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.
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