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By: Chris Evans
Class 5A's defending state champions finally hit the floor for the first time in the 2008-2009 season and made quick work of the Chickasha Fightin' Chicks, in Chickasha, Tuesday evening.
The Jays jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the game's first 3:07 and would never trail en route to a 54-45 win. With the loss, Chickasha drops their record to 2-2 with both losses coming on their home court to Harrah and Guthrie. Meanwhile, the Jays are 1-0 and are currently riding a 9-game winning streak dating back to last season.
The top ranked Jays got five quick points from point guard Matt Hamilton as four other Jays scored in the opening quarter to take a 13-9 advantage. Guthrie finished the night with nine different scorers. However, Dalonta Napolean stole the show as he lead all scorers with 26 points including 7-8 from the free throw line. As a team, Chickasha finished 14-16 (88%) while the Jays struggled at the charity stripe by going 6-18 (33%).
Guthrie jumped out to their biggest first half lead by going on a 9-0 second quarter run to push their lead up 24-14 with senior Donte' Foster scoring five of the 10 points in the 4:46 run. Guthrie went into the locker room leading 27-19 at the half.
Chickasha shot 37% from the field while the Jays shot 46% on 12-26 shooting. In that half, Foster scored 9 of his 11 points on the evening on just 9 shots from the field.
The Chicks made one last run at the Jays in the third quarter by cutting the lead down to six. Midway through the third quarter, Taylor Wilson and Napolean each made old fashion 3-point plays to cut the lead in half, in 30 seconds, to make it a 33-27 game. However, Guthrie would score the final seven points in the quarter and the first two in the fourth quarter to go back up double figures, 42-27.
Senior sharp-shooter Keaton Callins led the charge during the run with five points in 32 seconds and finished with a team high 14-points. He was awarded the A-Always Storage Player of the Game.
The BlueJays played 10 players with many of them in foul trouble, but had 9 players contribute on the scoreboard. Forward Devon Hall finished with 8 points, BJ McDonald added 6, Hamilton finished with 5, Chelsea Dumas and Cody Gross each had 3, and both Clayton Smith and Kentrell Brothers added 2 points. As a team, the Jays shot 47% from the field and held the Chicks to a 37% shooting night.
Guthrie will next be in action Tuesday night (12-16-08) for a Top 10 showdown with the Harrah Panthers. Harrah won two of the three games last season with the Jays. Guthrie, however, won in the Area Tourney to advance to State. Tip time is set for 8:00 and can be heard on the Triple Play Sports Radio Network.
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