The Oologah-Talala Lady Mustangs’ season came to a close after a hard-fought 40-37 loss to ranked opponent Grove High School. The Mustangs had built a 10-point lead late in the third quarter but struggled to finish possessions and score in the final stretch. Earlier in the week, the team grabbed a solid 48-30 win over Inola High School, showing the kind of defensive toughness that defined much of their season.
Head coach Clif Warford said he was proud of the team’s fight and resilience, even in defeat. He said the girls competed hard and truly left everything on the floor, but execution issues down the stretch cost them against a ranked opponent. The loss was a tough way to end the year, especially in a game that was well within reach late.
The night also carried emotional weight for Warford, who coached his daughter for the final time. He called the moment bittersweet but said he is excited to move to a new role as her biggest fan next season when she continues her career at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. For the Mustangs, the season ends with lessons learned, hard battles fought, and plenty of optimism for next year’s return to the court.
