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By: Chris Evans
Posted March 12, 2009
The Guthrie BlueJays did not have as an easy of a time as they did a few weeks ago with the Shawnee Wolves, but would lead the entire 32 minutes to advance to the semi finals with a win in the first round of the 5A State basketball tournament.
The Jays jumped out to a 9-3 lead led by five points coming from junior forward Devon Hall, including a three pointer to begin the BlueJay scoring that resulted in a 55-38 win over the Wolves.
The 38 points is the lowest scoring output by the Wolves this season and averaged 63 entering the state tournament. Their previous low was 46 to Coweta in the first round of regional play. Guthrie now improves to 22-0 when holding their opponents to 48, or less points.
Guthrie (25-2) advances to the next round where they will play the Tahlequah Tigers. Tahlequah needed double overtime to out last the El Reno Indians to begin the afternoon at Norman North High School, 67-65.
The BlueJays are the only team from the West side of the state to get a win with Tulsa Edison defeating Carl Albert 43-41 and Booker T. Washington taking down Ardmore 66-48.
Donte' Foster and B.J. McDonald led the BlueJay charge with 14 points each as eight different BlueJays scored. Foster added 14 boards for another double double and McDonald was awarded the A Always Storage Player of the Game.
Guthrie posted a 14-10 first quarter lead before leading at the half by nine, 26-17.
Shawnee, who finishes their season 18-10, shot just 26% from the field, including 24% from 3-point land on 6 of 25 shooting. Two of those 3-pointers came within seconds to pull the Wolves within 9, 47-38, but would not score the rest of the 4:00 of the game.
The Jays struggled as well from beyond the arc (2-11), but were 42% overall from the field. However, the other three pointer came at the end of the third quarter when Kentrell Brothers banked in a three quarters of the court shot just after Shawnee hit a 3-point shot to pull within 12 points.
Tahlequah got 36 points from senior forward Matt Qualls, including 9 of the teams 11 points in double overtime, along with 15 boards in the double overtime win over El Reno. Tahlequah got their first tournament win since 1991.
Guthrie-Tahlequah will tip at 4:30 at the Lloyd Noble Center with the radio broadcast starting at 4:00 with the pre-game show.
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