CHOCTAW -- It was another game against a very tough Oklahoma Big 7 Conference opponent for the Ponca City Wildcat varsity boys basketball team Tuesday night. And the Wildcats suffered another loss, this time 91-71 to the Choctaw Yellowjackets.

Ponca City had a good night offensively, registering its second highest scoring total this season. It was the best output against a Class 6A opponent. The best effort overall offensively came in an 81-57 victory over Class 4A Cleveland in December.

Choctaw got off to an early lead Tuesday and never trailed. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance and had the Choctaw margin cut down to four points midway through the second quarter. But then the Yellowjackets rallied and led 44-30 at the half.

Ponca City kept the margin within the 20-point range throughout the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats dropped to 4-15 for the season, while Choctaw improved to 14-6 Four Wildcats finished in double figure scoring. Tay Moore and Mason Meador each had 21 points. Luke Hollis added 15 points and Trenton Monroy had 12.

Coach Ivan McFarlin’s Wildcats improved from the Dec. 13 loss to Choctaw when the final score was 76-43.

The Big 7 Conference has some of the state’s toughest Class 6A teams. Putnam City North (19-1), Choctaw (15-6) and Putnam City West (10-8) are the leaders. The Wildcats have two conference games remaining and the opponents are at the lower end of the conference -- Putnam City (9-10) at Ponca City Friday, and Midwest City (5-15) in Midwest City Tuesday.

CHOCTAW 91, PONCA CITY 71

Ponca City 12 18 18 23 -- 71 Choctaw 20 24 29 18 -- 91 Ponca City -- Mason Meador, 21; Tay Moore, 21; Luke Hollis, 15; Trenton Monroy, 12; Carter Anderson, 2.