HOUSTON – Several Chieftain football players returned to the hardwood and continued the work Dialan Blanchard, David Gardner and team mates had put into the early season, sparking the Okolona Chieftains to a 72-53 victory over the Aberdeen Bulldogs in the final game of the Houston Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday.

Both teams battled to a 33-33 tie at halftime before Okolona turned a bevy of Aberdeen turnovers into a 7-0 run to close the third quarter to take a 49-44 lead into the fourth quarter. The Chieftains turned up the pressure in the final frame to quickly pushed their way out to a double digit lead before cruising to the 19-point victory.

“I didn’t think it was a pretty game,” said Okolona head coach Bobby Ford. “I thought we capitalized on some turnovers that really helped us. They had some kids players that were inexperience and we tried to use that to our advantage.”

Aberdeen’s lineup was missing numerous players due to the team advancing to the Class 3A State Championship game on Saturday.

The win marks the first full game back for the members of the football team and with Ryan Isabell’s 15-point performance marks good things to come for the Chieftains.

“You can depend on him (Isabell) when he goes in the game because he is going to give you 100 percent and that’s the kind of kid he is. We are going to work him and the rest of the football guys into the lineup a little more next to get them in better basketball shape,” said Ford.

Gardner paced the Chieftains with 21 points and Martavious Hill added 11 points to go along with Isabell’s 15-point effort.

Anthony McDonald led all scorers with 24 points, connecting on six three-pointers in the game, while Markus Riddle added 12 points to the mix for the Bulldogs.

The Lady Chieftains will join the Chieftains as they return to the hardwood Friday night against Bruce before hosting the Okolona Hardwood Classic on Saturday.