Durant edges McAlester in nail-biter at Primus Moore Invitational

Jan. 6—It was a fight to the finish.

McAlester faced off against Durant in Saturday's third-place game at the Primus Moore Invitational inside the McAlester Activity Center, where the Buffs fought but fell 49-43 to the Lions.

A defensive battle kept both teams scoreless for nearly three minutes before Durant Ryder Jones broke the ice with back-to-back threes. Brandon Smith answered for McAlester with a hard-earned three-point play, and DaVantrae McKendrick added in a corner three to tie up the game.

That set off a back-and-forth between the two teams, with a 4-0 run fueled by Davien Pouncil and Smith leading to a 10-10 tie after the opening period.

Smith drained a three to start the second quarter, later floating in a shot as McAlester pushed into the lead. The Lions responded with an 11-0 run to end the half, taking a 23-15 lead into the locker room break.

The Buffs came hot out of the locker room, getting a free throw from De'Veion Bickham and a triple from McKendrick to cut into the deficit. McAlester kept chipping away, with Smith, Garrett Pickett, and Kaiden Duke adding in points.

Both teams battled to the horn, with Durant hitting a three at the buzzer to take a 37-28 lead into the fourth period.

Emotions ran high in the final quarter, with both teams pushing in the game's final minutes. A double technical on Durant gave McAlester an opportunity, with Smith sinking two of the four to make it a 46-34 Durant lead midway through the period.

The Buffs kept grinding, pulling within seven points with 1:28 to play as a timeout was called. The teams took it to the wire, but the Lions would hold on for the win.

McKendrick and Smith led with 15 points each for the Buffs, followed by Pickett with six points, Hishaw, Pouncil, and Duke with two points each, and Bickham with a free throw.

JENKS 64, MUSKOGEE 53 (Championship)

Muskogee and Jenks squared off Saturday in the Primus Moore Invitational finals at the McAlester Activity Center, where the Trojans held off the Roughers 64-53 to be named tournament champions.

The Roughers came out firing, with four quick points from Javian Webber giving Muskogee the lead. The Trojans punched right back, with points from Simian Gilkey and Evan Goodwin pushing Jenks out in front.

Back and forth they went, with Jenks leading 17-13 after a triple from Carter Mundy.

Muskogee battled back to start the second quarter, with a triple from Bryce Thornton tying up the game at 20-20 midway through the period. Jenks responded with an 11-2 run to end the period and take a 31-22 lead at the break.

The teams batted with barrages from beyond the arc to start the half, with Jenks taking a 49-39 lead into the final period.

Jenks and Muskogee fought to the finish, but it'd be the Trojans taking home the championship prize.

Goodwin led the way for Jenks with 26 points, followed by Mundy with 21 points, Carson Mariska and Milo Stufflebeam with five points each, Jace Morgan with four points, Simian Gilkey with three points, and Colter Adams with a free throw.

Webber led the Roughers with 16 points, followed by Thornton with nine points, EJ James with eight points, Kelan Payne with seven points, Jace Parker with six points, and Traylin Reed and Zion Dedmond with two points each.

SHAWNEE 49, WILL ROGERS 40 (Consolation final)

Will Rogers faced off against Shawnee in Saturday's consolation final of the Primus Moore Invitational, where the Wolves held off the Ropers for the 49-40 win.

Defensive efforts kept points at a premium in the opening period, with free throws from Daytain Patton putting the Wolves up 10-8 heading into the second. Both teams battled neck-and-neck, leading to a 24-20 Shawnee lead at the half.

The Wolves rattled off a run to start the third period, fueled by Aidon Siqueiros. At the end of the quarter, Shawnee found itself up 37-30.

The Ropers set out on a run of their own to start the fourth, trimming the lead down to one. After Shawnee free throws, the Wolves put themselves up three points with less than three minutes to play.

Both teams battled down the stretch, but it'd be the Wolves holding on for the win.

MEMORIAL JV 70, SOUTHEAST 59 (Seventh place)

Southeast faced Memorial's junior varsity squad in Saturday's seventh-place game at the Primus Moore Invitational in McAlester, where the Chargers used a second-half push to win 70-59.

The Chargers and Spartans battled back-and-forth to start the game, but a run by Memorial put the team up 17-9 after the opening period. In the second quarter, the Spartans made a run to win the quarter and make it a 29-23 Memorial lead at the break.

Memorial hit a run to start the third quarter, but the Spartans answered with a run of their own to make it a 50-40 Charger lead heading into the fourth. But Memorial kept on the gas, using one final push to take the win.

Kaleb Jackson finished with 30 points for Memorial, followed by Nehemiah Liggins with 17 points, RJ Stevenson with nine points, Jordan Alexander with six points, and Cam Hishaw and Xavier Williams with four points each.

Davon Chaffin led Southeast with 21 points, followed by Jakeb Daniels with 17 points, Dai'Quan Jenkins with 10 points, Lamar Vealy with eight points, and Ty Ball with three points.

Here is the complete boys bracket for the inaugural Primus Moore Invitational:

THURSDAY, JAN. 4

G1: Durant 53, Will Rogers 50

G2: Muskogee 67, Southeast 39

G3: Jenks 62, Memorial JV 36

G4: McAlester 52, Shawnee 42

FRIDAY, JAN. 5

G5: Shawnee 62, Memorial JV 45

G6: Will Rogers 57, Southeast 36

G7: Jenks 65, McAlester 40

G8: Muskogee 75, Durant 40

SATURDAY, JAN. 6

G9: Memorial JV 70, Southeast 59 (Seventh place)

G10: Shawnee 49, Will Rogers 40 (Fifth place)

G11: Durant 49, McAlester 43 (Third place)

G12: Jenks 64, Muskogee 53 (Championship)