Class 5A Semifinals Recap and Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>State Tournament week rolls on with a a pair of Class 5A semifinals making up four games at the Lloyd Noble Center's Friday night session.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This post will be updated throughout the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carl Albert 51 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holland Hall 39</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preseason favorites Carl Albert took on Holland Hall from Tulsa. The Titans had the edge with size and speed that allowed to build an early advantage that they would never relinquish it. In the first half, [player_tooltip player_id='1367219' first='Quincy' last='Hopkins'] and the athletic guards/wings gave Holland Hall senior [player_tooltip player_id='1068564' first='Jadon' last='Cool'] fits, holding him to only 2 points in the first 16 minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors Cool and [player_tooltip player_id='1211248' first='Nate' last='Mullendore'] would spark a couple pushes by the Dutch in the second half. Cool would eventually break into double figures with a good second half, scoring 12 on the game. But it was never enough to really push the Titans. As Carl Albert's balanced offense always had an answer. Only 6 Titans scored but they all had at least 5 points. With Hopkins posting a game high 13 points in the slugfest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Titans will now face the winner of Tulsa Memorial vs Del City at 5:00 PM Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Del Cit</strong>y<strong> 56</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tulsa Memorial 35</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nearly a year to the day of last year's Class 5A title game match up between Del City and Tulsa Memorial, the teams met on the same floor. Del City's was dressed in their all black uniforms with head coach Lenny Hatchett in a black suit looked they like they were ready for a funeral. It turns out the funeral was for any demons they had haunting them from last year's loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even [player_tooltip player_id='1068562' first='Brandon' last='Garrison'], a gentle giant often with carefree grin on his face, was locked in. The physical and athletic Eagles took a 18-10 lead after one and poured it on in the second quarter. Del City looked faster and strong and that was the difference as they took a 31-15 lead into half. In the third quarter, Garrison suffered foul trouble and Memorial briefly cut into the lead. But in the final eight minutes, Del City was simply too big, too fast and too focused. They overwhelmed the Chargers, earning a 5:00 PM date with districts rivals Carl Albert for the Class 5A Gold Ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1367219"],"_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":"Motor and intensity, the juniors has played with improved fire this season and it carried over to an impressive, physical performance on both ends of the court. His finishing at the rim could use some improvement, as he was 5-14 on the day. But the 5 steals he recorded as a ball hawk and physical defender helped set the tone for the Titans throughout the game. This season the light has continued to shine brighter for the upside, powerful junior.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1372136"],"_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":"Playing like a man possessed from the opening whistle, the athletic, disruptive senior likely gave Tulsa Memorial ball handlers nightmares. From pushing them off spots while defending off the ball, jumping passing lanes to straight up taking their cookies, McCalister left his mark all over the contest. He scored 16 points and recorded 4 steals. It seemed like every bucket he scored at the rim or turnover he created was a haymaker. u0022Role Playersu0022 can still star in this points obsessed age, and McCalister was a great example of understanding his role and starring in it.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1068562"],"_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 big man looked to be on a mission to atone for last year's foul trouble that cost him playing time in this same match up. In the first half he was flawless, even hitting a couple three pointers. While on defense he shut down the paint and was excited when he switched out onto guards. Along with his scoring on offense, he had his usual pinpoint passing helped keep the offense humming in the halfcourt.rnrnWhile foul trouble did plague him in the second half, the lead he helped built along with great play from his teammates delievered Del City the victory. The final minutes of the fourth quarter even allowed the big man the chance to show off while throwing down a hammer slam in transition to cap the win.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-640bdc35f2927"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->