Day 1 at the Titan Classic
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
Well, sorry, high school fans. No wireless at Carl Albert means you’ll only get day summaries as opposed to real-time thoughts.
Anyway, wow, what a day today at Carl Albert. I saw two boys games decided at the buzzer and in the other two, the stars came out to shine.
No. 1 thing that came to mind from today was Edmond Memorial can hang with the big boys.
Tulsa Union had no business winning, 48-47. None, I says. Well, maybe that’s too harsh. The Redskins came out fast and early on, it looked like my prediction of the Bulldogs upsetting the fifth-ranked team in 6A was pretty lousy.
Antonio Ross was dominating the paint, but then it seemed as Union went away from the stud.
Just like Tuesday, I tried to plan ahead and wrote a feature about Edmond Memorial’s Michael Maxwell. The senior guard broke his foot in the season opener and returned in Tuesday night’s shocker against Midwest City.
And this time, the gods were on my side as Maxwell was going off from long distance. He connected on four treys total and had 14 points.
And as Daniel White absolutely took control in the second half, finally, everything was going to come to fruition.
As Lee Corso would say, not so fast, my friends. The Bulldogs were up 47-43 but let this one slip away. Union didn’t hit a game-tying or game-winning shot. No, the Redskins took this game from the free throw line. Brian Higgins ended up the hero, draining two free throws.
White’s jumper was off the mark and Union escaped. I will say this for Union, the Redskins play some tenacious defense. They impose their will on teams.
Well, there goes that feature…for today.
Before that, Guthrie handled Ardmore pretty easy, 70-63. The Tigers made a nice run to start the second half, but the Bluejays quickly regained their footing and earned the win. Kent McDonald had 18 while Donte’ Foster had 17 and Keaton Callins had 16.
Next came Carl Albert and Del City. Having been burned twice in two days, I held off writing something on Del City’s D’Angelo Harris. He’s got quite the story to be told (but for another day).
Once again, it appeared as though Harris was going to steal the show as he was THE MAN in the fourth quarter. The Eagles just wanted it more. On one possession in the fourth, DCity had six shot attempts…6. Harris eventually scored the bucket.
Carl Albert has been one of my favorite teams to follow only because I can’t get a read on the Titans yet. Thursday was no different.
This game was a carbon copy of Ed Memorial and Union. Well, almost. Del City was up 50-46 but allowed Carl Albert back into the game.
Only difference was the Titans made the shots. Joe Stoner tied it up and senior guard Steven Johnson closed the show in true style, nailing a jumper at the buzzer for the 52-50 win.
Time constraints forced me to miss the Midwest City-Millwood contest. From the box, it appears Chuck Sanders came to play, notching 29 points in a 73-53 blowout.
Today’s results: Boys – Guthrie defeated Ardmore; Union defeated Ed Memorial; Carl Albert defeated Del City; Midwest City defeated Millwood.
Girls – Millwood defeated Putnam City (yes, that’s 3A beating a top team in 6A); Carl Albert defeated Westmoore; Choctaw defeated Ed Memorial; Union defeated Ardmore (and looked really really good).
Friday – boys semis: Union v. Guthrie (4 pm); Carl Albert v. Midwest City (5:30); Girls – Millwood vs. Carl Albert (7 pm) and Choctaw vs. Union (8:30).
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