Tournament for the Record Books

The match-up that every boy's high school basketball fan has wanted to see came to form at the 43rd Annual Tournament of Champions at the Expo Square Pavilion. The Verdigris Cardinals, led by Arkansas signee Rotnei Clarke, and Pawnee, led by Oklahoma State University bound Keiton Page, met in the consolation bracket of the tournament. Two of the most prolific scores in state history on the same court in late December added a state tournament feel to the historic Schoolboy Tournament of Champions. The crowd stretched out the door waiting for tickets and the game was delayed nearly 30 minutes for what turned out to be a great game for the 4,100 fans on hand who saw the Pawnee Black Bears prevail 57-49. Clarke's seven 3-pointers added up fast for a total of 34 points in the game. While Page used his quickness to get to the basket and the free throw line where he hit 13 of 14 and finished with 28 points. This less than 24 hours after Page experienced leg cramps in the first round loss to Jenks. The difference in the game was Page's supporting cast. Senior Alex Hanson made five 3-pointers and ended the game with 16 points. While Chace Green(5), Blaine Wensler(5), and Kyle LeGrand(3) also contributed in the Black Bears scoring effort. Rotnei Clarke was complimented in the scoring column by senior post player Adam Hollon (10) and guard Cole Overholt (3). That wasn't the only great game of the tournament as Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness won a tight one versus Jenks in the early semi-final game. The Fighting Irish were led by senior Jeffrey Merritt with a game high 24 points. Highly regarded junior Daniel Orton scored 10 points as he battled Jenks post-player Vince Boncaldo who finished with 13 points. Bryson Pope was the Trojans leading scorer with 18, but it wasn't enough as the Fighting Irish squeaked a win past the Trojans 49-48. The win pushed Bishop McGuinness into the Championship game versus East Central. The loss for the Trojans prevented them from extending their Tournament of Championship titles to a three-peat. The loss to Bishop McGuinness placed the Jenks Trojan against Tahlequah Sequoyah in the 3rd place game. Sequoyah senior Mike Soap led the Indians by scoring 20 points. But Jenks' Bryson Pope was too much to handle in the second half and ended the game with 21 points. In the championship game, East Central Senior guard Ken Holdman scored 19 points and hit 11 of 12 free throws. Holdman, a signee with Missouri State, was impressive through out the Tournament scoring 47 points in three games and playing tough defense. Courtney Ingram scored 20 points for the Cardinals and continued a great three game stretch. The difference in the game was the Cardinals ability to stop McGuinness guard Jeffrey Merritt by holding him to only 13 points. The leading scorer for the Fighting Irish was junior Gabe Ikard with 17 points who was a handful for the Cardinals but it wasn't enough in the Cardinal 67-60 victory. With the win the Cardinals captured the first Tournament of Champions title in school history. Tournament of Champions First Team Keiton Page--Pawnee- Is now the career leader in Tournament of Champions scoring with 272 points in nine games. Also became the second highest scorer in three games with123 points. Was named the 2007 Tournament of Champions MVP. Three Game Point Total: 123 Rotnei Clarke--Verdigris- Was most impressive in game against Pawnee scoring 34 points and hitting seven three pointers. Three Game Point Total: 87 Ken Holdman--East Central- Runner-up in Tournament of Champions MVP voting. Was a key factor in the Cardinals run through the tournament. Three Game Point Total: 47 Jeffrey Merritt--OKC McGuinness- Led his team to the championship game. The key factor in the semi-final win over Jenks, scoring 24 points. Three Game Point Total: 45 James Watson--Stringtown- Averaged 21.6 points and 10 rebounds during the Tournament of Champions. Was the leading rebounder for the three games with 30. Three Game Point Total: 65 Bryson Pope--Jenks- Led the Trojans to a 3rd place win and is only a junior. Three Game Point Total: 55. Three Game Rebound Total: 14 Second Team Sidney Hadnott East Central Harrison Haugland Bixby Courtney Ingram East Central Daniel Orton OKC McGuinness Mike Soap Tahlequah Sequoyah