Monday January 21, will be the opening rounds of the Stephens County Tournament at Central High. Both the Bray-Doyle Donkeys and Lady Donkeys got tough draws. The Lady Donkeys will play the #15 ranked team in Class 3A basketball the Marlow Lady Outlaws on Monday at 7 p.m. and the Donkeys will play the #9 ranked team in Class A basketball, the Velma-Alma Comets at 7 p.m.  on Tuesday.

Lady Donkeys’ coach Ron Booth said even though the Lady Outlaws will be tough, he is excited for the tournament.

“The Stephens County tournament is always a fun time,” Booth said. “Yes, Marlow will be tough, but I’m not a coach that runs away from a challenge. We just need to do the things that we can and execute.”

Booth said some of the things that need to happen to be successful is doing the little things right.

“We need to eliminate turnovers and make good decisions offensively,” Booth said. “We just need to be patient and move the basketball. We have a really strong team and as long as we do things right, we can be successful.”

Donkey Coach Tim Whaley said he is ready for the tournament and believes his team is ready to play as well. To stay on the winner’s side of the bracket though, Whaley believes it will be a team effort.

“We really need to go out there and play fundamental team basketball,” Whaley said. “We can’t play as individuals out there or it will not turn out how we want.”

Turnovers have been an issues for the Donkeys this season and Whaley said they need to correct that in order to be successful.

“We have been leading in turnovers each game by a large amount,” Whaley said. “We can’t continue to do that and be successful. We have to eliminate turnovers if we want to win ball games.

Update: The Lady Donkeys lost to the Lady Outlaws 54-32 and the Donkeys fell to the Comets 75-32. Both teams will play on Friday with the Donkeys playing the Waurika Eagles at 5:50 p.m. and the Lady Donkeys playing the Velma-Alma Lady Comets at 7:10 at Central High.