From Super Sophomores to State Champions

Sam Duren March 12, 2022 @ 11:30 PM

Seniors are usually the separators come March. Edmond North senior [player_tooltip player_id="1164859" first="Cahlese" last="Lee"] played his role well. Especially in the semifinals with a pair of dagger three pointers to help the Huskies win a close contest. But the biggest difference for North all season long was the injection of youth. Only [player_tooltip player_id="1332074" first="Dylan" last="Warlick"] logged heavy minutes on last year’s Class 6A Semifinalist. Among the sophomores joining Warlick in the Huskies’ youth movement this season were; T.O. Barrett, Xavier Ross, Tatum Ridge and Bryson Buckingham. They opened the season with a decisive victory against Norman North that set the tone for their dream season. There were bumps along the road but they marched through the playoffs undefeated and even took down a senior laden and talented Booker T Washington team in the semifinals. In the finals, Edmond North nearly led wire to wire. It started inside with Warlick dominating around the rim as a scorer, rebounder and even as a passer. The 28 points he scored was half of his team’s point total. And it was constant production throughout. Every time Moore made a run. It was often him getting a back breaking score. A big rebound. Blocking or altering shot. Or even finding his teammate for an open score. For Moore it was their own super sophomore that kept them in the game. [player_tooltip player_id="1367215" first="Chiante" last="Tramble"] was a man on a mission as he pushed the ball and found weaknesses in transition. He’s capable to absorb talent around the room, hit a floater before the contact, or burry a triple off the bench. The sophomore will be one of the best players in the state the next two years. While players develop at different rates, and new standouts always emerge. Along with the thorny issue of the high school "transfer portal" being almost as active as college. The Huskies will be the hunted with the target on thier back. But the young talent on display for North could be a problem for the rest of the state for the next two years.   Player of the Game: [player_tooltip player_id="1332074" first="Dylan" last="Warlick"], 6’6 Sophomore Forward, Edmond North Warlick was the rock all season long for North as he was seemingly an automatic double-double. It was true again with his 28 point, 10 rebound performance. To go along with that production, he handed out four assists and played a key role as a ball handler. With T.O. Barrett being face guarded, Warlick often brought the ball up. The sophomore’s bread will always be buttered with his high level rebounding, post moves and finishing at the rim. But as he’s done all season he’s grown more as a ball handler and shooter. It’s fun to watch his growth this season why staying true to the winning parts of his DNA.