Regent Prep knocks out Okarche boys in defensive battle

Okarche normally takes part in track meets on the basketball court.

The last game of the season resembled nothing of the sort.

The up-tempo Warriors went against their grain Monday, but were still dealt a 31-27 loss to Regent Prep in a Class A regional consolation championship in Tulsa.

The loss ended Okarche’s season at 18-9.

In their previous 26 games, the Warriors tried to make the pace as frantic as possible.

“We slowed it down today and they did too,” coach Aaron West said. “They’re a really good team and we tried to limit their possessions.

“Both teams just played great defense. Neither tried to stall; it was just a good half-court defensive battle.”

The scoreboard showed it.

Okarche led 15-13 at halftime and the Warriors held the Rams scoreless for 12 minutes during a stretch in the second and third quarters.

Problem was, especially in the third, the Warriors weren’t scoring either.

Neither team posted a point in the third until Regent Prep’s Nate Beitel knocked down 3-pointers on the Rams’ final two possessions.

That gave Regent Prep a 19-15 advantage and it was able to maintain it the rest of the way.

The Warriors were down a possession with three minutes left, but back-to-back turnovers negated their chance to catch up.

Beitel, a 6-foot-6 guard, was averaging about 20 points for the Rams before a wrist injury sidelined him in early January.

He made his return to begin the regional last Friday and led the Rams to three straight wins.

Beitel scored 20 of his team’s points against Okarche.

Brayden Stover paced Okarche with 14 points.

P.K. Harris was limited to one point, but had a team-high 12 rebounds.

The Warriors got a monster game from Harris in Saturday’s 69-48 win that eliminated Ripley.

Harris scored 35 points and didn’t attempt a 3-pointer.

He was 1 of 18 from the field and 13 of 17 from the foul line and also had a team-high six rebounds.

Harris helped Okarche to a 25-10 lead after a quarter, but Ripley was able to cut it to single digits by halftime.

The Warriors responded with a 17-6 run in the third quarter.

Caden Schieber added 12 points in the win.

Wellston put Okarche in the consolation bracket on Friday with a 67-55 victory.

The Tigers were up 22 points after three quarters thanks to a 25-9 burst in the third.

Harris scored 22 in defeat.

Brayden Stover added 10 while Wyatt Pinkerton and Trenton Neiderer scored nine apiece.