Crossings Christian vs Carl Albert: Top Performers
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It’s only the second week of December and the new district system in 6A and 5A have brought together another match up between two teams that are preseason favorites to make state in 5A. Longtime class 5A powerhouse Carl Albert…
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Continue ReadingIt’s only the second week of December and the new district system in 6A and 5A have brought together another match up between two teams that are preseason favorites to make state in 5A. Longtime class 5A powerhouse Carl Albert traveled to new 5A program, Crossings Christian for a clash that could shape the District race.
The first quarter was a feeling out between the two teams, with both teams trading blows against stingy defense. To end the first frame, junior point guard Cal Furnish Cal Furnish 5'11" | PG Crossings Christian | 2025 State OK for the Knights would get on the floor for a loose ball near halfcourt, then seconds later get it back and drain a deep triple. That three would put Crossings up 12-9 after one. And the Knights would not look back.
Stingy defense, transition points and a barrage of threes would spark a double digit halftime lead for the Knights. And despite some pushes by Carl Albert, the lead was never in doubt and Crossings Christian would coast to a 68-54 victory. It was a loud statement for a program that just a few years ago was in Class 3A. Now in only their third game in Class 5A, they bloodied the nose a of a senior laden squad that surely will be looking for their “get back” when Crossings visits Carl Albert on February 8th.
It’s a long season to go, but the Knights have made a strong case as the current favorites in Class 5A. And depending on how they do at the loaded Tournament of Champions at the end of the month, could be in contention for top overall team in the State.
Crossing shots the lights out from three, got out in transition and had great looks at the rim. The main catalyst for those winning ingredients? The junior point guard.
Let’s start with a play that about 95% or likely more of the state would NOT have made. Already up double digits, there’s a loose ball on the defensive end. The vast majority of high school players would let it go out of bounds and seeing who the ref gives it to. Or if they did grab the ball, they would slowly walk it up because there’s not an urgent need to score. Furnish instead is a player who is always looking for advantages. He grabs it, takes a couple dribbles to push it, sees a teammate who raced down the court open for a three, and rifles it to him. Bang. Another three and Crossing’s command of the game grows because of the high basketball IQ of Furnish.
There were seemingly countless times that Furnish pushed it off a turnover or a long rebound. His decision making, navigation of traffic and floor vision were fantastic. He was equally great in the halfcourt as one of the rare players who drives to create instead of score. From sweet pocket passers to Crossing’s physical forwards at the rims, to kick outs and hockey assists, Furnish is an old school point guard who can impact winning without scoring.
Woodson is following up a fantastic freshman season with what looks to be a strong sophomore campaign. Literally. Even from July, he looks more fluid and stronger in his body. And it showed on slams and battling with one of the top senior posts in the state. Along with the foundational work of working hard around the rim, Woodson showed his flashes of high upside skill.
When the 2026 forward got in rhythm looks, he was nearly automatic in the mid-range and from beyond the arc. Late in the game, he even broke out a smooth one-legged stepback that is in vogue among NBA players. Continuing to mix in the flashes of that developing skill with workman like qualities at the rim is a winning strategy for the high major prospect.
It was an up and down night for the sophomore lead guard, but the ups were quite impressive. He’s an quick twitch athlete, and was Carl Albert’s most reliable weapon against a tough and physical Knights defense. Hopkins routinely got into the lane, with a slippery driving style, that will be dicing up Oklahoma defenses for the next few seasons. At the rim is where it was more up and down, with some finishing struggles. But there was enough success at the rim to hint at his potential big time future. A first half floater over the out stretched arms of the Crossings’ giants and a nice spin move and controlled finish in the second half were among the signs of Hopkins’ developing bag of tricks at the rim.