The road to the playoffs is paved with tough opponents — at least it is for the Buffaloes. It has long been Hugo boys coach Darnell Shanklin’s belief that a competitive schedule is far better than one full of assured wins and this season is no different.

HUGO’s EIGHTH GRADE BUFFALO COACH Tanner Trent has a late-game chat with his undefeated Buffaloes last week in their big win over the Broken Bow Savages. Buffalo fans are excited about the prospects for several of these players as they step up to high school next year. Hugo News Photo / Stan Stamper

HUGO — Hugo’s Middle School eighth-grade Buffaloes claimed a pair of wins over two rugged Broken Bow Savage teams Thursday on their home court. Kayla Minter and Schvynasti Starlin got the Lady Buffaloes off to a big 8-0 first-quarter lead, and the Lady Buffs blanked the Savage offense until the last few seconds of the first quarter when they launched a good trey.

HUGO — The Hugo HMS eighthgrade Buffaloes extended their unbeaten season record Thursday with a solid 37-27 defeat over Broken Bow. Hugo’s opening deuce was promptly answered by a Broken Bow trey, but that would be the last time in the game the Savages would lead, as the Buffaloes turned up the heat on both ends of the floor.

Three years ago, Demontre Akins made a tough decision: He chose not to return to his coaching gig with Idabel’s high school basketball team. When he was younger, he didn’t dream of coaching the way so many athletes do after they hang up their cleats or sit down their ball.

HUGO — Hugo’s eighth-grade Buffaloes extended their unbeaten streak Monday evening with a sound 49-7 licking of the Antlers Bearcats. Coach Tanner Trent’s Buffaloes leaped out front in the first with a 9-4 advantage, and then turned up the heat on both ends of the court, booking 12 points and giving up zero, taking a sound 21-4 lead at half.

SOPER’s CHLOE MADBULL pulls up for a shot during a recent hardcourt battle against the Lady Tigers of Fort Towson. Defending for the Tigers is Baylee Rymel.

At the end of the third quarter, Idabel had a 15-point lead on the Buffaloes, and that’s when Warriors fans started to chant. “Scoreboard,” they yelled, over and over again.

THE HUGO LADY BUFFALOES claimed the third place trophy in the recent tournament at Talihina. Pictured above are Coach Chris Scott, Kelicia Cook, Ashia Jordan, Kaydrin Scott, Brinlee Allensworth, Sha’Tiya Akins, Rakia Smith and Assistant Coaches Pat McGee and Kiyoko Woods. In front is Jamiah Brown. Photo Contributed