WEATHERFORD — Seminole’s No. 16 Chieftains let go an early lead Friday night in falling 34-14 to the host Weatherford Eagles — Class 4A’s top-ranked team — in the first round of the postseason.
This brings Seminole’s 2009 campaign to an end with a 4-7 record, and leaves Weatherford’s undefeated quest intact.

DALE — The Pirates and Lady Pirates of Dale opened their 2009-10 hoops season on a winning note, toppling visiting Earlsboro Friday night.
The Lady Pirates overcame an early deficit to win 83-32, and the Pirates rode a 24-5 first-quarter lead to a 77-33 final. Dale’s teams are now 1-0 on the season, while the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats are 1-2.

Oklahoma Baptist rallied from 20 points down in the second half to force overtime against Southeastern State  en route to a 106-101 double overtime victory Thursday night.
OBU trailed the Storm 59-39 early in the second half of the exhibition, but used a 19-2 run to pull within 61-58. The Bison had trouble getting over the three-point hump, trailing by three seven times down the stretch.

Football playoffs are nothing new for many Tri-County teams, but Meeker’s Bulldogs will have their first taste of the postseason in almost a decade when they visit defending Class 2A champion Heritage Hall tonight.

Seminole has had some tough first-round playoff challenges in Mike Snyder’s veteran coaching tenure.
But none of those openers likely rivaled the past two years.
In 2008, the Chieftains had to travel to perennial power Douglas and fell, 42-30.
The task won’t be any easier tonight (7:30) as Snyder’s 16th-ranked squad travels west to take on top-ranked Weatherford (10-0).

The big cats of Stroud and Maud will carry with them 10-0 regular season records as they entertain opponents tonight for the first round of the 2009 postseason.
Stroud’s Tigers ended the regular season as the top team in District A-5, and likewise the Maud Tigers finished atop the District C-4 standings. This marks the third consecutive season that Maud earned the district championship.

Don’t judge a book by its cover.
That has been Billy Brown’s thought process during his Shawnee squad’s preparation for tonight’s (7:30) Class 5A first-round playoff encounter against Altus at Jim Thorpe Stadium.
Altus, ranked 15th, enters the matchup with a 4-6 record.
Top-ranked Shawnee is 10-0 and has had just one opponent, Carl Albert, come within 10 points.
No problems, right?

Dale basketballer Brenna Burnett signs a letter of intent with Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Three area products have been named to the Oklahoma Softball Coaches Association All-State teams.
Selected to the Large East squad was Sidni Boyer of Shawnee. The daughter of Shawnee head coach Todd Boyer had a superb senior fast-pitch season, hitting .442 with 10 doubles, three triples and two home runs. She knocked in 31 runs, collected 34 hit and recorded 21 stolen bases.

It’s official. Meeker’s Bulldogs will be playing at Heritage Hall Friday night in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Earlsboro’s Wildcats and Lady Wildcats each moved to 1-1 on the season with victories over host Strother Tuesday night.
The Lady Wildcats posted a 66-59 overtime win while the Wildcats recorded a last-second 42-40 triumph.

Behind a 39-point explosion by Charity Fowler, the Liberty Academy girls flogged Asher 71-28 Tuesday night.

Shawnee has discovered first hand this week that evening daylight time is becoming a rare commodity.
Tuesday, the Wolves — preparing for their first-round playoff game with Altus Friday night — started their workout on the practice field.

There is no definite answer, at least not yet, as to the number of area football teams that will be partaking in first-round playoff action Friday night.
Meeker’s status for the Class 2A postseason will not be finalized until Wednesday when the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association hears an appeal from Jones.
Jones appeared in good shape after logging a 7-0 mark en route to what it believed was the District 2A-2 championship. But last Thursday the OSSAA ruled that the Longhorns employed an ineligible player and would have to forfeit six games, five of which were district contests.

Several area teams have made it into the playoffs. Test your high school football knowledge and let us know who you think is going to win this weeks games. 

The Liberty Academy basketball teams launched their 2009-2010 seasons with home victories Friday night.
Liberty’s girls defeated Grace Covemant 51-16 while Liberty’s boys were 66-60 conquerors of Harvest Life.

Bethel came from behind to take a 14-13 lead midway through the third quarter at Jones Friday night, but allowed the Longhorns to score the next 33 points and fell, 46-14.
Jones was knocked out of the Class 2A playoffs by an Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association ruling earlier this week. The OSSAA declared a Longhorn player ineligible, resulting in Jones forfeiting six wins. The move elevated Meeker into the playoffs with a fourth-place finish in District 2A-2.

 Brandon Cummings had a pair of touchdown runs and one TD pass as Chandler secured the District 2A-5 championship Friday night with a 35-14 road win at Eufaula.
Chandler, which started the season 0-3, won six out of its last seven regular-season games and is 6-4 heading into a home playoff game next Friday.

With a playoff berth in the bag, the Meeker Bulldogs set its sights on trying to slow down the Millwood Falcons Friday night. Millwood’s quick strike capabilities proved too much for Meeker as they rolled to a 48-6 regular-season-ending win.

Down 35-21, Tecumseh rallied for 14 points in the fourth quarter, then completed the comeback by registering a 42-35 overtime triumph over Cleveland to end the regular season.
Tecumseh, in finishing the regular season at 8-2, advances to a first-round road playoff game next Friday night at McGuinness.