Wrapping up 6A…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, we’ve reached the end. And this will be the shortest one of them all because I didn’t see one minute of any 6A girls games and only caught the semifinals of the boys.
Boys champion: Putnam City, 72-48 vs. Jenks
Girls champion: Del City, 29-27 vs. Midwest City
Del City won a big game, and I wasn’t even there. As you know, I’ve joked about how the Eagles have played their best with The Boneman in attendance.
A big win vs. Union in the Carl Albert finals and an even bigger win vs. Norman in the area final.
But this was the sweetest of them all, beating their rivals and ending MWC’s hope for an undefeated season.
Anyone who was there, how did the two best teams in 6A play a game that couldn’t even get to 30 points?
I do hope to watch this on Fox Sports eventually, if only because I’ve never seen Mariah White or Richa Jackson of the Bombers play. And wouldn’t mind seeing DC’s Toni Young and Desiree Jeffries one more time.
The boys, well, Brandon Chatmon’s videos have said all that needs to be said about that.
All I’ll add is how I’m already gushing about Tre Payne. He’s a freshman who doesn’t look like it. And he loves to play defense. It’s so tough, sometimes, to get kids to play both ways. Not Tre.
So that wraps up the basketball season, to spring we go. If you remember from last year, I’ll be your man on the tennis courts. Can anyone take down the McGuinness girls? Is there a favorite in the boys? Looking forward to another great tennis season.
And finally, here are all three of Brandon Chatmon’s All-Access videos with Putnam City. Special thanks to the Pirates for the access.
Wrapping up 5A…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Now we’re getting to the big boys. 5A and 6A just have a different feeling about them. It’s tough to explain.
Boys champion: Guthrie, 47-45 vs. Thomas Edison
Girls champion: Booker T., 42-40 vs. Carl Albert
Did not see the girls game live, but I watched it Sunday on Fox Sports Oklahoma (how’s that for a shameless plug?). I gushed about Taleya Mayberry after her outing in last year’s championship vs. Coweta.
A year later and nothing’s changed. She’s a fighter. She makes some plays where you go “yep, she’ll be playing somewhere in college.”
That final sequence was crazy, made me wish I was there live. Mayberry goes for the steal, which leads to Booker T. needing to play help defense.
That leaves Desiree Bradley open in the corner for the championship-winning three. It’s off, Kylie Mayes of CA gets the rebound, put back doesn’t go, and that’s it.
Credit goes to the Titans for pushing Booker T. like no other team and huge kudos go to Booker T. for displaying the heart of a champion. BTW had hardly been tested all season but showed when it was, it could deliver with its second straight title.
The boys was quite a shock with Edison upsetting Booker T. in the semifinals. I didn’t think anyone could stop that three-guard offense of the Hornets.
So then you start thinking Edison is a team of destiny. Steven Hamilton hits the game-winner vs. Carl Albert. Clyde Hill hits the game-winner vs. Booker T. And head coach Michael Parish has some of the coolest reactions of any coach I can remember.
I could watch a whole game and just watch is reactions and emotions. In fact, I have sometimes spent more time watching his reactions.
But Guthrie has Donte’ Foster and Keaton Callins. And since I didn’t see the final, that’s about all I can really say.
Bluejays also showed some heart, coming back for an eight-point deficit in the third quarter. Almost as if the BTW girls and Guthrie boys had mirror image games of each other as each won their second championship in a row.
All that’s left is 6A.
Eagles soar vs. Norman…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
If you ask me, I don’t know how the Del City girls basketball team has ever been defeated. Simply put, I’ve seen them in their finest hours.
At the Titan Classic, they ran the table, beating Carl Albert and Tulsa Union in the process.
I spoke with girls guru Justin Harper before this game about what to expect and was shocked to learn about how Norman had dominated the season series so far. Well, maybe dominate is too strong a word as the Tigers had won 64-59 and 50-46.
The third bout was tonight at Edmond North. Winner goes to state and loser, well, might still go to state anyway.
Del City was impressive. Sparked by Toni Young, the Eagles put the clamps on Norman in a 47-39 win to advance to state.
The Eagles are hoping history doesn’t repeat itself again. The last three years Del City has lost to the eventual state champion.
Young came out possessed and had eight points as Del City ran out to a 12-7 lead. But then she picked up her second foul with 2:08 left in the first and didn’t see the court again in the first half.
Norman, though, didn’t take full advantage of it. Yeah, the Tigers took the lead, but it felt like they needed to do a lot more than a 27-23 halftime lead.
Desiree Jeffries had 11 of her 13 in the first half to keep things close and then Young and Bobbie Marshall took over.
Mostly Young, but Marshall drained two key 3-pointers, and Del City’s defense was the star in the second half.
Norman only scored 12 points in the final 16 minutes and didn’t register its first field goal in the fourth until the final minute.
Del City trailed 32-31 at the end of the third but went on a 12-0 run to start the fourth and put the game away.
Jeffries impressed me at the Titan Classic, and tonight was Young’s turn. She produced the goods tonight.
This was the first time I’ve ever seen the Norman girls play since covering HS sports. Kamra King impressed me for the Tigers while I can see why people are so high on Ashley Bruner, but she just had an off night with nine points.
Norman still has a chance to advance to state with a win Saturday afternoon at Harrah. I wouldn’t bet against them.
But right now, my money is on Del City. That combo of Young and Jeffries is too tough to stop.
