Irish: Girls continue to roll…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Unable to be in two places at once, I had to miss out on the big Union-Bishop McGuinness showdown on Tuesday night as I was at Edlam between Memorial and Santa Fe.
I know a lot of people were pumped about the boys game, but I was more interested in seeing how Jennifer Frakes’ girls performed against a top team from 6A.
Union entered the game ranked fifth in 6A, so for the Irish to take home a 46-40 victory really says something. Of course, with as loaded as 4A is, it’s tough to stand out in that crowd.
The Irish seemed to have the tools to make a very deep run. Even without Caroline Cameron, the team has adjusted well. Alexa Lienhard and Cara Pugh make up a great one-two punch in the post.
For my money, the Irish PGs each have the same problem. I think Lissy Fuller and Kevin Caruthers defer just a little too much. They’re doing a great job of leading the team, but I know they can score, too.
The girls truly have put that miserable shooting performance vs. Putnam North behind them. Pugh had 15 points while Kamber McMaster added 11 in Tuesday night’s win.
Depending on the weather, McGuinness is slated to be at Stillwater on Friday. The Irish girls handled Stillwater in the first matchup, but it might be a chance for revenge for the boys team that was upset at home by the Pioneers.
Recruit video: Xavier Smith, Edmond North
Heritage: Markus Wakefield making a difference…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
When I think of the Heritage Hall boys basketball team, sophomore Markus Wakefield doesn’t really come to mind. In fact, he would be somewhere around the fifth or sixth guy I’d think of.
But ask coach Mike Walker, and it’s Wakefield that has made a big difference in the team’s turnaround.
The Chargers have won three in a row. A two-point win against Tuttle, a two-point OT win against Perry, and a redemption win (45-35) at Casady on Tuesday.
I was at the first meeting where the Cyclones won 36-34, but it was a different story for the Chargers. After a shaky first quarter, the team came alive.
I asked Walker what the biggest difference has been and he said: trust and comfort.
The coaches have more trust in the kids and because of that, the kids are a lot more comfortable. Hmm, makes sense.
The Chargers were using about a 7-man rotation, but now Walker is OK with opening up. Everyone knows their role and does their part.
When it comes to Wakefield, Walker said the sophomore has the best basketball IQ outside of Andrew Hudiburg on the team. Wakefield, of course, is a beast for the football team and has limitations.
However, Walker said Wakefield knows his limitations and doesn’t try to do too much.
If you would have asked me a couple of weeks ago, I would have told you the Chargers were good team that just can’t find their rhythm. Looks like I was wrong, very interested to see them again.
Recruit video: Denton Simek, Prague
One in a series of videos looking at some of the state’s top recruits:
Santa Fe: Courtney Walker video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I talked to Santa Fe star Courtney Walker following the overtime win, so technically this is her video. But if you saw the game, this is as much Arielle Cooper’s video and the crazy atmosphere inside the gym as anything else.
This video doesn’t do the scene justice. There were times when I was trying to zoom in and missed big shots. There were other shots that weren’t in focus. I’m doing the best I can, but it’s tough to recreate the insanity from Tuesday.
As is, here is Cooper’s ridiculous banked 3 to send the game into overtime and Walker talking about the 64-58 OT win against rival Memorial.
King leads Norman girls past Lawton again; Clash up next
In its last warmup before Friday’s Crosstown Clash at Norman North, Norman’s girls basketball team took care of Lawton Tuesday night. Oklahoma State signee Kendra Suttles scored a game-high 20 points for the Wolverines, but Norman had three players in double figures and won 53-45.
The game was much closer than the Tigers’ 20-point triumph over Lawton in the season opener. But one thing that was the same in the two games was the stellar play of Kamra King. King led Norman with 17 points, while Jeannie Ramon added 11 for the 6A No. 4 Tigers. A 16-9 second quarter put Norman up 30-20 at the break and the Tigers never trailed from there.
Ed Memorial: Girls character to be tested…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I wish I could have that same confidence Memorial girls coach Shane Coffey has right now. After back-to-back grueling, emotional losses, he has a smile on his face.
A gut-wrenching loss to rival North was followed by a stomach-punching loss in a fantastic game at Santa Fe on Tuesday.
My first question was a natural one: Are you afraid the girls are emotionally drained at this point?
Said Coffey:
Normally I would be, especially after what’s happened in the last two games. But I’m not, and there’s one big reason: our senior leadership.”
I was extremely impressed with the Bulldogs last night. Santa Fe has made it a habit of getting down early, turning it up and leaving teams in the dust.
And a 23-6 run made it 30-25 Santa Fe, but Memorial responded. Sophomore Alie Decker is the real deal while Paige Locke was huge down the stretch.
The other thing I noticed was how quick Bridgette Young is. For the most part, she was able to contain Santa Fe’s Courtney Walker.
Memorial has lost three games in a row, but Coffey firmly believes he has a championship caliber team. Santa Fe coach Paul Bass was quick to point that one out as well.
Memorial hosts Southmoore, provided we have any games Friday. The boys game should be exciting, but I’m much more interested to see how the girls bounce back.
OCS: Don’t count out the Saints…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There were two upsets I thought were going to happen Tuesday night in my neck of the woods. 1. Thought the Edmond Memorial girls were going to beat Santa Fe. Santa Fe prevailed in overtime.
2. Thought the OCS boys were going to upset undefeated and No. 1-ranked Bethel. Just had a hunch after that long team meeting the Saints had after the Bruce Gray Invitational at Deer Creek.
You either respond or you fold, and knowing the character of the Saints, knew a response was going to happen.
OCS jumped out early, Bethel showed heart and came back, but the Saints pulled out a 65-60 win.
It was the usual suspects, but that number is now three for OCS. You know T.J. Holland and Jack Warren are going to come up big. They have that type of ability.
However, it’s the improving play of Jake Cranfield that has me excited for OCS in the future. He is really stepping it up and had 11 points Tuesday.
Holland had a game-high 23 points while Warren added another 10.
Coach Trent Toler puts his team through a ridiculous schedule, but he knew the talent and potential was there for a win like this.
I seriously doubt we’ll be seeing any basketball Friday with the bad weather coming in. But if we do, I’ll be at Heritage Hall and OCS.
Edlam: A girls game you won’t forget…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I still contend the best girls high school basketball game I’ve ever seen was when Millwood defeated Sequoyah-Tahlequah in the championship two years ago.
But now I know what is the best regular season game I’ve ever seen. If you weren’t there, well, let’s just say you missed an epic between Memorial and Santa Fe.
Santa Fe 64, Memorial 58 – OT (Girls)
I can’t wait to upload the video of Arielle Cooper’s 3-pointer that sends this game into overtime. The atmosphere is beyond crazy.
Big classes take a lot of heat about not having the passion the smaller classes have for basketball. All you need to know is what happened in that gym Tuesday.
Memorial led 56-53 when Cooper banked home the 3. Courtney Walker was the first option, but they couldn’t get it to her, so Cooper got to play hero.
Even before then, it was a great game between two solid teams, but that just put it in a whole different place.
In OT, Memorial was a little deflated and Santa Fe was obviously a little excited, and that’s your recipe for an 8-2 edge for the Wolves in the extra session.
As has become the norm for Santa Fe, the Wolves got off to a horrible start and Memorial led 19-7 early in the second quarter.
But here come the Wolves. And early in the third quarter, it was now 30-25 ESF.
And now here comes Alie Decker. The Memorial sophomore scores the team’s next 10 points and Memorial takes a 40-37 lead into the fourth.
Memorial stretches the lead to 47-38 when Walker shows why she might already be the best player in the state (yeah, I said it).
She drains one three, dives on the ground for a loose ball and rolls it to a teammate before connecting on another trifecta (that I call, by the way).
After that, it was just a game of ‘can you top this?’ Jimi Blagowsky came up big at the FT line for the Wolves and finished with 20 points.
Santa Fe stopped Decker after her 10-point explosion but had no answer for Paige Locke, who came up with big shot after big shot down the stretch.
And that 3 by Cooper is ridiculous. Coach Paul Bass knew it wasn’t going in, and he was ready to tell his girls about how much they learned from this game, and it will only make them better. But then he saw it bank in, and whole new ballgame.
Bass and Memorial coach Shane Coffey were each able to take a step back and realize how great of a game this really was. I like that in the heat of battle, they can admit something like that.
Memorial has just had its heart ripped out against North and Santa Fe. But you know what? Coffey is not worried at all about any lingering effects to his team.
Bass said it was the best atmosphere he’s ever seen in all his time at Santa Fe for a girls game. He even went as far to say it was like a state championship game (I went that far, too).
Walker had 26 points and five assists. Sophia Mahmoodjanloo had eight points and 12 rebounds. Cooper had the lone three with eight boards.
For Memorial, Decker had 20 points. Locke pitched in with 18 while Madison Johnson had 10.
Incredible. Video with Walker and highlights should be up Wednesday on NewsOK.
Santa Fe 60, Memorial 56 ( Boys)
There was no emotional hangover for the Edmond Santa Fe boys basketball team. When you’re facing a rival, you’re able to put the past behind you, and that’s what the Wolves did against Edmond Memorial.
Santa Fe was coming off its first loss of the season, a double overtime defeat to Tulsa East Central.
The Wolves jumped out early Tuesday and led by 10 after the first quarter. But Memorial, paced by Obi Emegano, would not go away.
Santa Fe took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to get it down to four points on two occasions.
Emegano had a game-high 22 points while A.J. Anderson led Santa Fe with 13 points and Mahlon Jones had 11.
Wrestler of the Week: Carl Albert’s Jared Porter
Jared Porter, 145, Carl Albert
Carl Albert wrestler Jared Porter had a tough test at the Jay Hancock 145 pound finals Saturday night. Beat reigning Class 6A state champion Travyon Lee. Porter did just that 3-2 to win the tournament title.
Others in the mix: Tray Dorrell, Del City (won the 112 pound title at Jay Hancock), Kyle Garcia, Choctaw (won the 119 pound title at the Jay Hancock).
