Class A state tournament roundup: Tushka boys pull off another stunner, dethroning defending Class A champion Hydro-Eakly; Hydro-Eakly girls close in on another state title

By Buck Ringgold

With one more win, the Tushka boys basketball team can go from being unranked to becoming state champions.

On Friday, the Tigers pulled off a shocking upset, knocking out top-seeded and No. 1 ranked Hydro-Eakly, 42-40, in Saturday's Class A semifinals at Oklahoma City's State Fair Arena.

Now Tushka, which was not ranked at the beginning of the playoffs, can cap off a remarkable postseason run with a gold ball. Tushka (23-8) takes on No. 2 Garber at 7 p.m. Saturday inside State Fair Arena for the Class A championship.

In a wild final two minutes of play which saw five lead changes, the Tigers got a pair of game-winning free throws from Tagen Simon in the final seconds to keep Tushka's ride going.

Simon finished with 14 points, with Jeffrey Mackey and Cole Simpson each adding 10.

Hydro-Eakly (25-4) got 22 points from Nolan Gore, 12 of those coming in the second quarter.

Garber 64, Caddo 53

The Wolverines outscored the Bruins in the first quarter, 18-5. That quarter was ended by a buzzer-beating shot from Tydonte Chester.

Garber (25-3) then executed two more buzzer-beaters, one from Aidan Johnston to end the opening half for a 34-13 Wolverine lead, with the other from Domingo Ramirez to cap the third quarter as Garber built a 50-27 advantage.

Johnston finished the night with 16 points, while Chester and Colton Steinert each scored 13.

The Bruins finished their season at 25-5.

Class A Girls State Tournament

Hydro-Eakly 63, Okarche 42

In a matchup between the top two ranked teams in Class A to begin the postseason, it was all Lady Bobcats. 

No. 1 ranked Hydro-Eakly (29-0) now can cap off a 30-0 season and a third straight state title as the Lady Bobcats face Seiling at noon Saturday inside State Fair Arena.

Rees Berkey led the Lady Bobcats with 22 points and six rebounds. She also came up with 10 steals. Her twin sister, Kira Berkey, added 16 points.

Okarche (26-4), which entered the playoffs ranked No. 2 in Class A, got 19 points from Emma Stover and 11 from Jalie Rother.

Seiling 70, Caddo 32

Seiling had three players reach double figures after building a 24-10 lead to end the first quarter in Friday's Class A semifinal.

The Lady Wildcats (26-4), ranked No. 3 in Class A, now will play for the state title for the first time since 2019, when they won the last of four straight gold balls.

Braci Nyberg led the way in Friday's win with 20 points. She was joined by Isabella Hammons and Aryahna Whetstone, each with 12 points. Hammons also connected on four 3-point baskets.

Caddo finished its season at 24-2.