(Mannford, Okla.) The Cushing Tiger basketball teams played in the 25th annual Lake Keystone Classic Basketball Tournament Tuesday evening, which began on Monday in Mannford. A total of eight teams from Classes 3A and 4A were invited to play in the annual tournament.
The eighth ranked Lady Tigers first round basketball game was the second of the evening on Tuesday night after Class 4A’s 6th ranked Daniel-Webster had no problems with Cleveland with 20 point win.
When Cushing’s game got under way against Okmulgee, it was business as usual for the Lady Tigers. For the third game in a row this season Cushing’s inside game was a huge factor. Cha’Ron Lewis was like a machine, scoring a season best 19 points 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Although her counter part, Mariah Burris had a tough game, others helped carry the load for the Lady Tigers. Like Taylor Jones who had 13 points 11 coming in the first half, and Kayla Clouse who had three-three pointers threw out the game. The Lady Tigers Crushed the Lady Dogs 57-31. Next is a top ten battle when the eighth ranked Lady Tigers take on sixth ranked Daniel-Webster in the second round of the tournament on Thursday evening, tip off is at 7:00pm.
The Cushing Tiger boys had a much tougher night, taking on the number 1 team in Class 3A, Victory Christian. The Crusaders started making shots early and often. The Tigers only trailed by 9 points at halftime. In the second half the Tigers seemed to be in frantic state of mind as the game wore on, trying to make a come back as fast as possible. But that became their downfall, turning over the ball more in this game than any other to this point this season. The Tigers lost 68-34, Cushings next game is in an elimination game on Friday night at 8:30pm against Cleveland.
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