Class 2A boys state basketball notebook: Talihina a big surprise in 2A

The Golden Tigers have gone 13-2 in their last 15 games and knocked off two top-10 teams, Wewoka and Oktaha, in the regional tournament.

Talihina (19-10) defeated Preston, 62-50, in the area tournament finals to advance to the state tourney for the fifth time in six years.

Dickson, in his first year as the head boys' coach at Talihina, said the club has overachieved.

“We have shocked a lot of people in Le Flore County,” he said.

Talihina won the state championship two years ago led by Taggart Lockhart, who was the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.

His younger brother, Alan Lockhart, is a sophomore on this year's team and is averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Senior Clark Austin is the club's leading scorer, averaging 19.1 points per game.

CHOUTEAU KNOCKS OUT NO. 1 NORTHEAST

Chouteau is another unranked team that advanced to the state tournament in Class 2A boys.

The Wildcats knocked off No. 1 Northeast in the area consolation finals, 62-40, after losing to the Vikings the previous week in the regional finals.