Indians lose nail-biter at district tournament

By Todd Brooks

LINDSAY - A charge call with just over a second remaining resulted in a heartbreaking 45-44 district tournament loss for the Comanche Indians last Saturday.

The Indians had got what they wanted when Lindsay’s Brycen Watts missed two free throws with 16 seconds left to keep it a one-point game. Comanche took the ball past half-court and called a timeout with 11 seconds left. Following the timeout, Dillon Ellis tried to take the ball to the basket, but he was called for a charge as he was shooting and turned the ball over. The Leopards then ran out the final second to preserve the win.

Comanche had trailed throughout the first quarter before scoring the first six points of the second to take a 11-10 lead. Colby Shannon had four of the points in the run.

Lindsay retook the lead and led by as many as five points before Comanche’s Myles Ellis got hot from behind the three-point line, knocking down three treys in less than two minutes that allowed the Indians to retake the lead. Lindsay would get the final possession of the half and Bryce Kader hit a crucial three-pointer with two seconds left to tie the game at the half, 24-all.

It would be the first of two last-second shots at the end of quarters that proved to be big shots for the Leopards.

Lindsay retook the lead early in the third quarter and with the exception of a brief tie at the halfway point, led the entire quarter. After Comanche had cut the lead to 34-32 on a pair of free throws with a minute remaining, Watts scored with two ticks left on the clock to push the lead to 36-32 into the final quarter.

The Indians opened the fourth on a 9-2 run to retake the lead at 41-38 and they would hold it until Watts hit two free throws with 1:02 left to give the Leopards the lead for the last time.

Comanche will catch somewhat of a break at the regional tournament also to be played at Lindsay. Since Oklahoma Christian School, the No. 1 team in Class 3A, received a bye in their district, the Indians will receive a bye in the consolation bracket. They will play Friday at 2:30 p.m. against the loser of Thursday’s Kingston (14-10) and Frederick (19-5) game.

Lindsay will play Oklahoma Christian School (20-2) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Other teams in the regional tournament include Atoka (15-8) and Marietta (8-16).

Scoring

Lindsay (12-12): Broty Ramming, 15; Creed Taylor, 9; Brycen Watts, 8; Bryce Kader, 5; Isaac Cameron, 5; Manuel Aguero, 3

Comanche (8-16): Myle Ellis, 12; Colby Shannon, 12; Briar Blair, 7; Dillon Ellis, 6; Hunter Lassley, 5; Corbin Bowen, 2