Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

March 9, 2010

15 years later . . . Zebras punch ticket to State

Larry Larkin Progress Sports Correspondent

TU:SA — It has been a long 15-year wait for Claremore to claim a coveted berth in the state tournament. 

The wait is now over. 

The delay ended Saturday night as the Zebras surprised heavy-favorite and No. 2 Tulsa Edison, 83-68.

The No. 9 Zebras (24-2) captured the Class 5A Area Consolation championship played at Tulsa Webster's Bill Fisher Field House. 

By winning, Claremore now advances to state for the first time since 1995 and will face No. 8 El Reno (18-8) at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Mabee Center on the Oral Roberts University campus.

Edison (21-5) saw its season end with a second defeat in as many nights.  State runner-up last year, the Eagles were trying to reach their fourth consecutive state tournament.

In a game that saw six Edison players and two Zebras foul out, Claremore took full advantage at the free throw line. 

In the second half alone, 23 of the team's final 28 points were bonus shots.

Except at the start of the game and then the final 2:34 of the third quarter, Claremore held a firm upper hand.  The Eagles jumped out to a 13-2 start and later went on a two-minute third quarter 17-4 run to pull to within 10.

Michael Skimbo, an Edison foul magnet all evening, hit four straight free throws to allow the Zebras to enter the final quarter ahead, 63-51.

Six more bonus points at the start of the final period padded the Zebra score before Edison's Steven Hamilton broke the spell.  He hit a free throw with 6:27 left to play.

The Zebras hit 30-of-49 free throws in the second half.  For the game they were 37-of-57.  Edison was 14-of-27 overall.

As the score continued to widen, the Eagles appeared to turn away from the style that had produced 21 victories.  Instead of working for an open shot or trying to pick up a foul, the Edison player bringing the ball cross mid-court usually attempted a 3-pointer.  Six attempts produced one basket.

Claremore found success the same way it has all season.  From start until the final buzzer the rotating line-up worked as one.

 “We got back to what we needed to be doing,” Zebras coach Tim Stewart said.

“We shared the ball and we were aggressive.  We needed to play free and easy.  That has been our strength all year. 

“I was extremely pleased as our kids kept the composure when Edison made those two runs.”

Senior forward Robert Boyles led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds.  He fouled out with 2:43 left with the outcome firmly established.

Dakota Caudill had only two points in the first quarter, but finished with 18.  He was the only other Zebra to receive five fouls.

Skimbo also reached double figures with 11, all on free throws.

During the takeover second quarter, Dylan Jordan came up big with seven points while displaying excellent defense the whole time he was on the court.

The hero the night before with a final-second winning 3-pointer against McAlester, Ben James was also a major factor for the Zebras against Edison. 

James’s team was trailing 13-4 when his first two shots, both treys, jump started a team rally.

In a marathon game lasting 1 hour and 55 minutes, or about 30 minutes longer than normal, something unusual is bound to happen.  On this night it was the third quarter.

Claremore opened the second half strong and built up a 23-point lead.  Suddenly the Zebra runaway hit a bump. 

Behind a pair of treys by Desmond Butler and Creed Flowers paced Edison on a 14-2 spurt.  The Zebras’ lead was cut to 10. 

During the period's final 34 seconds, Skimbo hit four of his free throws.

Overall, 54 points were scored in the regulation eight-minute quarter.  Each team recorded 27.

Clyde Hill, back for the playoffs after a February elbow surgery, led the Eagles with 14 points.  Hamilton and Butler had 13 each while Flowers finished with 10.

Winners of a boys' school record 20 straight games during the season, the current 24 victories now tie another record.  The total equals the number won by the 1982-83 Zebras squad.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • TB-23Hatweb.jpg COLUMN: 'Cardiac Cats' chasing history

    Seven years in the making...

    On a grass sandlot behind Atwoods, the dream of reaching the NAIA World Series was just getting started for the Rogers State University Hillcat baseball team.

    Head coach Ron Bradley, who had won state championships at West Fork (Ark.), Claremore and Jenks, was the perfect fit for breathing life into a soon-to-be baseball powerhouse on the Hill.

    What may have been a dream back then when the Hillcats were practicing in T-shirts, worn-out baseball pants and cleats, is not so anymore as RSU is among the nation's elite competing this week for their first-ever NAIA National Championship.

    May 28, 2012 3 Photos

  • NCAA Baseball tournament field announced

    Three college baseball teams from the area will continue their chase toward a berth in the 2012 College World Series as the NCAA Tournament brackets were announced today.

    Oklahoma, Oral Roberts University and Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Baseball Championships after competing in their respective conference tournaments.

     

    May 28, 2012

  • Johnson holds on to win Colonial

    Zach Johnson was so caught up in the emotion of another Colonial title and a victory in honor of his caddie’s late father that he forgot to properly remark his ball before his final putt.

    Even with a two-stroke penalty, Johnson won by one over Jason Dufner and got to slip on the plaid jacket Sunday for his first victory since also winning at Hogan’s Alley two years ago.

    May 28, 2012

  • Team101web.jpg It's a recipe for success

    Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become gloriously boring.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • ReineCody301web.jpg BIG 12 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Mizzou clips OU for title

    Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark.

    The Tigers held on to win 8-7, claim the tournament title and the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • NCAA BASEBALL: OU heading to Virginia regional

    Oklahoma knew it had a spot in the NCAA baseball tournament. Where it would go was the lingering question. Monday, the question was answered.

    The Sooners (38-21) were given the No. 2 seed in the Charlottesville, Va. regional. It will face third-seeded Appalachian State on Friday. Top-seeded Virginia and fourth-seeded Army round out the four-team field.

    May 28, 2012

  • WEST FINALS: Spurs edge Thunder in thrilling Game 1

    Trailing in the fourth quarter, Gregg Popovich snarled an order in the huddle that the NBA Coach of the Year punctuated with a sharp and angry sweep of his hand.
    "I want some nasty!"
    But truthfully, Popovich was already getting what he really wanted: the San Antonio Spurs finally in a game they might actually lose.
    Popovich's caught-on-camera "nasty" command in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals is likely coming soon to T-shirts, Internet memes and the lexicon of the NBA playoffs for the foreseeable future. But after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 on Sunday night for their 19th win in a row - tying the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs - Popovich wasn't flustered by the near-loss.

    May 28, 2012

  • NL ROUNDUP: Reds 7, Rockies 5

    Here's how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing.
    The ball wound up in the seats anyway.
    Frazier's homer helped the Cincinnati Reds out-bash the Colorado Rockies 7-5 in a game that set a record for the 10-year-old stadium with nine home runs.

    May 28, 2012

  • NL ROUNDUP: Pirates 10, Cubs 4

    Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
    Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak - 12 in a row, in the Cubs' case.
    The Pirates used that to their advantage Sunday.
    McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings and the Pirates won 10-4, extending the Cubs' longest skid in 15 years.

    May 28, 2012

  • NL ROUNDUP: Cardinals 8, Phillies 3

    Another Philadelphia Phillies star is ailing.
    Two-time Cy Young winner Roy Halladay gave up a grand slam to Yadier Molina in an abbreviated two-inning start before leaving with shoulder soreness in an 8-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Halladay pitched with the injury the last few innings of his last start, and cutting back on throwing between outings didn't help.

    May 28, 2012