Ahead of inclement weather last week, the Preston Pirates hosted the Patrons Bank Invitational Tournament, defeating Earlsboro in the first round before falling to Hartshorne and Wewoka.

— Pirates open tourney with win over Earlsboro The Preston Pirates opened play in the Patrons Bank Basketball Tournament last Wednesday with a hard-fought 55-50 victory over Earlsboro at the Jim Waller Event Center, building a strong first-half lead and holding off a determined Wildcats rally in the second half.

Preston set the tempo early, jumping out to a 9-0 first-quarter advantage and carrying a 21-9 lead after the opening period. The Pirates continued to control the game in the second quarter, extending the margin to 39-18 at halftime behind balanced scoring and solid defensive pressure.

Earlsboro responded after the break, outscoring Preston 13-0 in the third quarter to cut into the deficit and shift momentum. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance throughout the fourth quarter, but Preston answered with timely baskets and steady free-throw shooting down the stretch to secure the five-point win.

Phoenix Finch led the Pirates with a game-high 16 points, providing a steady scoring presence throughout the contest. Trey Phillips added 14 points, including key buckets that helped Preston weather Earlsboro’s second-half surge. Bishop Bert contributed nine points, while Ra’Kavion Phillips finished with seven.

Additional scoring for Preston came from Rickey Hinson and Chris Cottrell with three points each, Jacobie Crawford with 2, and Asa Stallings with 1, rounding out a balanced offensive effort that proved critical in the tournament opener.

Earlsboro was led by Lucky Cole with 17 points, while Brayden Rawls added 16 for the Wildcats. Nate Ruiz scored five points, Jakobi Soap and Steven Wynn finished with four apiece, and Dawson Roach chipped in 2 as Earlsboro made a strong push after halftime.

Despite being outscored in the second half, Preston’s strong start and composure late allowed the Pirates to advance in tournament play.

Preston improved to 1-0 in the Patrons Bank Tournament with the opening-round win, while Earlsboro moved into consolation play following the narrow loss.

— Preston Stats

• Phoenix Finch – 16

• Trey Phillips – 14

• Bishop Bert – 9

• Ra’Kavion Phillips – 7

• Rickey Hinson – 3

• Chris Cottrell – 3

• Jacobie Crawford – 2

• Asa Stallings – 1 — Wewoka pulls away late to defeat Preston, 59-49 A strong second half helped the Wewoka Tigers break open a tight contest Friday morning, pulling away from the Preston Pirates for a 59-49 win in tournament play.

The game was competitive early, with Wewoka holding a narrow 18–16 edge after the first quarter before extending the margin to 38-27 at halftime. Preston battled back after the break, but the Tigers answered every run and maintained control down the stretch.

Wewoka outscored Preston 21-22 in the second half but had already built enough separation to secure the win.

Wewoka’s offense was steady from the opening tip, using balanced scoring and consistent trips to the basket to keep pressure on the Pirates. The Tigers scored 18 points in the opening quarter and followed with a 20-point second quarter to take an 11-point lead into the locker room.

Preston stayed within striking distance early, scoring five points in the first quarter and 11 in the second, but struggled to slow Wewoka’s primary scoring options.

The Pirates showed renewed energy coming out of halftime, trimming the deficit and matching Wewoka’s pace in the third quarter. However, each time Preston threatened to close the gap, the Tigers responded with timely buckets and free throws.

Wewoka’s ability to finish possessions and convert scoring opportunities proved to be the difference late, as the Tigers closed out the game from the free-throw line and in transition.

— Wewoka Stats

Wewoka was led by a strong allaround

effort, with multiple players reaching double figures:

• Nadim Bruner finished with 26 points, leading all scorers and setting the tone offensively.

• Trenton Sharp added 15 points, providing key scoring in the second half.

• Ejavon Thomas chipped in 6 points.

• Additional scoring came throughout the lineup, helping Wewoka maintain balance and tempo.

— Preston Stats

The Pirates were led by several contributors, highlighted by:

• Ra’Kavion Phillips with 22 points, leading Preston’s scoring attack.

• Kent Rice scored 11 points, giving Preston consistent production.

• Carter Fuller added five points. Despite the loss, Preston showed flashes of resilience, particularly in the second half, as the Pirates continued to battle against a disciplined Wewoka squad.

-Wewoka improved its tournament showing with the win taking away the third place trophy, while Preston looked to regroup and carry lessons forward into its next matchup.