Five Takeaways: Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore
Two top-10 6A programs in Edmond Memorial and Southmoore squared off Tuesday night. The Bulldogs came away with the 65-47 victory led by Drew Tennial’s 25-point performance. Here were my five takeaways from the game:
Southmoore had share of blunders, but that will work out
Southmoore is a sort of “new kid on the block.” The SaberCats aren’t historically a flagship school in 6A basketball, but I believe that will change this season. The SaberCats struggled against Edmond Memorial, a year-in-year-out powerhouse in 6A, but that certainly isn’t an end-all-be-all for the Cats. They do a lot of things very well, and as they get more comfortable doing those things, they’re going to be a threat.
Jordan Thompson struggled early, but turned it around
Jordan Thompson, considered one of the best shooters in the Oklahoma 2020 class, started slow, but hit three-in-a-row after his first shot landed midway through the third quarter. He finished with 18 points and four 3’s. Thompson will get more comfortable as the season progresses and be able to score more and more.
Addition of Darrin Ryan is big for Southmoore
Darrin Ryan, who transferred to Southmoore this offseason, had 16 points in his first game with the SaberCats. I was surprised by the way he was able to score the ball, finishing as Southmoore’s second-leading scorer for the night. He dropped 10 of those in the first quarter alone. As his game progresses, he will be s solid scoring option for Southmoore and will have nights where he leads in scoring.
Drew Tennial drops 25
Drew Tennial opened his senior season by proving he belongs in the conversation of most dominant players in the state. His 25-point performance included a pair of 3’s, a stat I think we’re going to see more of this season from Tennial. He chooses better shots now than he used to and I believe Tuesday was just the beginning of a series of high-scoring nights for the senior. He was the best rebounding player on the floor as well.
Memorial’s depth
I think Edmond Memorial’s bench is as deep as anybody in 6A basketball. Eight-to-12 guys can come in and get buckets for the Bulldogs if needed. Parker Clarida and Jacob Thionnet both came off the bench Tuesday night and were pivotal in the Dogs’ win.