Quinton-Howe showdown, Keota and McCurtain start districts
Quinton's girls basketball team plays another dual with a ranked foe as it faces second-ranked Howe. The Savages and Lions have gone back and forth the past few years. Also tonight, Keota and McCurtain will start their district tournaments. Here's a look at the slate of games.
Quinton at Howe
Girls: Savages (21-1, ranked ninth in Class 2A) at Lions (21-2, ranked second in Class 2A) 6:30 p.m.
Last game: Quinton 54, Webbers Falls 29; Howe 85, Arkoma 23.
Last meeting: Howe 58, Quinton 35 (Feb. 12, 2016)
Notes: Quinton is 7-0 against ranked teams and has not lost since Dec. 2. Howe has won all three of its games against OSSAA ranked teams. The Lions' two losses came in December at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Fort Smith against Hamilton Heights (Tenn.), which is 20-2 and ranked 11th in the MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 national ranking, and Fort Smith-Northside (Ark.), which is a 13-9 Class 7A squad. Quinton scores 48.7 points per game and allows 25.2 per game. Howe averages 74.3 points per game while allowing 39.1 per game. Quinton's Macey McKee scores 18.2 points per game. Howe is led by Jalei Oglesby, who averages 17 points per game.
Boys: Savages (8-14) at Lions (9-14) 8 p.m.
Last game: Webbers Falls 61, Quinton 35; Arkoma 74, Howe 65.
Last meeting: Howe 57, Quinton 49 (Feb. 12, 2016)
Notes: Quinton has lost six straight games. Howe has lost four straight games.
Keota girls (10-11) at Arkoma (5-14) (Class A district tournament) 6:30 p.m.
Last game: Keota 36, Canadian 34; Howe 85, Arkoma 23.
Last meeting: Arkoma 47, Keota 46 (Jan. 27, 2017)
Notes: The Lions and Mustangs have split their two games this season. Arkoma won four of five games before losing its regular-season finale. Keota won five of its last eight games. The winner plays Cameron in the district final on Saturday, Feb. 11. Keota won its district tournament last year.
Keota boys (4-16) vs. Cameron (7-16) (in Arkoma, Class A district tournament) 8 p.m.
Last game: Canadian 84, Keota 65.
Last meeting: Cameron 62, Keota 56 (OT) (Jan. 5, 2017)
Notes: Keota and Cameron split their two games this season. When Keota lost to Cameron on Jan. 5, it was Keota coach Greg Grimmett's first game leading the team. The winner plays Arkoma in the district final on Saturday. After being eliminated in the district opener the past two years, Keota can advance to regionals by beating Cameron.
McCurtain girls (5-16) vs. Eagletown (in Moyers, Class B district tournament) 6:30 p.m.
Last game: Panama 52, McCurtain 31.
Notes: If the Bulldogs beat the winless Eagles, they play Moyers in the district final on Saturday.
McCurtain boys (10-15) vs. Eagletown (in Moyers, Class B district tournament) 8 p.m.
Last game: Panama 76, McCurtain 53.
Notes: McCurtain has lost seven of its last eigiht games. With a win against the winless Eagles, the Bulldogs would play 17th-ranked Moyers in the district final on Saturday.