Checotah Wildcats (1-6) boys’ team faced challenges as they fell to Metro Christian 61-25 in the first round of the Henryetta Basketball tournament on Wednesday. The Wildcats outscored Metro 9-6 in the first period.

It was a physical contest to start the game as Metro tried to overtake the paint on both ends of the court but couldn’t fully control it due to the efforts of Rowan Chapman and R.J.Womack. Womack tied the game at 4-4 and then made two free throws to give Checotah a 6-4 lead. Chapman, Cole Rolland and Tyler Orman combined for seven rebounds in the first period.

Metro’s Joe Pinter (6’2”) began to make his presence known as he scored 11 of his 17 points in the second period. Turnovers continued to doom Checotah. Chapman made it a 16-15 game and gave a much-needed spark for the Wildcats. On the next possession another Checotah turnover, this time by Wes Brown, turned into points for Metro Christian. Metro forced four turnovers in a row after that and took a 21-15 lead with 1:48 remaining in the contest.

Cole Rolland did a great job of battling for rebounds and shooting in the paint as the freshman scored the Wildcats’ next four points to make it 26-19. Metro’s defense forced another turnover and scored twice to end the first half 32-19. Metro Christian outscored Checotah 26-7 in the second period and 20-4 in the third period to seal the 61-25 win.

Womack led the Wildcats with nine points and Tyler Orman and Cole Rolland finished with six points apiece and Chapman added four points.

Okemah hands the Wildcats second loss in Henryetta Tournament

The Checotah Wildcats fell to Class 2A No.19th ranked Okemah Saturday 71-48 and dropped to 1-7 overall. Okemah (8-4) started out quick in the first period with Nash Smith and Kyran Berryhill combining for nine of Okemah’s 13 first period points.

The Wildcats were led by forward Rowan Chapman who played an incredible game in the paint on both ends of the court. Checotah battled back and forth with an aggressive Okemah team and finished the period trailing just three-points 12-9.

Okemah really opened the scoring gates in the second period with Keiton Thompson hitting a long threepointer. Checotah would answer the call with scores by Hudson Pollard and Chapman. Senior guard Tyler Orman was held scoreless in the second period along with point-guard Wes Brown as Okemah forced multiple turnovers with a high pressure defense, while converting in transition to lead 33-17 at the half.

Both teams came out the third period, firing shot after shot as both teams combined for 39 total points scored in the third period. Cooper Cutbirth gave Checotah a much-needed spark with a three-point bucket as the Wildcats had their most productive period with six different players putting points on the board.

Okemah outscored Checotah 24-15 in the third period and was beginning to control the game. The Wildcats would not go away so easily as Aum Patel and Chapman each scored threepointers from the perimeter and Traegan Duvall and Hudson Pollard adding four points each. Okemah was able to control the clock and the paint to seal the 71-48 victory.

Chapman was the only Wildcat in double figures with 12 points, Aum Patel added seven, Hudson Pollard eight, Duvall and Orman six points and Cutbirth finished with four points.

Okemah had four players in double figures.