Top-seeded LHS survives scare in triple-overtime thriller

Top-seeded Lawton High School used a 34-point barrage from Tavarious Deans to finally subdue Putnam City, 66-62, Thursday in a wild triple-overtime battle in the Waste Solutions Great Plains Invitational.

Dean’s effort included hitting 19-of-22 free throws, 11 of those coming in the three overtime periods.

That was obviously the highlight of the four games at the Great Plains Coliseum as the other games were decided well before the end. Other first-round scores included Tulsa Memorial beating Newcastle, 72-26, Northwest Classen handling U.S. Grant, 86-26, and MacArthur coasting past Eisenhower, 82-54.

Today’s schedule begins at 2 p.m. with Newcastle meeting U.S. Grant, followed by Putnam City facing Ike at 4 p.m. in the two consolation bracket games. The semifinals start at 6 p.m. with Northwest Classen going against Tulsa Memorial followed by an intracity battle between Lawton High and MacArthur.

The Wolverines broke fast out of the gates, grabbing a 22-9 lead after the first eight minutes. But after that the Pirates continued to battle back and made LHS work for every point.

“We were able to get the ball inside in the first quarter and we had some rhythm but they started loading up inside and we just struggled to get much going,” first-year LHS coach Chevis Smith said. “We are still trying to find the right combination so we can get a better flow. They are learning but right now we are playing a bunch of guys and it just takes time to find what combination works the best.”

With LHS struggling on the offensive end in the second half, the Pirates started slowly slicing into the lead and it was the long-range shooting of Jacolby Williams that got PC going. He hit a pair of treys in the third quarter and added two more in the fourth as the Pirates kept up the pressure. And when he drilled a deep 3-pointer with 1:03 left in the game that knotted the score at 49-all. Both teams had a chance to win in regulation but LHS missed a close-range shot with 50 seconds remaining.

Also, in those final 50 seconds both teams had turnovers that negated any chance of getting a shot at the victory.

Both teams were able to get some offensive movement in the first overtime but after PC’s Xavier Edmerson hit one of his treys to make it 58-all with 51 seconds to go, both teams had misses in the final 26 seconds and there was still no winner.

The second overtime saw both teams slow the pace, working the ball as they tried to penetrate the defense. PC got the edge, 60-58, and the Pirates kept that lead until Deans hit two clutch free throws with 26 seconds remaining to force another tie. Once again PC had the last shot but it missed.

In the third OT Deans kept up his solid free throw shooting, hitting a pair with 31 seconds remaining for a 63-60 LHS lead. After that Madden Padilla hit one free throw with 17 seconds remaining Pene Vasiagote added two more with 10 seconds to go to finally seal the outcome.

“We got that early lead and then got a little complacent,” Smith said. “We just lost some intensity and they took advantage. We didn’t shoot well from long range and they were getting some of those long rebounds and were getting the ball downcourt fast. I thought overall our defense was pretty good, though.”

With Deans carrying the bulk of the scoring the rest of the Wolverines did just enough to help garner the win. LHS hit two treys but missed numerous long-range shots down the stretch.

“We did a good job early getting the ball inside and scoring but we started to settle for those long ones at times and didn’t get them to drop,” Smith said. “We just have to keep running our offense and getting the ball inside.”

Mac decks Ike

This one was never close but things got chippy as the city rivals combined to draw four technical fouls before the officials, coaches and administrators got things calmed down.

Mac needed just one quarter to assume command, 22-4, and while the Eagles did improve their offensive efficiency, they were unable to make a dent into the Mac lead.

The Highlanders were led by Keyion Brown with 19 and Brennan Malone with 16. Seven other Mac players scored to provide good balance.

The Eagles got scoring leadership from Latrell Bailey with 23 and Richard Oduma added nine.

In the afternoon session Tulsa Memorial routed Newcastle, 72-26, and Northwest Classen beat U.S. Grant, 86-26. Both games were over at halftime as the second-seeded Knights of Northwest used balance to prevail as all 11 players broke into the scoring column led by Ty’Quavious Williams with 17.

Tulsa Memorial had nine of its 13 players score in the easy win and it was Jalil Cotton leading the way with 19 while Fabian Harris had 14.