Oakdale was poised to go into its match up at Rapides Friday night undefeated in district play setting up a battle of the unbeatens, but things did not go as planned as Bunkie threw a monkey wrench into the plans in a makeup game, and the Warriors could not rebound against the vaunted Mustangs.
The week started the Tuesday night before with a Oakdale winning a thriller 63-59 against University Academy of Cenla. The Warriors began the game on a cold streak from the field allowing the Lions to take the 13-8 lead. A very physical first quarter came to a close with both teams combining for 14 fouls, and 12 of the combined 27 points came from the free throw line as UA led 18-9.
Raymond Guillory scored both free throws on back-to-back trips to the charity stripe as Oakdale found itself down 19-14. Guillory along with Malcolm Pugh scored a combined six points to tie it up at 20 with 4:30 remaining in the first half. The free throw fest continued into the second quarter with a combined 25 fouls in the first half yet Oakdale was down 30-27
Pugh made it a one point game seconds into the second half, and Guillory finished the third quarter with 15 of his team's 18 points as Oakdale lead 45-43 to begin the final quarter in regulation. Later in the quarter Pugh scored on an assist from Guillory as the Warriors took the 59-57 lead and held on for the win.
"Last night's game we kinda got off to a rough start and regrouped at half time," said head coach Dustin Howard. "We made some adjustments, and the guys executed in the second half, and we played a lot better and was able to hang on at the end."
The next night in Bunkie Oakdale lost a tough game in overtime. "We had a non district contest (last night) with University Academy to kinda fill the bye week, and it turns out the University Academy was a lot like the game tonight so it's gonna help us to prepare," Howard said before the game. "This is a make up district game against Bunkie. I think we split with them last year. They're gonna be really athletic and really try to push the pace."
The home team led 43-38 after three quarter of play. Guillory scored to go within five points of the lead. Derrick Winfield then stole the ball away and got the score as Oakdale was down 47-44. Guillory scored coming out of a timeout before Bunkie started running out the clock and scored making it 51-46. A timeout was called on the court 1:11 left in the game with Bunkie up 53-50.
Bunkie's inability to make free throws down the stretch was keeping Oakdale in the game. Pugh scored from the top of the key to tie the game at 53 with 34.9 seconds remaining in regulation, then Bunkie missed a three pointer as the clock expired sending the game to overtime. The teams traded baskets from beyond the arc to begin the overtime period, but Bunkie was able to make the free throws when they needed to as they got their first district win of the season.
The game at Rapides two nights later was over from the start. Desmond Green had more points in the first quarter himself than the Warriors combined as he scored four three pointers in successsion compared to only eight points from Oakdale. Oakdale found scoring opportunies at the free throw line at the beginning of the second quarter as the team scored five of its eight points from the charity stripe. The first half mercifully ended with Oakdale trailing 41-16.
The third quarter saw Oakdale heat up from the field. Guillory scored 11 points in the quarter, and James Evins added a couple of layups. Guillory then added a big three pointer in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to overcome the combined 28 points Rapides scored in the second half.
The Warriors are now 11-8 overall and 2-2 in district. They host Bunkie on January 31 and get a rematch against Rapides on February 7 in the home finale of the regular season.
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