Last Friday, the Wayne Bulldogs were in Velma for the Regional tournament. They picked up a 59-51 win over Empire, but dropped a 62-56 game with AmPo to end their season. They finished with a 13-14 record.

“It’s exciting for the future of Wayne basketball to have had lots of guys step up in roles they haven’t filled before. We had a really good year and I’m sad to be losing such a close group in our senior class,” head coach Jackson Embry said.

Seniors lost to graduation include Wyatt Webster, Bradey VanSchuyver, Casey Kane and Logan Taylor.

“Bradey gives it all he has defensively. It will be tough to lose his intensity. And Wyatt is a guy you almost can’t replace. He’s a big kid who has transformed his game. This senior class and the comradery they bring to the locker room will be hard to replace.”

Regional tournament

In their first game of the Regional tournament, Wayne faced Empire and Embry said his guys were fired up to play.

“We lost by six or so earlier in the year and the guys really felt like that was a game we should have won.”

Junior Ty Kemp led his team with 25 points.

“Ty had the game of his life. He finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. He’s really been coming out of his shell,” Embry said.

Webster added 14 points and Jaxon Dill added 13 points in the win.

That win set up a game with AmPo on Friday.

Wayne came out firing and held an 18 point lead in the first half. But, AmPo went on a 9-2 run toward the end of the second quarter and cut that lead to 14.

The second half was another story. AmPo chipped away and outscored Wayne 19-7 in the third quarter and 24-16 in the fourth.

“We gave up too many possessions and let them chip away at our lead. We played not to lose.

“It’s one of the toughest losses I’ve had in my three years of coaching,” Embry said.

Webster and Dill were in double figures for Wayne with 24 and 14, respectively. VanSchuyver and Kemp each added seven.

“We had a good year and I’m excited for our future.”

Girls

The Wayne Lady Bulldogs dropped a 51-35 loss to Waurika last week in Regional tournament action to end their season. They finished with a 12-14 record.

Faith Brazell is their lone senior lost to graduation.

“It will be tough to lose Faith. She wasn’t always the leading scorer or rebounder, but anytime she was on the floor we had a chance to win the game. She just brings the intesity and she has the respect from the rest of the team,” Embry said.

Embry knew that Waurika had a girl “who could light it up” and a 6’2” threat and Wayne would have to take one of them out of the game to get the win.

“We were able to give the big girl fits and keep her at bay. Their guard caught fire in the fourth and hit everything she threw up,” Embry said.

To start the game, Madi Sharp scored six straight points, but picked up two early fouls and had to sit for the rest of the half.

“Madi is aggressive defensively and when she had to sit, that put us in a bind. The girls that came in off the bench did a good job of keeping us in the game.”

According to Embry, when Sharp returned to the game in the second half she didn’t have the hot hand after sitting for so long.

Freshman Taelyn Ringwald led the Bulldogs with 11 points, Brazell had eight.

The final two minutes, Waurikda pulled away, putting a damper on what had been a very competitive game, according to Embry.

“We had a successful season. We’re young and we made it out of Districts, which no one outside of our locker room probably thought would happen.

“We played as well as anyone could ask for and I know our future is bright,” Embry said.