Success plagues Newcastle
By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com
Winning tournaments hasn’t exactly boosted Newcastle’s confidence this season. In fact, finishing second in a both of the tournaments the Racers have won (Bethel and Newcastle) may have given Newcastle two more conference wins.
Instead, the Racers have lost overtime games after winning the Bethel and Newcastle tourney’s. They lost at Tuttle following the Bethel win, and lost 46-45 to Purcell last night.
Newcastle coach Wes Pulliam said his team is still learning to play with success.
“You have to come off of an exciting three games and it is hard to keep your focus,” he said.
I hope, for Newcastle’s sake, that problem is fixed when the playoffs roll around. If the Racers can’t handle winning meaningless regular season tournaments, how will it play after winning a district or regional championship?
Bays to lead Choctaw football
By Zach West
zwest@oklahoman.com
Choctaw has hired former Moore and Edmond North coach Bill Bays to lead its football program. The hire was approved at a Choctaw school board meeting on Monday night. Fifty people had applied for the position, athletic director Greg Skaggs said, and eight were brought in for interviews.
“We think that with his track record of playoff experience and being a head coach … (Bays) was the best man for the job,” Skaggs said.
Bays, who resigned from Moore at the beginning of the spring semester, said getting the opportunity to coach in a school district with a single high school intrigued him. Next season, Moore will have to compete with Westmoore and Southmoore, which will be in its inaugural season.
“It’s just on this side of the state you have a limited number of single high school districts,” Bays said. “I coached at Yukon … and we enjoyed some opportunities there that the multiple high school districts don’t have.”
At Choctaw, Bays is replacing Ted Dorrell, who resigned at the end of last season. The Yellow Jackets were 13-37 in five seasons under Dorrell, including a 1-9 finish this year, and have not made the postseason since 1984.
“I like to look to the future. I’m excited about the opportunities that I see at Choctaw. We want to give the players a chance to win football games,” Bays said. “It’s a long process, but that’s fine with me. We’ve got a lot of challenges, a lot of hard work ahead of us, but that’s part of the process.”
With teaching responsibilities at Moore, Bays was unsure of when he would be able to start full-time at Choctaw.
“I can’t answer that question for you,” Bays said. “I don’t know how that’s going to play out.”
Tournament Tour wraps up in LeFlore County
The LeFlore County Tournament definitely didn’t disappoint, especially on the girls side, where two of the top small-schools girls teams in the state faced off with Howe beating Pocola by 18 to break the Lady Indians streak of three consecutive championships.
The game came down to game management by Lady Lions coach Chris Brown. In the first half, the game looked like it would devolve into a free-throw contest with fouls seemingly being called on every possession. Five minutes into the game, it was already bonus time. Just a few mintues later, both teams were in double bonus.
Brown anticipated it early and readily substituted in the first quarter.
“We wanted to spread those fouls out so we wouldn’t have anyone in real foul trouble,” Brown said. “I felt like that one through five, we’re about even with Pocola. Six, seven and eight, though, I thought we had the advantage.”
Howe also got called for significantly less fouls in the first half but even if there was a discrepancy in the way the game was called (and I didn’t see any outrageous foul calls or non-calls, especially after how tight the game was called in the first half), it certainly wouldn’t have made an 18-point difference.
Pocola coach Mark McKenzie thinks otherwise, though. McKenzie loudly objected, it didn’t seem like to individual calls but to the foul count. Eventually, he was T’d up. Later in the game, Pocola star Ashley Hobbs fouled out and made her way to the bench before deciding she had something to say. Hobbs walked in the direction of the referee, yelling along the way, before being given a technical of her own. Hobbs was one of two who fouled out for Pocola.
“The kids didn’t get to decide this game; the officials handcuffed us in the first couple of minutes of the game and it took us out of our game plan, and for these kids not to get to decide this game was a travesty and is just a sad injustice to the game of basketball,” McKenzie told the Times Record of Fort Smith, Ark., after the game. “It wasn’t right for not just our kids but the Howe kids and all the fans that came out to see this game. The kids deserved the chance to determine the outcome of the game on the floor but we were handcuffed from the beginning with fouls that dictated everything we could do.”
For better or worse, that’s part of basketball — adjusting to the officials, whether they be calling games loose or tight.
McKenzie went on:
“But I’m not taking anything away from Howe; it was the first for them and they are very deserving. … They’re a great representative of our county and deservedly so. Howe will be a good champion, and coach Brown does a good job with them.”
No matter how much you talk up a someone, after an outburst like that at the officiating, it’s hard not for it to take away from the outcome. Howe won — and it wasn’t particularly close, they won by 18 — and they deserved it. There’s no conspiracy there.
Sometimes in the heat of a moment people say things they wish they hadn’t. I’d imagine that will be the case here. McKenzie is a good coach who has done a remarkable job rebuilding a program from the ground up and we’ll likely see McKenzie, Hobbs and the rest of the Lady Indians in Oklahoma City in a little more than a month.
After Hobbs fouled out, Lindsay McCown pumped her first and celebrated as her shot went in and Hobbs went toward the bench.
“That wasn’t to show any disrespect toward her,” McCown said. “I was happy I got the basket and I knew that she was the heart and soul of their team and with her out, they weren’t going to come back.”
McCown and Hobbs are good friends who play basketball together during the summer. After the boys championship game was over, they posed for pictures together with their all-tournament team trophies.
Day 3 at the Titan Classic
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
My initial thought after watching superb basketball for three straight days: How did Guthrie lose so easily to Harrah? Is Harrah really that good, then?
For those confused by these sentiments, Guthrie upset Midwest City, 49-48, Saturday night in the finals of the Titan Classic at Carl Albert.
After being tied at the end of three quarters, I thought MWC had established itself as Jarrod McDaniel and Chuck Sanders began taking over the contest. I’m not supposed to root for anyone, but McDaniel impresses me more and more each time I see him. His court vision gets me giddy with excitement.
However, Donte’ Foster would not let the Bluejays die. That’s about as gutty an effort as you can see at the high school level. Without their leader, Guthrie was relying on fluke shots and just trying to stay close. Foster was injured early in the third quarter when it looked like he banged knees with a Bomber player.
When Foster came back in with 1:59 left in the third, he wasn’t himself. He was gimping around, hesitant and trying to avoid contact.
I don’t know what was said to him (or maybe nothing at all) because eventually he just said “I don’t care, this is my moment.” He ignored the pain and scored the last five points after Guthrie was down 48-44.
He was well-deserving of the MVP award.
So at 12-1 and beating 6A powers Tulsa Union and Midwest City on back-to-back nights, I reiterate, how did this team lose by 10 to Harrah? And Harrah fans let me know why you are so good because this is not meant to be a slight on your team. I just know Guthrie played its heart out this weekend.
Other observations from the Classic
- The Tulsa Union girls looked superb each and every night. In case you haven’t noticed by now, I have a special appreciation for guards. Lady Redskins guard Destinee Frierson fits my definition perfectly. She fouled out in Union’s 52-38 win over Millwood in the final, but she was a lot of fun to watch. Always dribbling with her head up. I know that sounds elementary, but so often people look down while dribbling in traffic. Not Frierson, she knows what she’s doing. Lindsay Palmer is the unquestionable star, but Frierson stirs that drink.
- Props to the Carl Albert boys for not hanging their heads after losing to the Bombers. A solid 64-56 win over Union has to have coach Jay Price excited about the rest of the season. Harrison Dupont is a force this year, so what in the world will he be next year? Even though he doesn’t score that much, I think Joe Stoner is the key to the Titans. He brings that grittyness that only a safety can bring.
- Sad to see the Carl Albert girls without Jourdan Clark. It felt like cheating. I know there are a lot of nice pieces to that puzzle and Kylie Mayes is an exceptional player, but no Clark, that hurts.
- What happened to the Union boys? I was glad Ryan Carter stepped up against the Titans. But in his doing so, it appeared Antonio Ross could not be found. Granted, Ross was in foul trouble, but still, I don’t get it. I’m sure it was a long trip back to Tulsa, but I’m also sure coach Rudy Garcia will have his boys ready coming down the stretch.
- Closing the deal. The momentum of many games swung in the final minutes because one team couldn’t seal the deal. Edmond Memorial had Union on the ropes, but the Redskins survived. Del City had the Titans all but out of there, but CA hit the buzzer beater. Guthrie was pounding Union only to win by two. The Carl Albert girls had Choctaw reeling in the third-place game but won 36-34. Missing the front end of 1-and-1’s hurt in that one. And of course, Midwest City would love a chance to play that final minute with Guthrie again. Is the stall ball tactic becoming like the prevent in football? There’s no shot clock, so teams just hold onto it but don’t really run any offense. We all know the prevent just prevents you from winning while I think this dribbling the ball everywhere gets teams out of their rhythms.
- Players I will now keep an eye on after having watched them live: Guthrie’s Kent McDonald, MWC’s James Davis, CA’s Steven Johnson (he’s fearless, drive the lane against anybody), Edmond Memorial’s Daniel White (EM coach Shane Cowherd will right that ship. His boys were just deflated after losing to Union the way they did).
- Finally, I would be remissed if I didn’t give a special thank you to everyone at Carl Albert who tried to fatten this skinny little reporter up. Great spreads on all three days in the hospitality room. A first-class organization that did a great job of keeping the games running on time and making sure there was no unruly behavior. Now if only they would get wireless internet.
Page joins 3,000 point club
By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com
Pawnee guard Keiton Page surpassed the 3,000 career point margin tonight with a 48-point performance in finals of the North Country Tournament in Tonkawa.
Page led Pawnee in an 86-65 rout of Alva, and has 3,030 points for his career, and counting.
The Oklahoma State signee joins Verdigris guard Rotnei Clarke, Kelenna Azubuike, Ty Harmon and Kenneth Johnson as the only Oklahoma high school basketball players to reach 3,000.
Clarke reached the mark earlier this year.
Class 5A supremacy at stake tonight
By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com
The top two teams in class 5A boys basketball square off tonight in the finals of the Jenks Invitational.
The top ranked Tulsa Washington Hornets (11-0) upset host Jenks 47-39 in Friday night’s semi-finals. It was the first time Tulsa Washington beat Jenks in its last four attempts.
No. 2 Tulsa East Central (11-2), which won the Tournament of Champions earlier this season, edged Edmond Santa Fe 56-55 Friday. Santa Fe guard Nic Combs’ 19-foot shot was blocked as time expired.
The game will be televised on Cox channel 7 tonight at 8:30. Don’t stress, though, if you have plans. Something tells me we’ll see these two go at it again in, say, six weeks at the state tournament.
Day 2 at the Titan Classic
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
Hey, apologize for being so late on this. After another great day of basketball, headed back to the office to find out something peculiar. Southeast defeated Dallas God’s Academy, 91-66, by forfeit in the fourth quarter.
Seemed a little strange, so talked with SE coach Walter Brewer. Apparently, they are God’s Academy in name only and had more than 10 technicals in the first two games of the Norman Invitational. The officials kicked the WHOLE TEAM out.
Now to the Titan Classic. It was an electric atmosphere for Midwest City and Carl Albert. Two defending state champions playing the first time in more than a decade.
Everyone brought up their game just a little bit. Or if they didn’t, it was only because they were trying too hard.
My favorite part? The dueling crowds. Toward the end, MWC’s contingent started chanting “This is 6A” and “Just like Bixby,” which I admit I thought was clever. Bixby, of course, defeated the Titans in the second round of last year’s football playoffs.
CA responding with “Just like Union” but when MWC came back with “Just like Guthrie,” it was over because Midwest City didn’t lose another game last year.
Chuck Sanders couldn’t get himself going but it didn’t matter as Jarrod McDaniel and James Davis carried the load in a 59-49 win.
Even MWC coach Rodney Dindy couldn’t believe how well his team shot the ball. They were lights out from downtown. In the third quarter, the Bombers drained six 3-pointers and at one time, four consecutive.
Harrison Dupont really came to play for the Titans, notching a game-high 23, but there just wasn’t enough firepower in CA this year.
MWC will battle Guthrie, who did everything it could to give the game to Union. I kid, of course, but Guthrie was up 40-27 and in firm control before holding on, 50-48.
Here’s what I don’t understand after watching Union twice this season: its reliance on perimeter shooting when Antonio Ross is a beast in the post. He proved it in the second half. He was the catalyst to the big run and Spencer Wopart’s three made it 45-44, but the Redskins never took the lead.
Donte’ Foster would not be denied for the Bluejays. He gathered up his team, put ‘em on his back and said “let’s go, I’m taking us home.” Always fun to see a junior have that type of mentality. It gets you to thinking, how special will he be next year?
The loss of Jourdan Clark for the CA girls really hurt as Millwood had no trouble with the Lady Titans, 57-38.
Millwood’s Tijiasha Reid made four treys, and they always came at the worst times, for CA fans. It would end a CA run or start a big Millwood surge or my personal favorite, the one at the buzzer going into halftime.
Girls final: Millwood vs. Union. Boys final: Guthrie vs. Midwest City.
If I don’t get something in late Saturday, expect a healthy dose of goodness Sunday.
No Storm shelter in Deer Creek
By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com
The Oklahoma City Storm is roaring through the Deer Creek high school basketball tournament.
The home-school team upset 6A’s Enid 49-47 Thursday and shocked 4A No. 3 Star Spencer 71-66 tonight. The Storm face Putnam City North in the finals Saturday.
Freshman Rex Farmer, a 6-foot-6 freshman, scored with less than one second remaining Thursday to give the Storm a 49-47 victory over Enid. Farmer scored a team high 18 tonight against Star.
I guess the days of inviting home-school teams to your tournaments so the top seeds have an easy road to the semi-finals are over, huh?
Jenks tournament, Day 2 close to wrapping up
Jenks’ girls hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer but it wasn’t enough as Kickapoo (Mo.) held on for a 59-58 win in the second girls semifinal.
Jenks’ Tia McGee was particularly impressive, scoring more than 20 points in the loss. Jenks led much of the way before the Lady Chiefs closed the gap throughout the third and fourth quarters.
Right now, Jenks has an early lead over Class 5A No. 1 Tulsa Washington. The Hornets are in their first year playing under former TU standout and short-term NBA player Shea Seals.
Today has brought back some memories for me. When I worked in Muskogee several years ago, I covered a couple games here at Jenks, and also covered Connors State College basketball. Former CSC standout Junior Blount, who is from Tulsa, is now an assistant under Seals. It’s also not the first time I’ve covered Kickapoo (Mo.). The Lady Chiefs played in the Tournament of Champions in Fort Smith, Ark., when I worked in the border town. Arkansas also had an assistant coach watching the Midwest City-Stillwater girls semifinal earlier in the day.
EDIT: I’ve been getting Junior Blount and Junior Amous confused for a long time.
Great action so far at Jenks
Today is definitely the most quality basketball we’ve seen all week and that’s taking nothing away from any of the other venues.
Tulsa East Central just wrapped up a 56-55 win over Edmond Santa Fe in the first boys semifinal, with Ken Holdman hitting a put-back with 3.7 seconds left and then blocking Nic Combs shot to secure the win. Holdman scored 9 in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 27. Combs led Santa Fe with 21.
Holdman has become accustomed to big finishes. He also hit a game-winner against Broken Arrow earlier in the week.
East Central will play the winner of the Jenks-Tulsa Washington game later tonight. Either way, it’d be an interesting matchup. Tulsa Washington handed East Central its first loss of the season and Jenks has been a thorn in East Central’s side as well.
On the girls side, Midwest City cruised to a 49-32 win over Stillwater in the first girls semifinal. The Lady Bombers did it with a very balanced attack that sxtarts with very solid defense. Midwest City made a habit of taking advantage of Stillwater’s turnovers to stay undefeated. Midwest City plays the winner of the Jenks-Kickapoo (Mo.) game that’s going on right now. Jenks leads that game 20-12 in the second quarter.
