McGuinness Classic Day 2: Consolation Bracket

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Choctaw 40 Deer Creek 38</strong></p> <p>Consolation games, especially as they occur at non regular game time hours, can produce ugly games. Choctaw-Deer Creek to tip off Day 2 of the McGuinness Classic was exactly that. It was sloppy game but it came with a dramatic ending. Choctaw pulled ahead in the third quarter, but Deer Creek rallied and even tool the lead in the closing moments.</p> <p>Enter sophomore Ja’mon Valentine. He calmly drilled a go ahead three in the game’s final seconds to give his team the victory. After two losses on the week, it was big way for the sophomore to right the ship for his team.</p> <p><strong>Players to Know:</strong></p> <p><strong>Ja’mon Valentine, 6’3 Guard, Sophomore Choctaw</strong></p> <p>Valentine has a great combination of shiftiness and athleticism off the bounce. He excels when able to get by the defender and break out his smooth floater in 6-10 feet range. To add to his scoring punch, he has shot it well from beyond the arc in both viewings this week. If his go ahead three pointer against Deer Creek was any indication, the clutch gene might be part of his scoring DNA.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1140501" first="robert" last="gambill"], 6’6 Forward, Senior, Choctaw</strong></p> <p>With Choctaw off to a slow start, the senior went to work down low. He scrapped around the basket grabbing boards, recording a few blocks and even got double figures in scoring. It was a good performance as Gambill’s energy and willingness to battle in the paint helped Choctaw break out of their early slump. Foul trouble slowed the senior down in the final quarter, but he still broke into double figures with 10 points. </p> <p><strong>Derrick Baker, 6’1 Guard Senior, Deer Creek</strong></p> <p>The senior had a game high 12 points for the Antlers, including a big three pointer to end the third quarter. In the final frame he found his way to the basket a few more times for big buckets in Deer Creek’s comeback attempt. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Norman 63 Bishop McGuinness 51</strong></p> <p>The Tigers showed no signs of a hangover following an almost upset of top ranked Edmond Memorial. They jumped up on Bishop McGuinness early and built a commanding 36-15 lead at the half. Tournament hosts Irish rallied in the second half and even cut the deficit to single digits at one point, but Norman would hold on.</p> <p><strong>Trasahun Combs-Pierce, 6’4 Wing, Sophomore Norman</strong></p> <p>Combs-Pierce continues as a true perimeter threat for the Tigers. He’s a lanky slasher that plays with good control for a younger and athletic player. Too often younger players attack the basket with no focus, or are in a hurry with the ball. The Tiger sophomore didn’t force the issue while finding the correct spots to attacks. With his combination of size, athleticism and improving skill level, Combs-Pierce is another sign of the depth in what is shaping up to be a strong Class of 2024 in Oklahoma. </p> <p><strong>Conner Goodson, 6’3 Forward, Senior Norman</strong></p> <p>A big reason why Norman jumped out to their early lead was the hot shooting performance by this senior. He knocked down three shots from beyond the arc, on route to a team high 17 points for the Tigers.</p> <p><b>Graham</b><strong> Tawwater, 6’5 Forward, Senior Bishop McGuinness</strong></p> <p>The Irish’s do it all forward recorded 18 points, many in the second half. He mixed his scoring with floor spacing three point makes, while consistently battling it out down low. The senior already has an offer from Southwestern Christian, and is the type of prospect that could add depth to many regional small college’s frontcourts. </p>