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By: Hope Hayes
The Booker T. Washington Hornets vs. the Guthrie Bluejays: when many hear those two teams combined, they think of Guthrie���s football state championship in 2002. When people hear these names tomorrow night, the 5A 2008 State basketball Championship will be involved.
The Guthrie Bluejays beat the Tulsa Edison Eagles 50-48. Guthrie advances to the State championship tomorrow night with a record of 22-4. The Eagles finish their season 20-7.
Guthrie fans may be used to a 11-0 lead to start of the first quarter, but that didn’t happen tonight. Tulsa Edison scored first in the match up with a basket by Raphael Todd. Guthrie would follow with baskets by seniors Kent McDonald and Jon Washington. Tulsa Edison tangoed with the lead in the first quarter, and all night. Guthrie was up 9-7 at the end of the first.
The second quarter would get underway with baskets by Kent McDonald and Edison's Terrell Williams. Junior guard Donte’ Foster and Jon Washington would add two. Guthrie was down 18-17 at the conclusion of the first half, a basket by Edison's Todd would go in at the buzzer to take the lead. Guthrie shot 39% from the field the first half, while Edison wasn’t far ahead with 41%.
The second half started out with a little spark. Edison’s star player Matt Rutledge started out the third with a nice three pointer, but he didn’t enjoy that glory for long. Keaton Callins followed with a basket, and back-to-back three pointers. Keaton Callins scored three of his four three pointers in the third quarter. Guthrie was down 33-32 at the finish of the third.
The forth quarter was once again the beef of the game. Callins opened up with a three pointer for his fourth consecutive three point shot and Guthrie got ahead by six points.
Guthrie was beginning to think their lead was secured, but Edison’s Todd Aduddell hit a three pointer, and drew a foul after Guthrie jumped out to their biggest lead of the night at 6-points. Edison shot two three pointers and and several attempts under the basket in the final seconds, but nothing fell.
Guthrie had five players score on the night. Junior Keaton Callins had an amazing 23 points, with 21 of those coming in the second half, three rebounds and two assists. Foster managed nine points and four rebounds. McDonald and Washington added eight points apiece and Matt Hamilton added and two huge points from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
Tune in tomorrow when Chris Evans, Casey Porter, Shawn Ingle, and Chris LeGrande broadcast the 5A State Championship on Triple Play Sports 105.1 FM beginning at 2:45. Don’t forget to visit the podcast page to listen to interviews with Coach Papahronis and the Bluejay basketball team.
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