Longhorn run ends in semifinals

It was, quite simply, as historic a season as the Dover boys basketball program has ever experienced.

It fell two wins shy of the ultimate goal on Friday as the Longhorns were defeated 44-36 by No. 1 Calumet in the Class B semifinals at Yukon High School.

“It’s tough because you want to go win it all and you’ve got a lot of disappointed guys in the locker room,” said coach Jared Reese.

“But when they take a step back and look at what they accomplished this season, I hope they’re able to appreciate it.”

Here’s what the Longhorns did accomplish:

• A 27-3 overall record;

• Two regular season tournament titles, including the Skeltur Conference Tournament;

• Making it into the top eight of the rankings

• A first-ever area championship; • The first appearance at state in 32 years;

• Just the second ever state tournament win and first since 1962.

Among the playoff wins en route to the state tournament were taking down defending state champion Wilson (Henryetta) in a regional championship game and then No. 2 Varnum for the area crown.

Wilson made it all the way back to the state title game after the loss to Dover and was defeated 56-43 by Calumet in a rematch from last year.

Dover’s eight point loss in the semifinals was the Chieftains’ narrowest margin of victory in all of the playoffs.

In the first quarter, however, it appeared the game might go like most of the rest for the Chieftains.

Calumet outscored Dover 21-11 as five different players scored in the frame.

That point total was just four below what Dover gave up on average throughout the season.

“They just hit everything in that first quarter, which had us playing from behind the rest of the night,” Reese said.

But Dover’s defense resembled - well, Dover’s defense - the next two quarters.

The Chieftains scored just four points in each frame.

Dover was aided in the second quarter when Calumet pulled it out on the offensive end.

Reese didn’t oblige by going out to pressure the ball.

“It really helped us regroup,” said Reese. “We already had some foul trouble we were battling and that gave us an opportunity to keep from getting into more.”

Dover forced a turnover at the end of the long stall, but couldn’t connect on the other end and faced a 25-13 halftime deficit.

The Longhorns closed much of that gap with an 11-4 run in the third quarter.

Carter Kitchens scored a pair of buckets, Casen Buck knocked down a 3-pointer and Jonah Pendergraft and Lucas Conrady also scored.

Then, in the fourth, Dover twice got within one possession, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Ultimately, Calumet outscored the Longhorns 15-12 in the quarter. The Chieftains were 5 of 5 from the free throw line in the fourth.

They were led by Kaleb Thiessen’s 10 points while Brendon Voss scored nine.

Conrady scored five points in the fourth quarter and led the Longhorns with his 10 points.

Kitchens, Buck and Pendergraft scored six apiece.

“It was a great season and one these guys should be proud of,” said Reese, who wrapped up his second season at Dover. “They accomplished what a lot of people thought they couldn’t and they set the foundation for what we’re trying to build here.”