TANEA JOHNSTON takes the ball to the goal on the fast break for the Hugo Middle School Lady Buffs, as they take a close game from the Lady Savages of Broken Bow. ABOVE RIGHT...

Hugo Varsity Buffaloes are on the road Jan. 25 to Durant and will be back on their home hardwood Feb.

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.

HUGO — The Hugo HMS eighthgrade Buffaloes extended their unbeaten season record Thursday with a solid 37-27 defeat over Broken Bow.

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.

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.