|
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Fantastic Teams
Central Oklahoma, OK
|
|
|
By: Francisco Ojeda
|
Photo(s) By: Wes Sharp
|
These teams capped on their seasons with a state title:
Bishop McGuinness boys – The best and most dominant team in the state the past three years. McGuinness has faced very few challengers in Class 4A the last three years. The Fighting Irish (26-4) dominated their competition in easily winning their third straight 4A gold ball. They had three players average at least 13 points a game and won two games in double figures. The Fighting Irish won their eighth state championship overall.
Star Spencer girls – The Bobcats won the 4A state championship with a freshman leading the way and with balance. Freshman Sharane Campbell gave Star Spencer (28-1) a spark and the Bobcats had four players average nine or more points to win its fourth title in school history, first since 1991. The Bobcats won two games in double figures in the tournament and defeated favored Fort Gibson 51-43 in the title game.
Guthrie boys – Many of the Guthrie players hoisted up the gold ball for the second time in four months. The basketball team followed the example of the football team in December and won the 5A state championship. While not as dominant as the football team, the basketball team had the same result – a state title. Guthrie (23-4) won two games in the final seconds, including a 58-57 win over Tulsa Washington in the title game. The Bluejays had three players average in double figures in capturing their first state title since 1969 and fifth overall.
Millwood girls – Class 3A was supposed to be an afterthought. Tahlequah-Sequoyah was the big favorite to win its fourth straight state title. Instead, Millwood shocked almost everyone with a thrilling, come-from-behind 63-60 win over the Indians to capture the state title. Millwood (27-3) came back from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to win. The Falcons, who had four girls average in double figures, won their second state title in school history. The first one was in 1990.
Unstoppable
These players carried their teams to state championships:
Brittany Demery, Millwood – One of, if not the best forward in 3A. The senior proved it in the state tournament, averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She showed up big in the state title game as well, recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Falcons captured the state title.
Daniel Orton, Bishop McGuinness – He scores, he rebounds and he defends. The 6-foot-10 junior center is the most physically imposing player in the state. And he shows up in the big games. He averaged 18 points a game to lead McGuinness to its third straight gold ball. He had 14 points and seven blocks in the championship game.
Sharane Campbell, Star Spencer – It’s hard to believe that a freshman can be as dominant as Campbell was in the 4A tournament. The 5-foot-9 Campbell averaged 19 points a game to lead the Bobcats to the state championship. Campbell scored 15 points in the state title game to help Star Spencer capture its first gold ball since 1991 and fourth overall.
Clutch performers
These players came up big when their team needed it the most:
Ronita Coleman, Millwood – She made crucial plays on offense and defense in the final seconds of Millwood’s state title win over Tahlequah-Sequoyah. She put back an offensive rebound after a missed free throw to give the Falcons a 61-60 lead with 16 seconds remaining. Then, she recorded a steal with a second left, capping off the win with two free throws.
Donte Foster, Guthrie – He had a decent first two games of the 5A state tournament, but shined in the state championship game. He scored a game-high 16 points, including a highlight reel dunk in the fourth quarter. The junior’s last two points were the most crucial; scoring the game-winning layup with 11 seconds remaining as the Bluejays beat Tulsa Washington 58-57.
Almost enough
These players nearly led their teams to a state runner-up finish:
Bentrell Friday, Putnam City North – His tremendous leaping ability helped the Panthers finish runner-up in 6A. The 6-foot-1 senior averaged 16.3 points a game and several highlight-reel baskets.
Dennon Mitchell, Putnam City North – He is one of the best scorers in the state and showed it in the 6A tournament. The senior guard scored a 6A-best 62 points and averaged 20.7 points a game.
Ben Smith, Southeast – The 6-foot-4 senior carried the Spartans to a surprising run to the 4A state title game before losing to McGuinness 80-63. He led the 4A tournament in scoring, averaging nearly 25 a game, including 23 in the state title game.
George Overbey, Oklahoma Christian – The team was supposed to drop off dramatically after the loss of Blake Griffin, who is now playing for Oklahoma after leading OCS to four straight state titles. But Overbey helped Oklahoma Christian advance to its fifth straight state title game before losing to Keiton Page-led Pawnee in the 2A title game. Overbey averaged 19.7 points a game.
Help on the way
They might not be stars, but these players contributed greatly as role players:
Ryan Randolph and Jeff Merritt, Bishop McGuinness -- Orton gets all the headlines, but McGuinness would not be holding the gold ball without these two providing support inside the paint. Randolph, a 6-foot-3 junior, averaged 17 points a game while Merritt, a 6-foot-5 senior, scored nearly 14 points a game.
Keaton Callins and Kent McDonald, Guthrie – These two guys, along with Foster, took turns taking over the game during Guthrie’s run to the 5A state title. Callins, a 5-foot-11 junior, led the team with 15 points a game while McDonald (6-foot-4, sr.) gave the team an inside presence with his 12.7 points a game.
Adam Coury, Oklahoma Christian – The 5-foot-9 senior guard averaged 17 points a game to help the team finish runner-up in 2A.
Joh’Vonna Mitchell, Millwood – She led the Falcons in scoring in the state tournament, averaging 15 points a game. The freshman had no jitters in her first Big House experience as Millwood won the 3A state title.
Kiana Morris, Star Spencer – The junior is one of three players for the Bobcats that averaged nine points a game. She scored 9.7 a game and was a steady influence on a young and talented team that won the 4A title. She scored 15 points in the state title game.
Showtime
These players had great tournaments despite not winning the state title:
Nic Combs, Edmond Santa Fe – The senior guard averaged the most points in the 6A state tournament. He had 22 points a game to help the Wolves reach the semifinals.
Ashley Bruner, Norman – The junior post helped lead Norman to the 6A semifinals, averaging nearly 15 points a game.
Jarrod McDaniel, Midwest City – He may be small, but he’s fast and exciting to watch. The 5-foot-8 guard was the leader on a team that won the 6A state title a year ago and reached the semifinals this year. He averaged 12 points a game in the tournament.
Ricky Hill, Douglass – One of the best post players in the state. The 6-foot-6 senior averaged 15.5 points a game and led the Trojans to the 4A semifinals.
Kylie Mays, Carl Albert – The sophomore was one of many young players that contributed for Carl Albert. She averaged nearly 13 points in the Titans’ 5A semifinal run.
Richa Jackson, Midwest City – The sophomore forward led a big resurgence in the Bombers’ program. She averaged 20 points a game as Midwest City made the 6A semifinals.
June Carter, Millwood – A dominant inside presence, The 6-foot-6 Carter averaged 17.5 points a game as Millwood advanced to the 3A semifinals.
Roderick Harper, John Marshall – One of the most explosive offensive players in the state, Harper averaged 18 points a game to lead the Bears to the 3A semifinals.
|
|
| No comments added! Click [ add a comment ] to be the first! |
|
|
 ™
|
|
A collection of this month's best action photos.
|
|
|
|
|
Brittni Walker
Brittni Walker of Carl Albert is the setter for one of the best teams in Class 4A. Walker, who also...
More 
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basketball season doesn’t start until the end of November, but October is a big month, too. That’s when practices get...
More
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
You need to upgrade your Flash Player to version 9 or newer.
|
|
|
|
®
™
