Sports

While some see this week’s Class 5A bi-district round of the playoffs as a tall order for El Reno High School’s football team, Indians head coach Chuck Atchison sees it as an opportunity – one not many thought EHS would get.

After an 0-5 start, El Reno enters the postseason for a fourth year in a row with a “David vs. Goliath” battle against five-time defending state champion Carl Albert.

“With the season we have had so far, we are happy to be in the playoffs. Sure, we would love to be in a higher position but we are also glad to be in the postseason,” said Atchison.

ALTUS – With the Altus Bulldogs having reverted back to their old-school ball control, clock-chewing offense, El Reno High School’s football team was forced to make the most of every possession.

After a first-half scare, that’s exactly what the Indians did, putting up 28 points over the final two periods en route to a 42-7 road win over the Bulldogs.

The victory was the first in Altus for head coach Chuck Atchison as El Reno closed the regular season with a 4-6 overall record. The Indians also took the fourth-place playoff ticket from District 5A-1 with a 4-3 mark.

In the only scheduled regular-season meeting, Calumet High School’s boys basketball team defeated Union City 83-43 in the rivalry series between the two Canadian County small schools.

Calumet improved to 2-0 on the season and in the Washita Valley Conference standings, while Union City slipped to 0-2 for the year and 0-1 in WVC games.

The Chieftains shot 54 percent from the field, scoring 20 or more points in three of the four periods.

Fueled by seven made three-point baskets and a staunch defense, Calumet High School’s girls basketball team defeated Union City 57-29 to remain unbeaten on the season.

Calumet improved to 2-0 on the season and in the Washita Valley Conference standings, while the Tigers dropped to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the league.

Calumet was 7-of-21 from behind the 3-point arc for 33 percent, while closing the game with a 39 percent overall shooting percentage. Brie Myers made three of those treys, followed by Allie Harris with two and one each from Lilly Thomas and McKinley Stilley.

BINGER – It took four minutes before Calumet High School’s boys basketball team lit the fire under its offense, but when it did, the Chieftains shot off points like fireworks.

Leading 4-2, Matt Snyder’s 3-point play would spark a 12-1 run over the final three minutes of the first period and the Chieftains rolled from there to a 72-25 win over Binger-Oney.

It was the sixth straight opening-day win for the Chieftains and puts Calumet in the early Washita Valley Conference standings lead.

BINGER – Despite not scoring a basket and going more than seven minutes of the fourth period without a point, Calumet High School’s girls basketball team opened up the 2021-22 season last week with a 38-30 win over Binger-Oney.

Calumet led 34-25 going into the fourth period but failed to convert on eight possessions. The Chieftains first points of the frame came with 39.3 seconds left on two Brie Myers free throws as the Bobcats were fouling to save time on the clock.

El Reno High School’s boys cross country team placed 19th overall at last month’s Class 5A West Regional Championship held at Wildhorse Park in Mustang.

The Indians had an overall time of one hour, 56 minutes and eight seconds for the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course.

The team’s average overall time was 23:13.64 as El Reno closed with 498 team points.

Jacob Long was the top finisher for El Reno in 66th with a time of 20:17.36 after running an average kilometer time of 4:03. Erik Vazquez (22:27) took 98th place, followed by Cole Strong (22:51) in 101st.

Redlands Community College’s cross country teams closed out the 2021 season recently with third-place finishes at the NJCAA Region 2 Championships.

“The athletes fought hard and ran with their hearts, walking away with some great times and many personal bests for the year,” said RCC head coach Natalie Cox.

The event was hosted by the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain, based in Mena.

The Redlands women posted an overall time of two hours, nine minutes and 34 seconds for the 5,000-meter course.

El Reno High School’s football team was slated to wrap up the regular season Friday at Altus.

Evan Roman Nose (4), Mikey Devereaux (34) and Malachi Nicholson (3) will be key players.

While the three teams ahead of them still have some “what if” scenarios to work through in the final week of the regular season, El Reno High School’s football team knows exactly what it needs to do – beat Altus.

El Reno heads into week 10 with a 3-6 overall record, but the Indians are now 3-3 in the District 5A-1 standings after a 33-point win over Southeast.

Chuck Atchison’s team holds the fourth and final playoff ticket from the district and will retain the spot outright with a win over the Bulldogs.