Pirates stay perfect against in-state foes
Even after two wins over Putnam City North this season heading into Friday's regular-season finale, Class 6A No. 1-ranked Putnam City thought it still had something to prove against the No. 3 Panthers.
The Pirates still hold onto the empty feeling they experienced last season when their archrivals beat them to keep Putnam City from the state tournament.
"Coach (A.D.) Burtschi doesn't let us forget,” Garen Wright said after the Pirates beat PC North 65-61 on the road.
The win capped a regular season with no losses to in-state opponents. Putnam City's only loss of the season came to Duncanville, Texas, early in the season.
Pirates star Xavier Henry didn't start after missing Tuesday's win over Yukon and Wednesday's practice with an illness.
The rust was evident early as Henry missed his first three tries from the floor — all 3-pointers. But it didn't take the junior long to shake it off as he went 6-for-8 from the field the rest of the way. He hit 19 of 21 free throws to finish with a game-high 32 points.
"Xavier's a warrior,” Wright said. "There's a reason he's the best player in the country.”
Henry scored 13 in the fourth quarter and made all eight of his free throws in the final two minutes, after Brandon Jackson's 3-pointer put the Pirates (22-1) up for good with 1:45 remaining.
"You always take things personally,” Henry said. "I take everything that way. You have to. We knew they were going to come out strong in their house.
"This was a big game for us coming off last year's disappointment. We wanted to finish the season without losing to a team from Oklahoma.”
The game was a stark contrast to the teams' other meetings this season. The Pirates cruised in both of those, winning the Putnam City Invitational with a 73-61 win and then winning at home, 70-53.
"Honestly, they just hit big shots tonight,” Wright said. "It's hard to defend Dennon Mitchell, Dante (Jordan) and Brentrell Friday when they're hitting shots.”
In the three games against the Panthers, Xavier Henry combined for 90 points.
"I could've gotten down after I missed those shots early, but I don't think that way,” Henry said. "When the outside shots aren't falling, I've just got to go to the bucket and get my points that way.”
The game was played about an hour before the originally scheduled starting time after the first scheduled meeting between the schools was marred by a shooting after the game.
The contention Friday night was on the floor as Henry was given a technical foul late in the game, which allowed the Panthers to take their last lead of the game after making both free throws and converting on the next possession.
But the Panthers gave those points back, when Mitchell was given a technical less than a minute later and Henry hit both free throws.
The Pirates open the playoffs at home Friday against Yukon. The Panthers open at home the same night against Norman North.
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