CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA – The Port Metropolis Traditional is without doubt one of the longest-running highschool basketball tournaments in Oklahoma, working for 57 years.
This yr has been implausible with two aggressive championships. Within the women, No. 15 Duncan (Class 4A) beat Plainview 43-34. Then on the boys aspect, No. 3 Victory Christian (Class 3A) defeated Catoosa (Class 4A) 73-63.
Port Metropolis Traditional Boys Championship
Victory Christian 73, Catoosa 63
Victory Christian senior Chris Mason put the workforce on his again late within the sport when he threw down two slam dunks within the fourth quarter.
He was named MVP of all the event and scored 21 factors. It’s his third all-tournament MVP of the season.
He threw down a pair of slam dunks in final yr's Catoosa event to beat Victory Christian, however the tables have turned this season.
“I'd prefer to name myself a professional, however probably not,” Mason mentioned jokingly. “4 years of highschool basketball ready me for moments like this. I knew I needed to get some revenge as a result of they screwed us final yr.”
Victory Christian received off to a sizzling begin due to eight factors from freshman Gene Mason and 9 from Connor Hilsop.
Catoosa had an offensive lull and Victory Christian took benefit, hitting open photographs and main 21-11 heading into the second quarter.
Prime 25 Oklahoma Excessive Faculty Boys Basketball Rankings (1/17/2024)
Victory Christian constructed a 31-17 lead. However Catoosa's Probability Handley hit three straight 3-pointers and Titus Miller had a block to spark a 14-7 run to finish the half. Victory Christian led 38-31 on the half.
Victory Christian opened the third quarter on a 17-2 run with performs like Michael Physician driving by means of the lane for a layup and Gene Mason hitting a 3-pointer.
Victory Christian's protection did nearly every little thing proper within the quarter, permitting simply eight factors, however Catoosa's Luke Beauchamp made a 3-pointer on the buzzer.
“We stayed affected person and appeared actually good,” Victory coach Ryan Wakley mentioned. “We performed nice protection. Catoosa is a superb basketball workforce and we knew we have been going to need to reap the benefits of that if the photographs weren't falling for them.”
The Indians responded within the fourth quarter and got here alive when Victory Christian obtained a double technical foul. After that play and three free throws by Handley, Catoosa discovered itself trailing 64-53 with three minutes left within the sport.
Victory Christian stopped and performed the ball, however missed an open layup. Handley hit a 3-pointer to make it an eight-point sport, however Victory Christian hit one on the opposite finish to make it 66-56 with 1:41 left within the sport.
Chris Mason was fouled and made three free throws and later hit a two-handed slam. However Catoosa wouldn't go away when Handley buried a 3-pointer with 41 seconds to play as Catoosa trailed, 71-61.
Chris Mason threw down his second slam dunk late within the sport for the eventual 10-point victory.
“Now we have some guys which are expert basketball gamers,” Wakley mentioned. “We knew Catoosa wasn't going to go down with no struggle, however we stayed calm and scored once they got here at us.
Duncan Girl Demons
Port Metropolis Traditional Ladies Championship
Duncan 43, Plainview 34
There was no offense within the first half, each groups defended effectively and each pulled down the boards. With missed photographs and good protection, it was Plainview that led 6-5 at quarter time.
Each defenses performed effectively, however Plainview closed the second quarter on a 5-0 run with performs like Jacey Hammon flattening an open 3-pointer when Duncan got here in late on a layup. Plainview discovered themselves forward 19-13 on the half.
Duncan scored 14 factors within the third quarter. The Girl Demons went on an 8-0 run to tie the sport with performs like Dashia Givens grabbing three straight offensive rebounds, then getting fouled and making a free throw.She was additionally named the all-tournament MVP.
“There are some women on our workforce that may play,” Givens mentioned. “I didn't rating like I wished to, however different women like Addie Siess and Ariyah Harris scored. All of us play as one and I had nice matches within the first and second rounds of the event.”
Prime 25 Oklahoma Excessive Faculty Ladies Basketball Rankings (1/16/2024)
Plainview lastly scored within the third quarter when Marya Southerland scored on a layup to tie the sport at 21. Each groups moved the ball and located some offensive success, nevertheless it was Duncan who held a 27-24 benefit.
“We performed good protection and slowed down their offense,” Duncan coach Grant Givens mentioned. “We modified the tempo and performed on each side of the ball. It was nice to see a workforce like Plainview at 5 factors on offense.”
Addie Siess scored the primary 5 factors of the fourth quarter for Duncan. She scored 9 factors within the fourth quarter for a complete of 11 factors. Duncan held a 36-33 lead with 4 minutes to go.
Siess was nonetheless taking part in and doing the pull-down jumper. She blocked a shot on the following possession and two minutes into the sport, Duncan allowed another level to shut out the sport on a 7-1 run to win the sport by 9.
“I'm by no means actually good at blocking photographs, so it was enjoyable,” Siess mentioned. “I knew Plainview was going to shoot the ball in that place. So far as my scoring late within the sport, I knew I needed to make performs as a result of Plainview wasn't going to go away.”
Victory Christian Boys Pictures
— Josh Jennings | @SBLiveOK
