It was the final game at the Perry Anderson Gymnasium Friday night at Eufaula. The gym first opened its doors to the Eufaula versus Checotah game in 1967 and now closed its doors with Eufaula hosting Checotah again and it was a barnburner. The stands were full and the gym was hot, loud and filled with excitement. The No. 8 ranked Eufaula Ironheads (7-1) held off a scrappy Checotah Wildcats (2-5) team 59-50 to end games prior to the Christmas break.
“It was an electric atmosphere tonight for sure. I have been in a lot of intense atmospheres but tonight was so loud. We are excited to get into the break at 7-1. It’s always a good day to beat the Wildcats,” Eufaula head coach Grant Callison said after winning his first game against Checotah.
The Wildcats came out shooting with Cooper Cutbirth scoring three of his five threepoint baskets to give the Wildcats a 18-12 lead to end the first period. Cutbirth was unstoppable in the first period and his effort on defense was much improved.
Eufaula began to chip away at the Wildcats’ lead with great rebounding and scoring in transition. Logan Plant was terrific in the paint as he grabbed rebounds on both ends of the court while Doltyn Lane, Keaton Parish, R’Reon Marrow and Jentry James scored. Both teams played great defense. Hudson Pollard, Cutbirth, Rowan Chapman, Cole Rolland and Koyah Littleman were solid for the Wildcats. Littleman led Checotah with 17 points.
The Ironheads forced several turnovers with Ty Sparks, Lane and Jentry James making the most.
Cutbirth tied the game at 24-24 but Lane hit a three-pointer to give the advantage back to Eufaula 27-24. On the next play Cutbirth was left open again and made the most of it, scoring another threepoint basket, 27-27. Wes Brown was fouled on the next play and made just one of his two free throws. But with 24.6 seconds remaining in the first half, James scored to end the period 31-28.
Eufaula’s Keaton Parish and R’Reon Marrow opened up the scoring in the third period to give the Ironheads a 3528 advantage. On the next possession Chapman made a bigtime block, Cutbirth gained control and made a great pass to Brown who was fouled on the shot. Hudson Pollard would foul Parish on the following play. Pollard was dynamic defensively and brought a lot of energy to the court.
Checotah would make a run as Littleman and Chapman each scored to make it 38-34 with 1:37 on the clock.
Parish would slice through the Wildcats’ defense on the next play and score. Littleman did not give up as he darted to the paint and was fouled. He made both shots and the period ended 42-36.
The fourth period was full of scoring and great defensive plays. Wes Brown would be hacked as shot and made the basket and he made his free throw to make it 45-39. The huge factor in the game for the Wildcats came at 5:16 in the fourth period when Chapman fouled out and two plays later, Wes Brown fouled out. The Ironheads then went on a 6-0 run. Traegan Duvall snapped it with a threepoint basket. Plant and James would add scores for Eufaula while Littleman led the charge for the Wildcats.
The Ironheads would then run the clock out to hold on a 59-50 win over rival Checotah.
Keaton Parish led Eufaula with 14 points, R’Reon Marrow 11, Jentry James 10, Doltyn Lane 10, Sparks seven and Plant six.
Koyah Littleman led Checotah with 17 points, Cutbirth 14, Brown and Chapman each had five and Cole Rolland four points.
Tuesday Scores
Eufaula 39 Preston 36 Muldrow 69 Checotah 46
