Booker T Washington Opens Season With Win Over Union

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the first game for both Booker T Washington and Union and it looked like it by the end. After a fast start for both teams in the first quarter, the game started getting bogged down by turnovers and fouls and neither team could get into any kind of rhythm. While the Hornets struggled with Union's size early on, there consistent pressure and excellent guard play would wear down the Redhawks and the Hornets were able to run away from Union in the third quarter to win 84-71. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams are participating in the Edmond Open, beginning on Thursday. The Hornets will open up the tournament against Edmond Memorial while the Redhawks will face off with Edmond Santa Fe. They are on the opposite side of the bracket from one another, so a rematch wouldn't happen until Saturday. Both teams are early contenders on the east side in Class 6A and both have plenty of firepower. We take a look at some of the top performers from Tuesday night's game in north Tulsa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>BOOKER T WASHINGTON TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1685526"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Tuesday night's leading scorer in the game was Booker T Washington sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1685526' first='BJ' last='Harris']. The Hornets have a few young players to be excited about but it was Harris that shined brightest on Tuesday with a game-high 23 points in the win. Harris definitely benefited from the Hornets putting on the pressure in the second half. 16 of his 23 points came after halftime, with 10 points coming in the 3rd quarter alone. Harris adds more depth to this Booker T Washington lineup that is full of excellent guards and has the chance to be pretty special this season once again.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1475991"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The 2025 guard that we knew about well coming into Tuesday was [player_tooltip player_id='1475991' first='Jamarri' last='Simpson'] and he didn't disappoint. Simpson would finish with 16 points and did a little bit of everything for the Hornets on the offensive end. Simpson showed off the range with his shot but was able to drive to the basket and finish against contact. And driving to the basket against a Union team that has plenty of size definitely shows that Simpson has no fear in his game and he's going to stay in attack mode throughout the night. Simpson was also able to showcase the shooting touch from the free throw line as well.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1495345"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The Hornets are reloading this season with a few new names from the younger classes but one of the returning starters from last year's state tournament team is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1495345' first='Lathan' last='Boone']. After being known as more of a defensive stopper and hustler last season, Boone is taking more of a role on this year's team. He would finish with 16 points and was once again outstanding on the defensive side of the ball. He was dealing with what looked like cramps in the second half but that didn't stop him from scoring 10 of his 16 points after halftime. In fact, he was scoreless after the first quarter and then got going from there.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6390c1da86b49"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>UNION TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1343196"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Union's [player_tooltip player_id='1343196' first='Cedric' last='Dixon'] has been advertised as one of the best shooters in the state and definitely in the Tulsa area. Coming into this season, we thought that the Union junior guard would have a chance to elevate his game and become much more of a complete weapon on the offensive end and overall playmaker. We saw flashes of just that on Tuesday night Dixon would finish with 13 points and never really got going from beyond the arc as neither team could really get into a rhythm on the offensive end. But we did start to see him become more assertive and getting other players involved, which is positive for his development.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1343197"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Union junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1343197' first='Dalen' last='Fuller'] came off the bench on Tuesday night to give the Redhawks a spark, especially in the second quarter. Fuller would finish with 14 points and 12 came in the second and third quarters. Fuller is still one of the best athletes that we've seen on the basketball floor in the state. When he gets the ball in transition, there isn't much that can stop him or even slow him down from getting to the basket. That element is definitely fun to watch as he can go get a basket seemingly whenever he wants. He also was shooting the ball from beyond the arc well on Tuesday night.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1592869"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"There's no other way to put it. You can't coach height. And Union has the tallest player in the state with junior center [player_tooltip player_id='1592869' first='Erik' last='Madrid'], who is at least 7'0. The Hornets had no answer for him early on in the paint as he would get the ball and seemingly place it in the basket for two points, over and over again in the first quarter. He would finish with a team-high 18 points but 12 of those came in the first quarter as Union jumped out to an early lead. He was scoreless in the second and fourth quarter. And if Union is going to be a true contender in Class 6A, getting more complete games from Madrid for all four quarters will definitely help that.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6390c1da86c35"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->