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.
