cruise into the regional title game with the 78-28 decision.
Wilson was led offensively by Zabrien Shelburn, who finished with a game-high 27 points. Other double-digit scorers for the Tigers in the one-sided win were Keshon Shelburn with 17 and Zion Shelburn with 14.
The remaining Wilson players to contribute offensively last Thursday were Aiden Barnard with eight, Esiah King seven, Andrew Wilson three, and Alec Ganote two.
In Saturday’s title battle with Battiest, the Tigers came out of the opening frame with a 19-15 advantage. The Wilson gentlemen kept their 4-point lead (3531) at halftime after both teams tallied 16 points in the second quarter.
Battiest took the third period by a 16-9 margin to send the title game to the final eight minutes of regulation with the Tigers trailing 48-44.
The Wilson cage squad doubled up on the Panthers by a 24-12 margin in the final stanza to emerge with the 68-60 victory and take home the regional championship plaque.
Keshon Shelburn was the top scorer for the Tigers in the title game with 21 points, followed by Zabrien Shelburn with 19 and Zion Shelburn 12. Andrew Wilson and Charles Shelburn were next offensively for Wilson against Battiest with six points apiece, while Esiah King rounded out the Tiger scoring with four points.
— Class B Regional Tournament First Round
Wilson 78, Tipton 28
Wilson: 18 – 24 – 15 – 21 (78) Tipton: 13 – 3 – 4 – 8 (28) Wilson Scoring: Zabrien Shelburn 27, Keshon Shelburn 17, Zion Shelburn 14, Aiden Barnard 8, Esiah King 7, Andrew Wilson 3, Alec Ganote 2.
— Championship
Wilson 68, Battiest 60
Wilson: 19 – 16 – 9 – 24 (68) Battiest: 15 – 16 – 16 – 12 (60) Wilson Scoring: Keshon Shelburn 21, Zabrien Shelburn 19, Zion Shelburn 12, Andrew Wilson 6, Charles Shelburn 6, Esiah King 4.
