Mount St. Mary Punches Their Ticket to State
After an unfortunate situation last season where none of the large schools could compete in the State Tournament, Bethany had a chance on Saturday night to clinch their second-straight birth into the Big House. However, Head Coach Brandon Jackson and his talented young team had other plans by knocking Bethany off and clinching their first State Tournament appearance in three years.
Mount beat Bethany 46-38 in the Area consolation championship.
While it was a collective effort for Mount to be disciplined playing against Bethany’s playing style, they made it work, and that’s thanks to C.J. Johnson, who only scored six points but ran the Rockets offense masterfully. In comparison, Diante Palmer Diante Palmer 6'0" | PG El Reno | 2023 State OK took Bethany defenders off the dribble on numerous occasions for 14 points. Luke Harstad, Mount’s only starting senior, served as a leader and a constant source of normalcy in a complicated game, scoring 14 points as well, including shooting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Mount’s style of play sets them up perfectly for a State Tournament run, but a team that plays similar to them is Classen SAS, who they’ll likely play in the first round. The Rockets are a solid team that well-balanced on both ends of the floor.
Welcome to State!