Muskogee downs Southeast at Primus Moore Invitational

Jan. 4—Will Rogers and Durant faced off in the opening boys game of the Primus Moore Invitational at McAlester, where the Lions held on for the 53-50 win over the Ropers.

The Ropers got on the board early, using buckets from Jay Oates III and Nehemiah Rhodes, as well as a triple from Terence Buckley to take the lead. Durant answered with points from Ryder Jones and Callaway Nabors, making it a 9-5 Will Rogers lead after the opening quarter.

In the second, the two teams traded buckets down the stretch, with the Ropers holding on to the 22-17 lead at the half.

D'Karrion Titsworth drilled a triple to help get Will Rogers moving after the break, but a later Nabors cleanup helped the Lions keep pace, with Jones and Jaylon Saxon adding buckets to trim the lead down to three.

After a back-and-forth, it'd be Durant taking the slim 34-33 lead heading into the fourth.

The two teams never stopped trading punches, but it'd be Durant holding on for the win.

Saxon led the Lions with 19 points, followed by labors with 12 points, Jones with 10 points, Braylen Lyday with five points, Kolton Mason with three points, and Landon Ringles with two points.

Buckley led the Ropers with 14 points, followed by Branden Crosslen and Cy Pete with 10 points each, Titsworth and Oates with six points each, and Rhodes and Josiah Hammons with two points each.

MUSKOGEE 67, SOUTHEAST 39

Muskogee and Southeast battled in the opening round of the Primus Moore Invitational at McAlester, where the Roughers used a second-half surge to win 67-39 to jump into the semifinals.

Southeast blasted out in front to start the game, taking an early 16-8 lead after the opening quarter. In the second, the Roughers answered with a run of their own to lead 27-24 at the halftime break.

In the third quarter, Muskogee blasted out of the gate. A massive run fueled by Javian Webber and EJ James saw the Roughers pull out to a 49-32 lead after three quarters.

The wave of momentum tipped the scales to the green and white, with Muskogee sealing away the win.

James led Muskogee with 25 points, followed by Webber with 15 points, Bryce Thornton with 12 points, Wesley Harvey with seven points, and Ramon Garcia, Isaac Shinault, and Traylin Reed with two points each.

Dai'Quan Jenkins led Southeast with 15 points, followed by Davon Chaffin with 13 points, Jacob Daniels with eight points, Lawrence Clayton with two points, and Cormel McDonald with a free throw.

Next up for Muskogee, the Roughers will face Durant Friday at 8:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Spartans will play Durant in the consolation semifinal at 2:30 p.m.

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 vs. Memorial JV, 5:30 p.m.

G4: McAlester vs. Shawnee, 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 5

G5: Loser G3 vs. Loser G4, 11:30 a.m.

G6: Southeast vs. Will Rogers, 2:30 p.m.

G7: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4, 5:30 p.m.

G8: Muskogee vs. Durant, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 6

G9: Loser G5 vs. Loser G6, 11:30 a.m. (Seventh place)

G10: Winner G5 vs. Winner G6, 2:30 p.m. (Fifth place)

G11: Loser G7 vs. Loser G8, 5:30 p.m. (Third place)

G12: Winner G7 vs. Winner G8, 8:30 p.m. (Championship)

This post will be updated following games going final.