by Michael Kinney
MIDWEST CITY – Class 6A No. 2 Edmond Memorial almost swept the primary two rounds of the Titan Basic.
They didn’t have to lift their stage of play to advance to the following spherical in wins in opposition to Del Metropolis and Glenpool.
Nevertheless, once they confronted 5A No. 2 Midwest Metropolis Carl Albert in Saturday’s championship match, it was a wholly totally different animal.
Edmond Memorial held on for a 73-67 victory at Carl Albert Excessive regardless of holding the Girl Titans to a season-long 3-pointer.
“It means quite a bit,” stated Edmond Memorial CEO Baylor Franz. “They had been a hard-fought group. “They hit the ball very well, however we bought over it and simply stored our heads up and performed with it.”
Edmond Memorial led 60-55 when Lexi Hensley hit a pair of free throws to go up 62-55. Nevertheless, Ausha Moore got here again with a 3-pointer to shut the deficit to 4 factors.
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After Ariana Diaz hit a pair of free throws, Audrey Plunkett scored 5 to present the Girl Titans a 65-64 lead with 3:30 left within the sport.
Nevertheless, Makenna Corridor scored three objectives to place the Girl Bulldogs again on high.
Main by one, Memorial’s Avery Hjelmstad missed successful on the important thing drive. Nevertheless, Corridor grabbed two offensive rebounds earlier than being fouled by Moore, his fifth.
Corridor went 1-of-2 from the road to present Edmond Memorial a 68-66 lead with 1:16 left. After the Girl Titans bought unfastened on a possession, Hjelmstad hit a pair of free throws because the Girl Bulldogs lower the result in 4 with lower than a minute to go.
Carl Albert’s Skylar Anderson was fouled with simply 34 seconds left. Nevertheless, he made simply 1 of two from the road to chop the deficit to 3.
Hensley got here again and sealed the sport with two extra free throws with 19 seconds left.
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“It is good to go in opposition to Carl Albert as we prepare to enter this last stretch of the season,” Edmond Memorial coach Rachel Crabaugh stated. “It is a resume sport. That is one thing you wish to show the place you stand on this state of affairs.
“It was a tricky first half after we felt the rain within the gymnasium, 10 3. However we determined to go over screens and never assist as a lot and we made them go to the ring and that modified the sport. within the second half we.”
Sutton led Carl Albert (14-2) with 23 factors. Nevertheless, after hitting six 3-pointers within the first half, the Bulldogs held the seniors to 1 within the second half.
As a group, the Girl Titans knocked down 14 of their 3-point makes an attempt. However the Bulldogs restricted them to only 4 within the second half.
Plunkett scored 12 factors and Kennedy Cofer scored 10 factors.
Hjelmstad had 22 factors for the Bulldogs. Hensley had 13 factors and Addy Johnson had 12 factors.
Corridor and Franz, who had been named MVP of the match, scored 10 factors every on the night time.
“It wasn’t my greatest efficiency, however you understand we bought the W,” Franz stated. “That is what issues.”
The Girl Bulldogs spent your complete match with out sophomore Janiyah Williams, who’s recovering from a sprained hip. Crabaugh has his again for the group’s stretch run, which is able to give opposing groups one thing else to think about once they give you schemes to decelerate Edmond Memorial (13-2).
“It is thrilling to have the ability to go on this run with out Janiyah and nonetheless believe on the offensive finish and know we’re able to profitable video games and understanding we have one other weapon coming again,” Crabaugh stated. “So it makes us much less predictable.
“Folks can watch this film, however they will not be ready for what’s to return.”
