Class A/B Day Two Recap
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It’s Semifinal Friday and we’ll have you covered from start to finish at the Big House in Oklahoma City. After the quarterfinals on Thursday, we’re down to the final four teams in Class A and Class B. We’ll update this post throughout the day following the conclusion of each game. Up first on Friday are the Class B semifinals. The Class A semifinals will close us out Friday night.
CLASS B SEMIFINALS
#1 ROFF 34, #8 FORT COBB-BROXTON 31
Top ranked Roff’s redemption tour is nearly complete. After falling to Varnum in an overtime heartbreaker last year and settling for silver, Roff is headed back to the state championship game. And it was not easy as they had to take down perennial powerhouse Fort Cobb-Broxton 34-31 to do it. They had to survive several last minute opportunities by the Mustangs to advance to the title game.
The Tigers were led by Tallen Bagwell, who was nearly perfect on the afternoon. He finished with 15 points and was perfect from the field and went 3-4 from the charity stripe. Roff jumped out to a 13-6 lead after the first quarter but the Mustangs would just chip away from there. Fort Cobb lived and died behind the arc on Friday afternoon. They finished 3-21 from beyond the arc.
Now the Tigers move on to Championship Saturday and await the winner of Glencoe and Buffalo Valley. The Class B state championship game is scheduled for a 2PM start on Saturday.
#4 GLENCOE 72, #14 BUFFALO VALLEY 53
#4 Glencoe advanced to Saturday’s championship game by doing something they’ve done all year and that’s score. They got off to a fast start and Buffalo Valley had no answer for the early onslaught from the Panthers as Glencoe advanced with a 72-53 victory. Glencoe led 18-9 after the first quarter and then 38-24 at halftime. The Panthers jumped out to the big lead behind their lights out shooting from beyond the arc. Glencoe went 8-14 from 3PT land in the first half and would finish 15-33 from 3 for the game.
In addition to the offensive onslaught, Glencoe would also showcase balanced scoring throughout the lineup. Three players finished in double figures with Brad Reeves leading the Panthers with 17 while Jaken Weedn and Jordon Beaver each had 15. They had three more players near double figures on Friday afternoon. Buffalo Valley was led by Brendon Champlin and Jace Hunter, who finished with 19 and 11 respectively.
The Panthers and their red-hot shooting will advance to the state championship game to face top ranked Roff. If Glencoe shoots the ball on Saturday like they did today, they might be raising a gold ball by the end of the afternoon.
CLASS A SEMIFINALS
TUSHKA 42, #1 HYDRO-EAKLY 40
Midnight hasn’t struck quite yet. Unranked Tushka has eliminated the top ranked and defending champions from Hydro-Eakly in a wild 42-40 victory on Friday night. The most unlikely team in the tournament field now finds themselves with plans on Saturday night that consist of playing for the Class A state championship. This game was close throughout and back and forth down the stretch, but clutch free throws from the Tigers would give them the edge on Friday.
That really was the difference in this one. The Tigers would go 10-14 from the free throw line while Hydro-Eakly would go 6-14 from the charity stripe. The Bobcats were led once again by their star senior Nolan Gore, who finished with a game-high 22 points but he was less than 100% in the second half after several tough falls to the ground.
Tushka had three players finishing in double figures. Tagen Simon, Jeffrey Mackey and Cole Simpson finished with 14, 11 and 10 respectively. For the second straight night, Simon would hit clutch shots down the stretch to help his team prevail. They now await the winner of Garber and Caddo.
#2 GARBER 64, #4 CADDO 53
While the first semifinal had plenty of drama throughout, the second semifinal lacked any as #2 Garber knocked off #4 Caddo 64-53 in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated. The Wolverines jumped out to an 18-5 lead after the first quarter and would then lead 34-13 at halftime. With the win, Garber advances to the state championship game for the third consecutive season. They won it all in 2020, had to settle for silver in 2021 and are back yet again.
The Wolverines had balanced scoring throughout their lineup as they had no problems putting points on the board. They shot nearly 60% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Aidan Johnston Aidan Johnston 6'4" | SG Garber | 2022 State OK , David Nagel and Tydonte Chester all finished in double figures with 16, 13 and 13 respectively. The Wolverines had a few others near double figures as well as they left no doubt that they would be advancing to Championship Saturday.
This sets up a showdown with Tushka for the Class A gold ball. The Tigers are the ultimate Cinderella team but this Wolverine bunch is no joke. Can Tushka take down another giant or will midnight finally strike with the Wolverines capturing a second gold ball in three years.