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The Drew Central Pirates basketball season came to an end on Wednesday, March 4, in the first round of the 3A State Basketball Championship Tournament.
The Pirates entered the tournament as the fourth seed out of the 3A-4 Region and would have to face the number one seeded Osceola.
Osceola was also the host team for the tournament.
Osceola entered the tournament after winning their regional tournament and came into the tournament with a 22-3 overall record and a seven game winning streak.
The Pirates finished the regular season as the 8-3A Conference Champions but would exit the 8-3A District Tournament as the third seed before becoming the fourth seed out of the 3A-4 Regional.
The Pirates would fall behind early in the first quarter against Osceola.
The Seminoles would outscore the Pirates 21-13 in the first quarter and would take the second quarter 17-13 to hold a 38-26 lead at the halftime break.
Returning from halftime, the Pirates and Seminoles would play an even third quarter with both teams scoring 13 points in the quarter with Osceola taking a 51-39 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Osceola would put the contest away in the fourth after outscoring the Pirates 12-6 in the quarter to take the win, 63-45, advancing in the 3A State Tournament with Drew Central’s season coming to an end with an overall record of 18-9.
Tra’Bennett Fuller led the PIrate in scoring with 18 points.
Osceola would continue to advance through the tournament defeating conference rival Rivercrest in the semi-final contest and will now face Newport who defeated Osceola earlier in the season but Osceola holds three victories over Newport in the season as well.
The two teams will meet for the fifth time this season to determine the 3A State Basketball Champion on Friday, March 13, at 1:45 pm in Hot Springs.
