Owls cruise to district title, 50-29

NORMAN — Elgin used a dominating third-quarter performance to build a 23-point lead over Community Christian School and cruise to a Class 4A district championship win Friday night.

The Owls held a 38-15 lead at halftime en route to their 50-29 victory. The win sends the Owls to the 4A Regional Tournament on Thursday at Bethany, where they will play Bethany, a 43-42 winner over McGuinness. Elgin (12-12) and Bethany (15-9) will tipoff at 7:30 p.m.

The district title is the sixth in seven years for Elgin, head coach Ryan Green said. The Owls have won three of their last five games.

Elgin outscored Community Christian 16-0 in the third quarter with five different players notching baskets, including three three-point buckets.

“Defensively, we did a great job, especially on their number 15, who is a great player,” Green said.

Christian Reed led Elgin in scoring with 12 points, followed by Denton Glover with 11 and Jake Lohman with 10. Point guard Jaylon Nettles tallied four points but had numerous assists to set up baskets by his Owl teammates.

“He (Nettles) did a good job, and he only had one turnover,” Green said. “He also had four steals that were big, big.” 

Community Christian outscored Elgin 14-12 in the final eight minutes as the hosts began to pressure Elgin in the backcourt while also hitting four three-point buckets, but it was too little, too late to overcome the 23-point deficit.

Elgin hit seven three-point buckets, with two each from Nicholas Meraz and Glover. 

If Elgin defeats Bethany, the Owls would play the winner of the Oklahoma Christian School-Cushing game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. An Elgin loss would pit the Owls against the winner of the Western Heights-Bristow game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

 Bethany defeated the Owls 65-51 earlier this season.