MIAMI, Okla.—Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College has released the brackets for the 2011 NEO basketball tournament.

Your Welch Lady Cats are on the Girls’ Round Robin III bracket. They will play Roland JV, Thur., Jan. 20, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. in the Miami Activity Center; Rejoice, Fri., Jan. 21, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. in the Student Activity Center at NEO; and Bluejacket, Sat., Jan. 22, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center at NEO.

Your Welch Wildcats are on the Boys’ Round Robin II bracket. They will play Roland, Thur., Jan. 20, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the NEO College Gym; Monett, Fri., Jan. 21, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center at NEO; and face Miami in a rematch of last year’s final game (which Welch won), Sat., Jan. 22, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the NEO College Gym.

We’re currently making inquiries as to whether we’ll be able to bring you audio coverage of the NEO Tourney games. We’ll announce via Twitter and Facebook as well as here on the site.

These games have been added to our Community Calendar.

Your 3rd-place Lady Cats

MIAMI, Okla.—The 65th annual NEO High School Basketball Tournament is now history, and what a contest it was for your Welch teams! Your Lady Cats suffered a heartbreaking loss to Bluejacket Friday, but they overcame it and thoroughly dominated the Foyil Lady Panthers Saturday, winning 57-45, and securing their spot as third-place winners of the girls’ blue bracket. Your Wildcats drew large crowds for each game they played in the boys’ round robin bracket. Their defeat of Roland may have been the high point of the tourney, but their defeat of Miami in the final game of the tournament was a final feather in their respective caps. A capacity crowd at the NEO College Gym Saturday night watched with rapt interest as the Wildcats schooled Miami, defeating the Wardogs 42-39 when the final buzzer rang out. Each of the four teams in the round robin bracket finished with a 2-1 record, save Miami, which went 0-3. Roland lost to Welch, Welch lost to Lincoln Christian (incidentally, Welch was the only team in the tournament to hold LC under 40 points, allowing them only 32), and Lincoln Christian lost to Roland; Miami lost to everyone.

Welch Lady Cats v. Foyil Lady Panthers

The Welch Lady Cats put the bad taste of a loss out of their mouths as they took on the Foyil Panthers at the Student Activity Center at NEO A&M College in Miami Saturday. Sierra Hankins started the game by winning the opening tip and a sinking quick bucket. The Lady Cats got a great first-quarter start and found the offensive groove early, racing to an early lead with all as five Lady Cats adding to the score. Then the Lady Panthers rallied and came back to narrow the gap from a nine-point deficit, closing the first quarter four points behind the Lady Cats. The fouls came fast and furious as 13 total fouls were called in the first eight minutes, six against the Lady Cats and seven against Foyil.

The second quarter saw more Lady Cat dominance, as they pushed their lead to eight, three minutes into the quarter. The remainder of the second quarter turned into a foul shooting contest, with both teams in the double bonus with over 5:00 left in the half. On a basket by Megan Carpenter, the Lady Cats extended their lead to 10 with just over four minutes left in the half.  Made free throws by the Lady Panthers kept them in the game. At the close of the second quarter, the Lady Cats led 38-27. Hankins led the Lady Cats with 14 first-half points.

The Lady Cats started the second half sporting an 11-point lead and went back to work attempting to extend their lead. With three minutes left in the quarter, the Lady Cats expanded their lead to 18 on a bucket by Hankins. The end of the third quarter found the Lady Cats leading by 16 points, 45-29.

In the fourth, the Lady Cats stood firm and continued to run their offense, getting good shots at the bucket. Tylor Dodson and Kelsie Smith bucketed points for the Lady Cats down the stretch, increasing their lead to 19 with under two minutes in the game. The Lady Cat bench was emptied, all the Lady Cats who dressed participating in the contest. In the end, the Lady Cats were victorious and claimed the third-place trophy with a 57-45 victory. Sierra Hankins led the way with 20, and Kelsie Smith joined her in double figures with 10. Erin Snedden added eight, Tylor Dodson and Krystin Marlow bucketed seven each and Megan Carpenter added five.

Tylor Dodson gets ready to make a move

Sierra Hankins prepares to send the ball home

Erin Snedden puts it to two Lady Panthers

Welch Wildcats v. Miami Wardogs

Gabe Moore flies over the competition

The Welch Wildcats made their last trip to Miami Saturday night for the NEO Tourney. On the main gym at the NEO Fieldhouse, the Wildcats were looking to get back on the winning track after coming up just short against Lincoln Christian the previous night. Once again looking to upset a larger school in the round robin format, the Wildcats were dressed in their road blues and ready to face the host-town Miami Wardogs.

Jacob Mount once again put the Cats on the board first, sinking an offensive rebound. Joey Powers then got an “and one” to fall, converting the gimme to put the Cats ahead 5-3 early in the first. Jacob Mount buried a 12-footer to increase the lead to 7-3, forcing a Wardog timeout. Powers bucketed a floater to extend the lead to 9-3 with 2:30 left in the first. Mount scored again off a Miami turnover on an assist from Brenton Hale to push the lead to eight at the 1:49 mark, forcing Miami into another timeout. The Cats capitalized off another Miami miss, and Powers scored in transition to put the Cats ahead by ten, 13-3. Welch drained the remainder of the first quarter clock on a long miss from Powers at the buzzer. The Cats must have been happy with their performance, ending the quarter up 13-3.

Miami started the second quarter completing a pair of free throws to cut Welch’s lead. They followed that up with an unsuccessful “and one” attempt, which showed the score 13-7, Welch,  with two minutes elapsed in the quarter. The Wardogs narrowed the gap to five with 4:35 left in the half before a bucket and a foul put Powers at the line for the extra, which he sank, to push the Cat lead back to eight. A basket by Mount and a pair of free throws by Powers extended the Cat’s lead back to 10 with 1:33 left in the half. A pair of free throws and a made basket at the end of the quarter pulled the Wardogs back within 6 at the half with the Cats leading 24-18.

The Wildcats started the second half with the ball, but a jumper by Mount rattled out, and a Miami turnover could not be converted by Powers on the Cats’ second possession. The third time was the charm, as Mount made a baseline jumper for the Cats’ first points of the second half, extending the lead to eight. A slashing bucket by Powers off an assist by Gabe Moore put the Cats up by double digits again, 28-18. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter to end up third with Welch leading the Wardogs, 36-25.

Miami scored first in the fourth, cutting the lead to nine, on a tip in, and after a Cat turnover, hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to six. The Cats went cold from the field, going almost four minutes before a free throw by Mount added to the Cats’ total and pushed their lead to seven with under four minutes to play. A baseline jumper by the Wardogs again shaved the lead to five with 2:37 to play, and Coach Schertz called a time out to try to thaw the Cats’ frozen shooting. A Cat turnover after the timeout resulted with a Miami bucket in transition, cutting the lead to three, 37-34, in favor of the Cats. Powers was fouled on an attempt with 1:29 left, but the first freebie rattled out and the second was short, emphasizing the Cats’ struggles from the charity stripe and giving Miami the ball—one three-pointer away from a tie. A Wardog turnover gave the Cats back the ball with a three-point lead. As the announcement of one minute left to play was resounding from the speakers, Powers converted a reverse layup, and Gabe Moore was fouled on a layup attempt. He converted one of his two free throws, to extend the lead to 40-34 with 32.3 seconds remaining. A two-pointer by Miami rattled home cutting the Welch’s lead to four, and Grant Bullard was intentionally fouled to stop the clock. The Wardogs had not committed enough fouls to put the Cats on the line, so a restart of play was ordered, and Powers was fouled on the inbound and sent to the line to shoot a one-and-one with 14 seconds left. He swished both shots, increasing Welch’s lead to six, 42-36. A successful Miami three-pointer at the buzzer resulted in a final score of 42-39, Wildcat favor.

Joey Powers led the way with 22 points, and Jacob Mount added 15 to join him in double figures. Gabe Moore contributed three, and Austin Buchanan added two for the Cats.

With the loss of Lincoln Christian to Roland earlier in the evening, the Wildcats tied for the best record in their division finishing with two wins and one loss. Based on point differential, first place was awarded to Roland, which defeated Lincoln Christian and Miami by a combined 36 points. Lincoln Christian defeated Welch and Miami by a combined eight points. Welch defeated Roland and Miami by a combined five points.

Grant Bullard drives it down the court

Joey Powers easily rises above the competition

Austin Buchanan has his eye on the prize

Jacob Moore concentrates on his jumper

WHS & OSU alumnus Stacy Satterwhite was selected for the halftime shooting contest. For the record, he sank his free throw.

If you think these pics are good, you should see all the great, high quality shots in our Flickr feed. Click here for NEO Tourney Day 1. Click here for NEO Tourney Day 2. Click here for NEO Tourney Day 3.

Special thanks to Patrick Hankins for contributing this and all recent WHS basketball reports. He helps make WelchOK.com available for free. If you appreciate his reports, why not leave a comment saying thanks? And don’t forget, you can also be a WelchOK.com contributor. Email your news, info, and pics to info {at} WelchOK {dot} com. Patrick emails his reports from his Blackberry (or his wife’s iPhone).

MIAMI, Okla.—Your Welch High School basketball teams again headed east to play in the NEO High School Basketball Tournament Friday. At 4:30 p.m. in the Miami Civic Center, the Lady Cats squared off against their long-time rivals from Bluejacket. The tight game eventually showed the Lady Chieftains in the lead, 39-36, when the final buzzer sounded. Later, the Wildcats faced the Bulldogs from Lincoln Christian at 7:30 p.m. in the NEO College Gym. The teams were neck-and-neck the whole game, and the Wildcats could barely buy a bucket. Eventually, time ran out and the 32-28 score handed the Bulldogs a win.

Welch Lady Cats v. Bluejacket Lady Chieftains

The Welch Lady Cats continued their quest to be the girls’ blue bracket champions of the 65th annual Northeastern Oklahoma A&M High School Basketball Tournament. With an afternoon tip-off, the two teams, who met to kick the season off, tangled again on the court of the Miami Civic Center. The last meeting between these two teams resulted in Lady Cats taking home a victory on the Lady Chieftains’ home court. It’s always a rivalry when these two teams meet on the hardwoods, and each team looks forward to saddling the other with a loss.

The Lady Cats won the tip, but the Lady Chieftains scored the first points of the game. The Lady Cats answered with a bucket by Tylor Dodson to tie the game early in the quarter. Both teams traded baskets back and forth the entire first quarter, while attempted to find the other’s weakness. The first quarter ended with Bluejacket leading, 11-10.

The second quarter found the Lady Cats going cold from the field, and they could only muster five points for the entire quarter while the Lady Chieftains added ten to extend their lead to 21-15 by halftime.

The three ball was falling for the Lady Chieftains, and they bucketed a pair of treys in the first part of the second quarter. The Lady Cats closed the deficit with a couple of buckets of their own to end the quarter. A layup by Tylor Dodson at the buzzer reduced the gap to two, 29-27.

The fourth quarter was a defensive struggle, and a steal by Rachel Seigel caused an outburst by a Lady Chieftain, which resulted in a technical foul. Erin Snedden converted both charity shots to tie the game at 29 all with 5:30 left in the game. After the Lady Chieftains added to their tally, a blocked shot by Megan Carpenter and an ensuing bucket by Sierra Hankins evened the score at 33 all with 2:30 left, and the Lady Cats seemed to build momentum. The final two minutes saw both teams trade baskets until a huge trey off an inbound play, coincidentally from the Lady Chieftain who had received the technical foul, put the Lady Chieftains ahead for good. The Lady Cats had a couple of opportunities to tie the game, but in the end the three-pointer from the corner sealed the Lady Cats’ fate, and they lost 39-36. Tylor Dodson and Sierra Hankins each racked up 17 points, and Erin Snedden contributed the other two.

The Lady Cats next play the consolation game against Foyil at noon Sat. in the Student Activity Center on the campus of NEO.

Welch Wildcats v. Lincoln Christian Bulldogs

Hoping to continue the role of giant-killers, your Welch Wildcats took on the 2A #18-ranked Lincoln Christian Bulldogs in the boys’ round robin bracket Friday night. Welch came off an emotional and exhausting two-point win over the 4A #10-ranked Roland Rangers Thursday night and hoped to continue through the tournament unscathed. The NEO Tournament is providing Coach Josh Schertz’s 1A #14-ranked Wildcats some great experience that will surely pay dividends when the Wildcats begin district play on the way to the state tournament.

Both teams struggled to find the find the range in the first quarter, missing numerous shots. The only scoring for both teams before the final minute was a trey and a free throw for each team. Welch had possession at the end of the quarter and ran the clock down to two seconds when Joey Powers launched a three from the top of the key to take the lead, 7-4, at the buzzer.

The Bulldogs came right back in the second quarter after holding the Cats and forcing a miss on their possession. They knocked down a three, tying game at seven all. The Bulldogs took the lead on a jumper in transition after a Wildcat turnover to take the lead to 9-7. A couple of hurried shots and an offensive foul against Jacob Mount gave the Bulldogs opportunities to score, and they took advantage, scoring four straight points. A basket and a foul call gave Powers the opportunity for a three-point play, but the freebie rattled out leaving the Cats trailing, 13-9, with 2:44 left in the half. A steal by Brenton Hale gave the Cats back the ball, which Powers converted for two, cutting the lead to one possession. With one minute left in the half, the Cats had the ball and trailed by two. Jacob Mount got the ball on the low block and scored, drawing the foul. Again the Cats could not convert the charity throw. The Bulldogs, though, made a jumper with five seconds left to take a 15-13 halftime lead. Powers paced the Cats with eight points in the half.

The Bulldogs received the ball first to start the second half. Their three-point attempt missed, and the Cats tried their own, but it rattled out, as well. Joey Powers made one of two free throws and then a three-pointer to give the Cats a 17-15 lead. The Bulldogs battled back and regained the lead on a jumper from the wing, making it 21-19. Powers scored a driving layup to tie the game at 21 to end the third quarter.

Both teams turned the defense up a notch in the fourth quarter, and both offenses struggled. Powers made a twisting layup with under three minutes left, but the Bulldogs answered with a knifing jumper to keep the lead. After a deuce by Powers, the Bulldog lead was cut to one, but another jumper by Lincoln set the lead to back to three with under two minutes left in play. The Wildcats received the ball with 1:30 remaining, but a three-point attempt from Austin Buchanan bounced in and out, and the Bulldogs regained possession. Welch was forced to foul with less than 30 seconds left, and the Bulldogs made both gimmes to extend their lead. A three by Gabe Moore at the buzzer cut the lead to 32-28, but time ran out on the Cats and they fell in defeat. Powers led the Cats with 20, Austin Buchanan and Gabe Moore each had three, and Jacob Mount contributed two.

The Wildcats play the Miami Wardogs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the NEO College Gym.

Click here for NEO Tourney Day 2 on our Flickr feed.

Patrick Hankins contributed to this report. You, too, can be a WelchOK.com contributor. Email your news, info, and pics to info {at} WelchOK {dot} com.

MIAMI, Okla.—Your Welch Lady Cats and Wildcats made the short trip to Miami today for the 65th annual NEO High School Basketball Tournament. As the day came to a close, both Welch teams had added a mark to their win column. The Lady Cats defeated the White Oak girls this afternoon, 48-35, and the 1A #14-ranked Wildcats topped the 4A #10-ranked Roland Rangers, 45-43.

Welch Lady Cats v. White Oak Lady Ranchers

Your Lady Cats began their quest to add an NEO Tourney title to their résumé Thursday afternoon at the NEO Fieldhouse. First up for the Lady Cats were the Lady Ranchers from White Oak. The Lady Cats, wearing their home whites, came out looking to get a much needed win after taking their lumps against the Lucky Seven Conference’s larger schools the last couple weeks. The Lady Cats had a balanced scoring attack the first quarter, which capitalized on an aerial assault from the outside and some well-timed put backs around the bucket, to secure a 12-10 lead at the end of the quarter. Rachel Seigel paced the Lady Cats with five first-quarter points, and four of the five starters added to the point total during the opening period.

The Lady Cats continued their balanced scoring attack all the way to halftime. Pressure defense yielded quick baskets off turnovers for the Lady Cats, but the Lady Ranchers fed off the Lady Cats turnovers, and the teams slugged it out to a 23-21 halftime score, Lady Cats’ favor.

The second half started with back-to-back buckets by Sierra Hankins and Tylor Dodson and a 3-pointer from Krystin Marlow, which gave the Lady Cats a 30-21 lead just two minutes into the third quarter. The rest of the third quarter was a draw and, at the buzzer, the Lady Cats led 39-30 heading into the final stanza.

The Lady Cats outscored the Lady Ranchers 9-to-5 in the final quarter and preserved a well-earned victory, with a final score of 48-35. Sierra Hankins led the Lady Cats with 15. Joining her in double figures was Tylor Dodson with 12. Krystin Marlow and Erin Snedden added seven each, Rachel Seigel had five, and Kelsie Smith bucketed two.

The Lady Cats continue their quest on Friday with a 4:30 p.m. tip-off against perennial rival Bluejacket at the Miami Civic Center.

Welch Wildcats v. Roland Rangers

Your Welch Wildcats kicked off their NEO Tourney play at the Student Activity Center on the campus of NEO A&M College. Awaiting them on the hardwood were the 4A #10-ranked Roland Rangers, dressed in their orange and black playing the role of Goliath. The Wildcats welcomed their own giant Jacob Mount back into the starting lineup after his recent bout with illness, and he didn’t waste any time, drawing first blood with a put back of his own miss to start the game. An old fashioned “and one” by Joey Powers and a bucket by Austin Buchanan off a nifty feed from Powers put the Cats ahead 7-3 midway through the first quarter. But the Rangers came driving back with a couple of buckets of their own and evened the score just before the end of the first quarter. A steal by Roland’s point guard and a couple aced free throws found the Cats trailing for the first time, 9-7, with less than 30 seconds in the quarter. Then a trey by Chance Harris catapulted the Cats back into the lead, ending the first quarter 10-9.

The Rangers quickly scored on a floater from the baseline and retook the lead at the beginning of the second quarter. Missed free throws stymied the Cats at the beginning of the second quarter as they missed a two-shot foul opportunity and the first shots of a couple one-and-ones to fall behind, 14-12. The Rangers also capitalized on the offensive glass, adding a couple of buckets on second-chance opportunities and threatened to pull away. But a soaring dunk by Joey Powers brought the partisan Welch crowd to its feet, and a reverse lay-in on the ensuing possesion evened the score at 20 each. The Cats continued to allow Roland to clean the offensive glass, which allowed the Rangers multiple opportunities for second—and even third— chances, which they often converted. Roland missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the half leading the Cats, 24-22. Powers powered the Cat attack with nine points in the first half.

After a halftime performance from Welch’s Lexi Baker and Riley Chenoweth, which drew enthusiastic applause, the Cats strode onto the court ready to take care of business. A quick bucket by Powers off an assist from Gabe Moore evened the score to start the second half. Both teams traded hard-earned baskets throughout the remainder of the third quarter, and both defenses asserted themselves. Roland scored on a short bucket to end the quarter with a 36-35 lead.

Heading into the final period of play, the Cats continued to get victimized on the offensive glass, giving up easy put-backs while having to work for their baskets on the offensive end. A Roland three-pointer with 3:50 left to play extended their lead to four. But the Cats responded with their own glass cleaner, as Powers secured an offensive rebound, scored, and was fouled on the play. After the made free shot, Roland led by one, 43-42. Welch’s Jacob Mount was fouled while shooting and sank both free throws to put the Cats ahead by one, 44-43 with under two minutes left in play. On a miss by Roland with 32 seconds remaining, the Cats finally got an over-the-back call, which sent Grant Bullard to the line for a one-and-one. The normally reliable Bullard missed the first gimme, giving the Rangers the ball with under 30 seconds left. After a strong defensive effort, the Cats forced a turnover with just under four seconds left in the game, holding onto a 44-43 lead. Mount was fouled almost immediately and made one of two free throws to extend the the Wildcat lead to 45-43 with 1.6 seconds left in the game. After a desperation heave from the backcourt fell harmlessly short, the Welch fans and players erupted in joyous celebration, feeling very much that they had slain a giant. Final score: 45-43, Welch. Powers paced the Cats with 18, Mount added 13, Austin Buchanan scored six, Gabe Moore and Chance Harris had three apiece, and Grant Bullard contributed two.

The Cats play again Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the NEO College Gym against Lincoln Christian.

To see photos of the Welch teams in action at the NEO Tourney, check out our Flickr photo set here.

Click here for more information about the 65th Annual NEO High School Basketball Tournament.

Patrick Hankins contributed this report. You, too, can be a WelchOK.com contributor. Email your news, info, and pics to info <at> WelchOK <dot> com.

MIAMI, Okla.–The 65th Annual NEO High School Basketball Tournament brackets have been posted.

Your Welch Lady Cats will be playing in the Girls’ Blue Bracket. Their first game will be against White Oak, Thur., Jan. 21, at 3:00 p.m. in the NEO College Gym.

Your Welch Wildcats have been assigned to the Boys’ Round Robin Bracket. Their games are as follows:

• Thur., Jan. 21, versus Roland at 7:30 p.m., NEO Student Activity Center
• Fri., Jan. 22, versus Lincoln Christian, Tulsa, at 7:30 p.m., NEO College Gym
• Sat., Jan. 23, versus Miami at 7:30 p.m., NEO College Gym

These games have been added to our Community Calendar.

See all NEO Tournament brackets here.

MIAMI, Okla.—The 65th annual NEO High School Basketball Tournament, which draws 40 teams for four states, is set to begin next week, and Northeastern Oklahoma A & M officials are expecting many to show up to watch our Welch boys in action. Dustin Grover, NEO’s interim director of intercollegiate athletics, said, “This is the best team that Welch has had in recent history.” Because of that, Welch has been bracketed against Miami, Roland, and Lincoln Christian out of Tulsa. Read the NEO’s full press release here.

The tourney starts Jan. 21, and we’ll do our best to provide all the coverage possible. We’ll share game times and locations once brackets are posted.

Let’s prove NEO officials right and show up in force for the Welch Wildcats and Lady Cats!