Class B state tournament notebook: No time to celebrate for Burlington

The conclusion of the tournament had to be delayed four days because of the blizzard that buried as much as two feet of snow in northwest Oklahoma.

The final games were moved from Cleveland to Enid because it was closer to the four schools left in the tournament.

“There was no trophy presentation (Wednesday) because the trophy was still in Cleveland,” Burlington coach Randy Turney.

After Wednesday afternoon's game, Turney took his team to McDonald's in Enid for dinner, then they drove to Burlington and held an 8 p.m. practice to get ready for a 3:30 p.m. state tournament opener on Thursday against Arnett.

Burlington's bus for Oklahoma City was scheduled to depart at 9 a.m. Thursday.

“We won't have a chance to get nervous that way,” Turney said.

BARRIOS TO PLAY WITH MASK

Hammon's Kori Barrios didn't even let a broken nose keep her off the floor in the area championship game.

Barrios, a 5-foot-8 senior, suffered the injury early in Friday's overtime win against Erick, but returned in overtime wearing a mask to help the Warriors return to the state tournament after finishing as the runner-up the past two seasons.

“That just shows what kind of kid she is,” Hammon coach Lance Carpenter said. “She was more concerned about the team winning than she was her nose.

“I could tell when they walked back on the floor, Peyton (Walker) gave her a high-five and they had a big smile on her face. They knew the group was back together.”

Walker and Barrios are also the pitcher and catcher for the softball team, and AAU teammates.

Walker will play on Thursday in Hammon's game against Deer Creek-Lamont, and she will be wearing a mask.

“Korie's a very, very tough kid,” Carpenter said. “We had her all checked out and she passed every concussion test that she went through.

“Throughout overtime (assistant coach) Josh Trent asked during each timeout (how she felt). Third time you could tell she was aggravated about it.”

COACH THANKFUL FOR A LOSS

The Big Pasture boys basketball team has won 26 consecutive games after losing to Chattanooga, 58-50, in the second game of the season. The Rangers missed 18 free throws in the game.

Big Pasture coach Nick Gable said the loss was a blessing in disguise.

“I am sure glad we lost that game,” he said. “It really got us going. We really took off after that.”