No second-ranked jinx this time
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
See, that’s what I get for trying to plan ahead. At Tuesday night’s classic between Putnam North and Edmond Santa Fe (PCN won 70-66 in OT), I tried to save some time.
I wrote a nice feature about the return of a healthy Nic Combs for the Wolves. How he battled a stomach virus last week and dehydration. And came back on Friday and suffered cramps in the second half.
All I was going to need to finish the deal was talk with Nic after the game, presumably after an upset of second-ranked PCNorth.
Early on, Combs was smoking. In a 17-0 run in the first half, Combs notched 10 of the points. I felt like a genius as the story was playing out just like the way I needed it to.
But then dem fightin’ Panthers flipped the script on me. And well, I guess I just can’t get mad at that.
Watching Dennon Mitchell and Brentrell Friday just carry the team for PCNorth was quite the spectacle to watch as well.
The best part about last night’s game: both teams deserved to be there. There were no wide-eyed looks from anyone. The Panthers never got rattled, trailing 25-12 in the second quarter. Talking with coach Bill Roberton after the game, he basically confirmed what I was thinking. He said Santa Fe came out red hot and was hitting all its shots. Eventually, that shooting percentage comes down and everything evens out.
When Mitchell hit the jumper to tie the game up, I was thinking I now had the storybook ending if Combs could hit the game-winner. The Wolves never got off a shot, so to the extra session we went.
And that’s where Mitchell and Friday would not be denied. Combs scored 28 in the game, but only 11 in second half and overtime. And in OT (where he tallied seven), it was off of four free throws and a late trifecta. The Panthers made the necessary adjustments and shut down the Wolves.
You ever want to see an entire student body go silent? Find video of Brentrell’s dunk to make the score 67-63 Panthers. The rabid student section of PCNorth went nuts (rightfully so) and almost bumped into me a couple of times they were so elated while ESF was left stunned.
And right after the dunk, I deleted the Combs feature and began work on how two seniors just wouldn’t let their team die.
Other notes: ESF’s Victor Driver almost played the role of hero as he pitched in with nine points and had the game-winning free throws until Mitchell’s shot…PCNorth’s Eric Johnson impressed me. He wasn’t much of a factor in the first half, but the senior came alive in the second half.
Edmond Santa Fe is off to the Jenks Tournament while Putnam North is the team to beat at the Deer Creek tourney. As for yours truly, I’ll be at Carl Albert all weekend.
Look at this line-up: Ardmore vs. Guthrie (1 p.m.), Edmond Memorial vs. Tulsa Union (2:30), Carl Albert vs. Del City (7) and Midwest City vs. Millwood (8:30). Wow, I’m off to see some great basketball. The girls side is none too shabby, either: Putnam City/Millwood, Carl Albert/Westmoore, Edmond Memorial/Choctaw and Union/Ardmore. I’ll keep you posted.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment