The Oakley Plainsmen came tearing into Friday's match with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 18 points) and they left with even more momentum. They put the hurt on Russell with a sharp 59-35 win. Oakley pushed the score to 56-28 by the end of the third, a deficit the Broncos cut but never quite recovered from.
Oakley got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Justice Booker out in front who dropped a double-double on 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jade Beckman was another key contributor, scoring 12 points along with seven rebounds and three steals.
Oakley now has a winning record of 9-8. As for Russell, their loss was their ninth straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 4-11.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Oakley will take on the Bluejays at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Norton presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than the Plainsmen in Kansas (the Bluejays are ranked 26th, while the Plainsmen are ranked 168th). As for Russell, they will head out on the road to challenge the Monarchs at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
