It’s not too bad an issue, but Muskogee coach Doyle Rowland voiced some concern about his team playing down to the level of their opponent following a first-round game in the John Nobles Tournament in Moore on Thursday.

The 71-38 win for the Lady Roughers over the Moore Lady Lions is evidence they didn’t stay there long.

Alexus Wilson scored 12 of her team-high 17 points in helping her team out to a 27-7 advantage. Sydni Carter had eight points in that quarter as well, then Moore came back to outscore Muskogee 13-12 in the second eight minutes but still trailed by 19, 39-20 at the half.

Back to the press they so successfully operated out of in the first eight minutes, the Lady Roughers ran off a 20-7 third quarter to lead 59-27.

It’s perfectionism perhaps, but with their seventh win in a row to move to 12-2 on the year, it’s not an unreasonable desire for a coach who doesn’t want his squad to take their foot off the gas.

“We’re at a point where we’re adding new things. We tried a couple different traps and some offensive sets we haven’t run,” Rowland said. “We want to keep raising the bar of expectation. We know we can play with the east side, now the question is can we play with the west. I thought we were in that situation last year and we got took in the quarterfinals (by Midwest City).

“We’ll get a look at some of their better teams in this and see how we shape up.  We just played OK.  I know we’ve got more in us.”

Wilson thinks so.

“We haven’t won this tournament since I’ve played in it,” the senior and fourth-year starter said. “We don’t want to overlook anyone.”

Kelsey McClure had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds. Carter tweaked her ankle in the third quarter and left the game. Aaliyah Wilson had nine points.

Muskogee will take its No. 6 ranking in the Okrankings Class 6A coaches poll against No. 12 Lawton Eisenhower, a 43-32 winner over Ponca City, at 4 p.m. today with a spot in Saturday’s finals awaiting the winner. The Lady Roughers are looking to make it a sweep of three regular season tournament titles.

 

Boys:

Tulsa Central 70,

Muskogee 65, 2 OT

The Roughers climbed back from a seven-point halftime deficit but ran into foul trouble and eventually a double-overtime loss to 4A No. 7 Tulsa Central in the Titan Classic at Midwest City Carl Albert.

David Beasley, battling a stomach virus, scored eight fourth-quarter points but fouled out with a minute left in regulation. Anthony King had already fouled out with three minutes to go.

Cantrell Ashley was fouled on a drive with 6 seconds left, hit the first free throw but missed the second which forced overtime. Tramal Ivy’s layup with eight seconds in the first overtime and Tavian Davis drawing a charge on what would have been the game-winner forced the second extra session, where turnovers made the difference.

Ivy finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds. King had 16 points.

All told, Roughers coach Josh Berry was in a better mood than he was after Tuesday’s loss to Sapulpa, a team his squad beat handily in the season opener. He was critical of his team’s lack of effort and teamwork in that one.

“We played harder but there’s still not a sense of urgency that I want,” he said. “Our bench stepped in and played well on defense and helped us, especially after two of our starters fouled out.”

Quintahj Cherry and Ashley each had seven points.

The Roughers (6-8) will get Star Spencer at 1 p.m. today in consolation play.