AREA HOOPS PLAYOFFS: WCS, Dewey both end seasons in valiant, dramatic fashion
Wesleyan Christian School’s Kyle Kelley takes a shot during an earlier season game. The Mustangs downed Class A powerhouse Pond Creek-Hunter, 44-40 in area playoffs but fell to Summit Christian to end their successful season.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
March 5, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
There’s no doubt Wesleyan Christian School has the best team that will not be represented in this week's Class A boys state basketball tournament.
If not for a few missed shots last weekend, the Mustangs would be going to the Big Dance.
As it was, they thundered to a final 25-5 record — the most wins in team history — and the fifth most wins in the state by any Class A boys squad.
No. 12 ranked Summit Christian (26-1) eliminated the unranked Mustangs last weekend, 51-42, in the area consolation semifinals hosted by Cleveland.
Meanwhile, Dewey also saw its boys basketball season end Friday in the Class 3A playoffs as Adair outlasted the Bulldoggers, 64-61, in the regional consolation semifinals in Adair.
Following are more details for the weekend results.
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Wesleyan Christian School Mustangs
PHOTO PROVIDED
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WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN MUSTANGS
The loss to Summit Christian ended a scrappy five-game playoff winning streak by the Mustangs.
In their prior game, on Thursday, the Mustangs had eliminated No. 17 Pond Creek-Hunter (20-10), 44-40, in what could be considered one of the greatest wins in school history.
“We ended up making free throws down the stretch,” WCS head coach Steven Cooks observed about the victory against PC-Hunter. “We played well the whole game.”
Senior Kyle Kelley buried four free throws in the final minute to power WCS to the victory. He finished with 15 points for the game. Fellow seniors Trey White and Zander Week contributed 17 and 8 points, respectively.
“They (PC-Hunter) had a really big, tall kid who was a force all year long,” Cooks said. “We made some adjustments and Hank Siemers did an outstanding job on him. … That was the whole difference in the game.”
Having dispatched of PC-Hunter, the Mustangs then collided Friday against nearly unbeaten Summit Christian..
Despite playing their fifth postseason game in eight days, the persistent Mustangs threatened to spoil Summit’s playoff journey.
Shooting woes plagued the Mustangs. They didn’t score their first three-pointer until well into the second half.
“We needed to hit a few more shots,” Cooks said. “Defensively we did a good job holding a team of that caliber to 51 points.”
In fact 51 points was Summit Christian’s third-lowest total in 26 games
Siemers poured in 12 points to lead the Mustangs scoring thrust, followed by Week with 10 and White with 9.
In the end, the Mustangs had to lick their wounds and breeze back home short of their state tourney goal.
But in a word to the wise of this generation, they had every reason to hold their heads high.
Suiting up for the final time in a Mustang basketball uniform were White, Kelley, Week, Jarrett Jensen, Caleb Little and Leo Williams.
Their impact on the program was immense. As juniors and seniors they helped the team sculpt a 49-10 record. They also helped the Mustangs advance to the area tournament both campaigns.
In addition, WCS was bumped up this year from Class B to the tougher Class A.
“Moving up a class and still making it back to the area tournament is a big deal for the team,” Cooks said. “I’m very proud of these guys and the fight they had.”
Cooks will face a rebuilding task this coming offseason — no different from his situation a year ago.
Once again the Mustangs will take aim on success — and no doubt the pieces will fall into place.
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Dewey High School’s Cooper Wood (2) drives the ball during earlier season action. The Bulldoggers came up short in playoff action, ending their season.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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DEWEY BULLDOGGERS
(Dewey (13-13) came up just shy of continuing its spirited surge through the postseason.
On Thursday, Claremore-Sequoyah (27-1) handed Dewey its first playoff loss.
Dewey met Adair on Friday.
“We got off to a slow start but battled the whole way,” Dewey coach Lance Knight said. “We had two shots near the buzzer to tie it but we couldn’t get them to fall. Sometimes that happens.”
Dewey displayed plenty of moxie — especially in the final three quarters.
“It was back and forth all night,” Knight said.
Zach Renfroe and Austin Eastman compiled 15 points each, followed by Cooper Wood with 11, to lead Dewey’s offense.
Other Dewey scorers included Tra Hicks, 7; Lathe Griggs, 6; Kooper Crawford, 5; and Karson Johnson, 2.
Dewey High School Bulldoggers
PHOTO PROVIDED