Day 2 at Mabee Center (night session)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
MIDWEST CITY 45, EDMOND SANTA FE 37 – FINAL
10:18 – Norman’s Kamra King continued to light it up en route to a 69-50 win against Edmond North. Looks like we’re on our way to a fourth showdown between Norman and Midwest City as the Bombers’ size advantage is making Santa Fe look weak.
It is MWC 24-12 at halftime, but it doesn’t even feel that competitive.
Back to NHS-EN, great shootout with King and Donohoe. King scored a career-high 33 points while Donohoe did everything in her power, scoring 28 points.
King was simply sensational, no doubt about it. She said she wanted to make up for her lackluster outing Thursday against Edmond Memorial. Consider that done.
Fantastic outing by Norman.
8:38 – Norman 33, Edmond North 21 – Halftime. The Huskies actually end the half on a 9-0 run to kinda get back into the game.
Kamra King has been outstanding for Norman, scoring 17 points and just using her quickness to frustrate North so far.
After a shaky start, Elizabeth Donohoe has 10 points for the Huskies while Emily Davis has provided a spark with seven.
Norman shot the ball unbelievably well, hitting its first six shots. And right now anytime Edmond North thinks it’s making a run, King has shut it down.
Obviously, if North is going to make a run, it’s going to have to start on defense first.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON 51, TULSA EAST CENTRAL 43 – FINAL
I have no idea how the Hornets came back. I was talking with photographer Nate Billings, a BTW alum, and all the sudden the score got closer and closer until BTW was in the lead.
I assume Tharone Chilton because I feel like I’ve watched him grow up. Booker T. vs. Tulsa Memorial for the gold ball Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Mabee Center.
6:46 – TULSA EAST CENTRAL 24, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON 19 – HALFTIME
Enjoying watching TEC’s Damion Hooks play. He’s got size, speed, not too shabby.
6:02 – In the first game of the night session, it was Tulsa Memorial 60, Claremore 51 in a 5A boys semifinal. Up next is the other semi with Booker T. against Tulsa East Central.
First time I’ve seen Memorial’s Cameron Downing…that was impressive. If BTW and TEC are as good as Memorial, should be a fun final. Very impressed by Booker T.
Also on tap are your 6A girls semis with Edmond North vs. Norman and Midwest City vs. Edmond Santa Fe.
Follow Ryan Aber @ryaber and myself @BPrzybylo on Twitter for all your Mabee Center updates.
Mabee Center: Day 2 (first session)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
5A girls: Tulsa East Central 53, Tulsa Washington 38 – final. TEC vs. McAlester for the gold ball.
6A BOYS: MIDWEST CITY 50, PUTNAM WEST 47 – FINAL. Putnam City vs. Midwest City for the gold ball.
6A boys: Midwest City 48, Putnam West 45 – 17 secs #OKPreps
6A boys: Midwest City 46, Putnam West 43 – 1:08 4th #OKPreps. MWC ball after PCW turnover
MIDWEST CITY 44, PUTNAM WEST 42 – 2:16 LEFT.
6A boys: Midwest City 40, Putnam West 37 – 4:46 left 4th #OKPreps
MIDWEST CITY 36, PUTNAM WEST 32 – END 3RD
Love watching Xavier McClish play.
1:23 – Patriots come out smokin’ and have taken a 32-30 lead on the Bombers midway through the third. Amric Fields is playing a heckuva game so far.
MIDWEST CITY 30, PUTNAM WEST 24 – HALFTIME
Right now, MWC looks like it’s just a smidge better than the Patriots at just about everything. I’m way behind on stats (because Scott Wright is covering it) so I have no idea who is doing what, sorry.
12:50 – The Bombers ‘bombing’ away with a 21-13 lead early in the second. Raining 3s right now for MWC, impressive display.
12:49 – OK, I can start paying attention now. Midwest City 16, PCWest 13 at the end of the 1st.
12:43 – Back here for another 6A boys game as Midwest City is up 11-8 here with 2:31 left in the first quarter against Putnam West. Be keepin’ ya posted here and on Twitter.
5A girls: McAlester 42, Tulsa Memorial 39 – Final.
PUTNAM CITY 48, EDMOND SANTA FE 42 – OT FINAL
Class 6A Boys Day 1 Roundup
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
Here’s a quick look at a wild day 1 at the Class 6A state boys basketball tournament in Skiatook.
First, the scores/stories (click the scores to read the full stories):
Edmond Santa Fe 52, Norman North 48
Putnam City 59, Jenks 41
Putnam West 53, Muskogee 41
Midwest City 60, Edmond Memorial 55 OT
And tomorrow’s schedule:
Mabee Center
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Putnam City, 9 a.m.
Midwest City vs. Putnam West, noon
6A Girls: Looking back and ahead…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Class 6A Girls semifinals
Friday
At Mabee Center
Norman vs. Edmond North, 7:30 p.m.
Midwest City vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 9 p.m.
For coverage of MWC’s 44-24 first-round win, go here.
For coverage of Norman’s 40-34 first-round win, go here.
For coverage of Edmond North’s 53-42 first-round win, go here.
For coverage of Edmond Santa Fe’s 58-54 first-round win, go here.
Boneman’s thoughts and observations
- The MWC defense is scary good. The Bombers never looked scared because even though their shots weren’t falling, when you have that type of defense, you’re set.
Nothing too special about it, just imposing size and freakish skill. If you’re going to have any chance against Art Bode’s girls, you’re going to need to be hot from the perimeter because you’re not working the ball down low.
First time I’ve seen Richa Jackson this year, and she lived up to the billing. But I must say that Kaylon Williams is quite the player as well.
- Memorial-Norman was my favorite game of the day. Two teams playing each other for the third time this season. Interesting to see the chess match going on between Matilda Mossman and Shane Coffey.
Bulldogs made a big run in the fourth quarter, but Olivia Meek came up huge. She was not who I was expecting to make the game-changing basket.
Both teams had to adjust to the officials as it was called very tight. I’m looking for Kamra King to come out and have a huge game Friday.
Coffey was generous in defeat and couldn’t say enough about how proud he was of his girls and the way they fought from being 9-9 to making state.
- The Huskies were the best team on this day. The ball movement was crisp, and Anna Kimsey and Elizabeth Donohoe had a field day.
TaNita Dewberry is a tough, tough player and does all the little things. Norman North is no slouch, but Edmond North made it appear that way tonight.
Sets up the rematch from last year with Norman where the Tigers handled them pretty easily.
- Couldn’t believe that run by PCNorth without Joh’Vonna Mitchell. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen Santa Fe so much, but I never thought the Wolves were going to lose but did it ever get interesting.
Coach Paul Bass said it, and I agree 100 percent that was the best game by Sophia Mahmoodjanloo. A senior with no nerves.
Wolves have wanted the big dogs (MWC) all season. Be careful what you wish for? I don’t know, but I’m expecting some late fireworks at the Mabee Center.
- Kamra King vs. Elizabeth Donohoe. Richa Jackson vs. Courtney Walker. Not too shabby.
Back all day Friday and follow me on Twitter @BPrzybylo for continuous updates.
Edmond Santa Fe slips past Norman North
BY RYAN ABER
Staff Writer
raber@opubco.com
SKIATOOK—Edmond Santa Fe came out like a team with something to prove Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the Class 6A boys state tournament at Skiatook’s Gary Johnson Activities Center.
The Wolves didn’t dominate Norman North in a 52-48 win, but there was never much doubt for Santa Fe.
“We executed what we wanted to do,” Santa Fe’s Michael Onuocha said. “We got a little worried there toward the end, and our coach got a little mad, but we never panicked.”
No. 1 Santa Fe (23-4) will play the winner of this afternoon’s game between Putnam City and Jenks at 9 a.m. Friday at the Mabee Center in Tulsa.
Norman North’s season ends 18-9.
Santa Fe split with Putnam City in two meetings and beat Jenks once.
“In this tournament, it doesn’t matter who you play, you’ve got to come out with that intensity,” Onuocha said. “I don’t think that’ll be an issue for us.”
The Wolves entered the playoffs as the favorites in 6A, but a loss to Midwest City in the area finals put that status into question.
But Santa Fe took control from the beginning, never trailing and steadily building a lead throughout the first half with a balanced attack.
But against North, Edmond Santa Fe led from wire-to-wire, scoring the last six points of the half to go into the break up 25-15.
After the break, though, the Wolves couldn’t stretch the lead, though, as Norman North steadily ate into the Wolves’ advantage.
Norman North cut it as close as four in the final minute but could not come closer.
By the end, Mahlon Jones led the Wolves with 15. Onuocha, coming off the bench, had 12 on 5 of 6 shooting.
Dalton Mitchell led Norman North with 16, hitting four 3-pointers. Patrick Schaefer scored 12 to lead the Timberwolves.
Santa Fe shot 53 percent (19 of 36) from the field, while Norman North shot just 39 percent.
Putnam City advances to semis
BY RYAN ABER
Staff Writer
raber@opubco.com
SKIATOOK— Putnam City is doing just fine in the post-Xavier Henry era.
Class 6A’s defending champions advanced to the semifinals Thursday with a 59-41 win over Jenks at Skiatook’s Gary Johnson Activity Center.
Putnam City (23-4) will face Edmond Santa Fe at 9 a.m. today at the Mabee Center.
The teams have met twice this season, splitting with the home teams winning both games. Santa Fe won the first meeting 56-52 on Jan. 19 while the Pirates beat the Wolves 60-54 in the regular-season finale Feb. 19.
“We had a much better understanding of them the second time,” Putnam City’s Dominique Raney said. “I thought that first game was a bit of a fluke. We have our game plan already set for that one. As long as we play our game, we’ll be fine.”
A win Friday would send Putnam City to the championship game for the seventh time in its last eight appearances.
“Every year we come out, we’re playing for a state title,” Raney said. “We’re not playing for anything else.”
The teams traded the lead on six consecutive trips down the floor early in the first period before Putnam City settled in and pulled away.
“We’re a team that prides ourselves on our defense and we weren’t executing on that end,” Raney said. “We were beating ourselves. We just started executing better and things got better for us.”
The Pirates led by 10 points late in the second quarter and steadily stretched that lead until they were up 22 after Raney’s 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.
Raney had 20 to lead all scorers. Brian Brown added 12 and Hunter Gibson 11 for the Pirates.
C.J. Sidorakis led the Trojans with 11.
Jenks was one of just two teams from the East side of the state in the 6A boys field. Only Muskogee, which plays Putnam City West at 7 p.m., remains from the East.
The game was a rematch of last season’s 6A title game, where the Henry-led Pirates beat Jenks 72-48.
Class 6A Girls: Day One (night session)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
10:25 – Santa Fe holds on for a 58-54 win against Putnam North. The Wolves get their wish and a date with Midwest City. Courtney Walker had 18 points for ESF while Sophia Mahmoodjanloo had 16.
Joh’Vonna Mitchell had 18 before injuring her knee. Great run by PCNorth falls just short.
6A Girls: Day One (first session)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
6:42 – For the full story on Norman’s win, go here. For the full story on Midwest City’s win, go here.
6:09 – Wrapped up session one with Norman winning 40-34 against Edmond Memorial. Absolute slugfest would be the best way to describe this one.
Olivia Meek came up huge for the Tigers, scoring 11 points. Alie Decker came alive in the fourth for Memorial, scoring nine of her 11 points in the quarter as Memorial rallied from an eight-point deficit.
But the Tigers never panicked, not once.
Class 6A state tournament day 1
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
10:27: Midwest City wins 60-55 after what Bombers coach Dewayne Bradley calls some “Bomber magic”
10:04: Tied at 54 with Memorial heading to the line. 41.7 left.
10:02: In overtime here. Edmond Memorial up 54-51 with 2:00 left.
9:44: Midwest City up 49-43 with 3:11 remaining.
9:30: Midwest City up 41-36 on Edmond Memorial after 3.
9:20: Sorry again for the long delay. Was trying to track down some info on PCW coach Tim Stogsdill. Not much right now other than he’s expected to coach tomorrow. Putnam City spokesman Steve Lindley declined comment on Stogsdill’s absence or status, citing that it was a personnel matter. Right now, Midwest City leads Edmond Memorial 37-32.
7:53: PCW up 35-31 after 3. Donte Wartson scored all 10 of Muskogee’s points.
7:43: PCW up 27-23 mid third.
7:31: Waited for a bit to put this up because I was hoping to find out more at halftime, but Putnam West coach Tim Stogsdill is not coaching the Patriots. Instead, Ryan Wilkinson is at the helm. No word right now on where Stogsdill is or if he would coach tomorrow if PC West wins.
7:27: Muskogee takes a 21-20 lead into the break, scoring the last 9 points.
7:14: Putnam West up 16-10 early 2nd. Tyler Neal has 9.
7:08: Second alley-oop between the two is waved off for Fields hanging on the rim. Borderline but probably the right call.
7:06: Tied 4-4 about midway through the first. Already had a highlight-reel worthy alley-oop from Tyler Neal to Amric Fields. Already the best atmosphere of the day BY FAR.
7:01: Here we go between PCW and Muskogee. Once again, you can also follow on Twitter (@ryaber) and can keep track of the 6A girls (@BPrzybylo) as well.
6:29: Sorry for the extremely long delay. Having some access issues here at Skiatook but I’ll do my best to at least have quarter/half/final updates during the evening session. Both teams are off the floor for now after a shootaround. This place is not near as full as it was the last time I was here, which was when Verdigris’ Rotnei Clarke broke the state career scoring record. Still love the setup here, though.
2:07: Edmond Santa Fe up 4-0 early, 4:33 remaining in first.
2:01: Here we go with the 6A boys state tournament. Norman North’s Jared Beal and Edmond Santa Fe’s Josh Richardson for the tip…
1:25: Here’s a photo from warmups:
Edmond Santa Fe shootaround before game with Norman North
1:23: I’m here at the Dr. Gary Johnson Activity Center in Skiatook for the opening day of the Class 6A state tournament. First up: Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman North.
Both teams are out warming up right now. I’ll try to update things as much as possible on here but will definitely be updating on Twitter (@ryaber). @bprzybylo is out at the Class 6A girls tournament. I’ll also be tweeting scores from other tournaments as well.
Edmond/Private schools: Thursday predictions…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The Memorial girls were smiling after area. Will they still be after Thursday's showdown with Norman. Photo courtesy of Jana Hill.
Class 6A Boys
Edmond Memorial vs. Midwest City
Prediction: MWC. The Bombers are the scariest team playing right now. Tough draw to get MWC in the quarterfinals. One thing working in Memorial’s favor is having played the Bombers twice already. Always tough to beat a team three times in one season.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman North
Prediction: Santa Fe. It’s a great story what the Timberwolves have done, but this is the year for Santa Fe if ever there has been a year. Too much toughness and a game-changer like Josh Richardson keeps the Wolves bid for a title alive.
Class 6A Girls
Edmond North vs. Norman North
Prediction: Edmond North. The Huskies remember all too well what happened last year against Norman. This team is mentally tougher than most give ‘em credit for, and they’ll show it with a victory here.
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman
Prediction: Memorial. I might have blinders on for this one, but I’ve seen how far the Bulldogs have progressed in the last month. You can wipe out Memorial’s win vs. Norman because it was early in the season and Norman’s win because it was during a brutal stretch. This should be the best first-round game of the tournament.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Putnam City North
Prediction: Santa Fe. Bankin’ on Courtney Walker to put this team on her shoulders and carry them as far as she can. Getting this first one will be huge. PCN is an extremely dangerous squad right now and again, beating a team three times in one season is not an easy thing to do.
Class 5A Girls
Deer Creek vs. Booker T.
Prediction: BTW. You can’t game plan for championship experience and the two-time defending champions certainly have that on their side. The XFactor if Deer Creek is going to win this game: sophomore Jalyn Jackson, she’ll have to be a force in the post.
Class 4A Boys
Bishop McGuinness vs. Cache
Prediction: Irish. Cache is a great story for reaching this point, but coach Tondrell Durham has been here too many times to be spooked by the moment. Can’t reiterate it enough, but the balance of Kevin Caruthers, Jameel Whitney, Joe Edmonds and Matt Christiansen is going to be tough to take out.
Class 3A Boys
Mt. St. Mary’s vs. Hugo
Prediction: Rockets. Any doubts I had about Lenny Hatchett’s club went right out the window with that statement-making win against Bridge Creek. Vincent Mason and Dalton Newsome can carry this team a long way, and they’re battle-tested.
Class 2A Girls
Christian Heritage vs. Washington
Prediction: Washington. Any other team (just about), and I would pick CHA to earn its first win. But with the tournament experience that Washington has, it is such a tough chore to come out with the victory. Think it helps that it’s the 2 p.m. game, though. No time to think and get nervous.
I’ll be at 6A girls Thursday, and you can follow me on Twitter @BPrzybylo. If I’m wrong on the picks, you know I’ll be the first person to make fun of myself for it.
