Bombers knock off Norman
Last season, the Mid-State Conference triumvirate of Norman, Del City and Midwest City made up for three of the top girls basketball teams in Class 6A. At one point, all three were ranked in the top four.
Fast forward to this season. Not much has changed. The most recent 6A rankings: Norman, No. 2; Midwest City, No. 3; Del City, No. 4. However, unlike last year, when the threesome confused everyone (Del City couldn't beat Midwest City but swept Norman; Norman couldn't beat Del City but swept Midwest City; Midwest City couldn't beat Norman, but handled Del City), there appears to be a team taking a step forward from the crowd.
With a virtual group of toddlers, Midwest City ran right past Norman 52-42 on Friday at J.E. Sutton Field House. The victory moved the Bombers to 6-0 and, coupled with Saturday's 55-48 triumph over Del City, allowed them to break last year's merry-go-round trend.
"We feel like we're as good as any team in the state,” said sophomore Richa Jackson, who had game-highs with 18 points and 11 rebounds on Friday. "Better, maybe.”
Bombers coach Art Bode doesn't shy away from such a confident claim.
"They realize we're a pretty good team,” Bode said. "They have one goal. Not the state tournament — the state championship. They want to have that kind of focus.”
Bode readied his all-underclassmen squad with a barbaric preseason scrimmage schedule that included defending 6A champ Sapulpa, 6A runner-up Mustang, 4A champ Weatherford and 3A champ Sequoyah-Tahlequah. Friday, the toughness derived from that paid off. The Bombers could have wilted after Norman's 17-5 run gave it a 39-31 lead late in the third period. Instead, Midwest City answered with an 18-0, game-deciding flurry.
As for Norman, the Tigers played Friday without leading scorer and rebounder Ashley Bruner, who was held out of the game. Courtney Brown did a nice job filling in. The junior, coming off a torn knee ligament, buried four 3-pointers en route to a team-high 14-points.
•Mustang's Pyle not rusty: After missing several games with an ankle injury, Mustang standout Jordan Pyle led the Broncos to a 61-46 win over Putnam City North. The senior post had a game-high 13 points to keep coach Nichole Copeland's crew unbeaten at 4-0.
•Del City back in a hurry: Coming off its first loss of the season, fourth-ranked Del City (5-1) blasted Moore 74-29 as Toni Young tossed in 18 points, and Brittani Shand added 15.
•Kingfisher wins doubles-duel: Kingfisher's Kortny Sandefur and Shiloh Layn combined for 31 points to offset the combined 29 points by Tuttle duo Whitney Cummings and Delaney Scrivner. Nine Kingfisher players scored in the 59-43 win
BOYS
•Norman stuns No. 2 Bombers: Austin Allen had 14 points, three assists and seven rebounds as unranked Norman upset No. 2 Midwest City 43-37 at Sutton Field House. Kyle Hardrick added 20 rebounds and three rebounds for Norman.
Chuck Sanders had 14 points for Midwest City.
•PCN back to winning ways: Brentrell Friday collected a game-high 22 points, and Putnam City North whipped Mustang 70-59 in Class 6A boys basketball.
Fourth-ranked PC North had not played in 10 days. The Panthers (3-1) were itching to get back on the basketball court after losing their previous game, to No. 7 Edmond Santa Fe, at the PCN gym.
Friday, PC North trailed by four points at halftime before taking control in the third quarter.
•Pirates crush Patriots: Xavier Henry hit seven 3-pointers and had 37 points while helping Putnam City crush Putnam City West, 75-62.
•McGuinness rolls: Jeffrey Merritt had 19 points as Bishop McGuinness hammered Deer Creek, 72-54. Daniel Orton added eight points for McGuinness.
•Harding wipes out South: Brandon Savage poured in 32 points as Harding Prep thumped Santa Fe South, 76-38.
[More
at newsok.com]
