Tulsa Memorial wins the 2021 Joe Lawson Memorial Invitational

With the recent decision to shift the Class 6A and 5A State Tournaments from the Mabee Center in Tulsa to the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman; 918 Area Programs will have to prove they can win three days on the west side of the state if they want to claim future Gold Balls. What better way to do that, than to play three games with State Tournament quality competition in the Joe Lawson Tournament. Class 5A powerhouse Tulsa Memorial just did that, with an exclamation 66-47 victory over Putnam City West to claim the tournament title on Saturday night.   The Star - [player_tooltip player_id="955392" first="Tyreece" last="Frierson"] Playing on national circuits such as the EYBL, Adidas, Under Armour and other top circuits can make or break an Oklahoma player. They provide consistent exposure to high level competition that can be the catalyst to help a player find the next level or it could stall out their development. Already a man on a mission after an opening round Class 5A State Tournament loss, Frierson received the opportunity to play at the Nike Peach Jam with Team Griffin. It’s likely a full mixture of contributing factors, but one thing is certain. Ty Frierson is on a whole another level this season. The crafty lead guard is successfully blending his "hooper" type showmanship with the traits of a floor general and using that combination to lead the undefeated Chargers. One moment he can have the gym at his beck and call with fancy dribbling that he uses to dance around a defender or create space for a jumper. The next he’s showing gritty defensive abilities by quickly ripping the ball out or making the perfection rotation in the zone to deflect a pass. It’s special to watch. There isn’t a finer passer in the state right now. He sets up openings with eye manipulation, then swings pinpoint passes across the court to open shooters or hits a cutter in stride for two easy points at the rim. He seemingly glides around defenders in the paint, to flip it up onto the backboard with amazing english on the ball to get it to roll in. Add in some long range marksmanship and he’s more than a handful for the opposing defenses. Yes, there are still some wild aspects to his game. That will lead to some mistakes. But that’s a feature not a bug. The ability to do the unpredictable is a benefit more than a hinderance. It’s what makes basketball a beautiful game. It’s only a month into the season, and with his torrid start the size of the target on Frierson’s back from the opposing teams will only increase. While his swag is an important part of what makes him special as a player, it’s important for him to keep the right balance of swag and gritty determination that his propelled him and his team to this hot start.   The Engine - [player_tooltip player_id="1158049" first="Bradyn" last="Hubbard"] If Frierson was Memorial’s best player, Hubbard was the most important player on the night. Putnam City West often has the quickness edge with their fast paced style. One of the best ways to beat their pressure is to have tall and strong ballhandlers beat it. The versatile senior forward was just what the doctor ordered, as he helped break the pressure and kept the offensive flowing in the halfcourt. It wasn’t just his own scoring that helped Memorial win, it was his ability to facilitate. Hubbard hit cutters while working in the high post and also when driving he was able to dish it or kick it out to open players after teams collapsed on him. Another factor that made Hubbard the engine on the night was his attention to the defensive glass. Not only was he grabbing rebounds, he showed impressive athleticism as a rim protector. That’s an aspect of Hubbard’s game that he can float a bit right now. He’s not always the most attentive on that end. When he does manifest that energy to be a factor on defense, he’s one of the better players in Oklahoma’s senior class. The 918 area forward should at the least be a priority for regional small colleges with the ceiling to capture more with continual focus on high motor play.   The Supporting Cast - One of the aspects that makes Memorial a special program is their strength in numbers. There are nights when junior sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="967378" first="Seth" last="Pratt"] will be the star. And there are nights when high motor, do everything senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1049317" first="Killian" last="Spellman"] will be the engine. Even with others grabbing headlines, they still played their roles tonight and were crucial, in the victory. Especially Pratt and his ability to bust zones. The junior wasn’t just a zone buster in the win. He’s stronger and more comfortable with the ball this season. Which was crucial against the waves of pressure the Patriots brought. He has a strong frame, that allows him when driving to take contact and finish. Right now Pratt sits on the border of being a Division One player or small college priority. The traits that give him a chance to find the right Division One program are his shooting ability and savviness. What he needs to do to enhance his chances to find the right next level opportunity is improve his athletic ability. Especially playing with more fluidity. His movements are rigid, which can leave him at a disadvantage against quicker players. Being able to better cover and get by quicker players will be crucial for the next stage of his development.   The Opposition - Even though the game got away from them in the final frame, Putnam City West built an early lead and stayed within striking distance. It was still a very successful weekend for the currently #5th in the OSSAA Coaches rankings Patriots. They opened with a win over fellow Class 6A squad Owasso, and then took down the #2 team in 5A, Del City. The headline player heading into the season for West was future Baylor Bear football player [player_tooltip player_id="955396" first="Corey" last="Gordon"]. The 6 foot 3 dynamic guard is still the headliner, he’s a special type of athlete that makes plays on the defensive end and has great strength and body control when attacking the rim. But based on Friday and Saturday night, he has a backcourt running mate. [player_tooltip player_id="1068573" first="O’rian" last="Scales"]. Scales continued his hot shooting from the night before, as he made Memorial pay when they left him open in the zone. He’s on the smaller side, but is also fearless when knifing through taller defenders to attack the rim. And as it their program’s DNA, Scales is a Patriot guard that racks up steals, deflections and is an overall hinderance on the defensive end. If the last two games are any indication, [player_tooltip player_id="1068573" first="O’rian" last="Scales"] is a name to know in Oklahoma City and possibly all of Oklahoma.