 |
|||||||||||||||
|
By: Chris Evans
Posted March 6, 2009
The third time was still the charm for the defending state champion Guthrie BlueJay basketball team as they took down the El Reno Indians for the third time this season, but this time the win lands the Jays back into the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Guthrie
got a double double with 21-points and 12 rebounds from senior Donte' Foster in
a 71-59 win over the Indians, in the area tournament, inside a warm Edmond North
High School gymnasium. The Jays move their impressive season record to 24-2
with perhaps three more games to play.
El Reno would not back down from the Guthrie team that had beat them by 20 on their home floor just 11 days ago.
Foster scored six points in the first quarter, but Devante Moore's shot at the first quarter buzzer pulled El Reno within three, 11-8.
Guthrie would snap off a 5-0 run led by senior Clayton Smith's four points to begin the second quarter to push the lead up to eight, 16-8, with 6:00 left in the second quarter and the lead would grow as high as 9 in the quarter (20-11), but El Reno finished the half by outscoring the Jays 12-4. Guthrie led by one going into the half, 24-23.
As they have many times in the last two seasons, Guthrie came out of the half time locker with a vengeance. This time it would be an 11-0 run in the first 1:41 to go up 35-23 and by the end of the quarter Guthrie had put up 25 points in the frame and held a 49-34 advantage. The Jays ended the quarter on a 7-1 run in the final 1:48 with the last three points coming Mr. YouTube himself at the buzzer.
Foster, not to be out done by Moore's second quarter buzzer beater, went coast-to-coast and popped a three pointer from the top of the key as the horn sounded and the eruption of the Guthrie faithful in the stands.
The lead would grow as much as 17-points before El Reno got back within seven (60-53) with 2:24 to play. The Jays put the final touches on the Indians with highlight dunks by Foster and sophomore Kentrell Brothers. Brothers' dunk was his first in a varsity game and came in the final seconds with a right hand throw down off the baseline.
Guthrie, although improved as the game went on, was 15 of 25 from the charity stripe and committed 20 turnover's, but shot 58% on 26 of 45 shooting. El Reno stayed in the game by connecting on 24 of 28 free throw's.
Along with Foster, Guthrie saw Clayton Smith (12), Keaton Callins (10), and Devon Hall (10) finish with double figures scoring. Smith was named the A-Always Storage Player of the Game with eight points coming in the second quarter alone that gave the Jays a spark they needed.
The Jays, who will play in their 24th state tournament, will be top seeded team when the bracket is released on Sunday and will play the lowest seeded team from the loser's bracket from the East side of the state. Guthrie Sports Page will publish the information as soon as it is released Sunday afternoon.
|
5A WEST AREA At Edmond North NW Classen vs El Reno, 8:00 p.m. Guthrie 71, El Reno 59 NW Classen defeats Chickasha, 8 p.m. At Edmond Memorial Altus vs Ardmore, 6:30 - Edm North Carl Albert 77, Altus 44 Ardmore 66, Southeast 62 REGIONALS At Guthrie Guthrie 57, Southeast 39, champ. Southeast 88, Lawton Mac 78 Guthrie 52, Noble 29 At El Reno El Reno 74, Ardmore 66, champ. Ardmore 44, Deer Creek 39 El Reno 95, Western Heights 57 At Northwest Classen Altus 74, NW Classen 69, champ. Altus 69, Harrah 53 NW Classen 91, Durant 49 At Carl Albert Carl Albert 69, Chickasha 59, champ. Chickasha 72, Duncan 56 Carl Albert 71, Ada 43 |
5A EAST AREA At Sapulpa Tulsa Edison vs Capitol Hill, 8:00 p.m. BTW defeats Tulsa Edison Capitol Hill defeats Stilwell At Tulsa Webster Bishop Kelly vs Shawnee, 6:30 p.m. - Sapulpa Tahlequah defeats Bishop Kelley Shawnee defeats Coweta REGIONALS At Tulsa Washington BTW 74, Coweta 33, champ. Coweta 58, Claremore 48 BTW 90, Tulsa Hale 53 At Tulsa Edison Tulsa Edison 71, Shawnee 63, champ. Shawnee 66, Bixby 51 Tulsa Edison 68, McAlester 65 At Tahlequah Tahlequah 34, Capitol Hill 23, champ. Capitol Hill 65, Collinsville 36 Tahlequah 58, Tulsa Rogers 46 At Bishop Kelley Bishop Kelley 74, Stilwell 51, champ. Stilwell 65, Pryor 59 Bishop Kelley 59, Skiatook 42 |
Share your thoughts on this story by going to the Guthrie Sports Page message board. It's free to join and talk Guthrie athletics. Click Here!