Fort Cobb-Broxton boys win first state championship since 2018 by claiming Class B title
By Josh Jennings | Photos by Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY - Fort Cobb-Broxton basketball made plays down the stretch and won its eighth gold ball Saturday afternoon, as the Mustangs defeated Calumet, 68-52, for the Class B title at State Fair Arena.
Mustangs' coach Scott Hines has been at the helm for 27 years and has won all of these state championship victories. But Hines said it is because of the players.
“When I won my first state championship in 2000, it was unbelievable and I was really happy,” Hines said. “Well, fast forward 22 years and I have seven more because of my players. I am so blessed to be the head basketball coach at Fort Cobb.
"Two years ago when I had COVID-19, I was unsure I would get to experience this again, but I have lots to be thankful for.”
Fort Cobb was on fire from the 3-point line in the first quarter and built an 18-10 lead going into the second quarter. The Mustangs made four 3-pointers in the first quarter.
They stayed patient running their offense early in the second quarter. The patience paid off with plays like Kray Rogers passing the ball to Ian Taylor for a layup.
Rogers tallied four assists in the first half, as Fort Cobb was ahead, 24-15, midway through the second quarter. The red hot 3-point shooting also continued in the second quarter, as the Mustangs went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Calumet hit some shots, but Fort Cobb seemed to have an answer every time. The Mustangs finished shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc in the first half.
Mustang player Jaxon WIllits credits the 44 percent shooting in the opening half to all the practice they put in the last year.
“We have been playing together since the fifth grade,” Willits said. “We worked so hard for this and all that hard work and late nights shooting in the gym paid off and our hot streak in the first half happened because of this.”
Fort Cobb kept hitting shots and Eli Willits scored a fast-break layup off a steal, making the score 44-26 midway through the third quarter. The defense was working too, as Taylor blocked a shot.
Calumet, which trailed 47-26 with three minutes to play in the third, responded by going on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter with plays like Belcher passing to Hezakiyah Satepauhoodle for an easy layup.
Fort Cobb still led, 47-35, going into the fourth quarter.
With four minutes to play, Blake Nunn buried a 3-pointer which gave the Mustangs a 56-41 lead. Calumet kept chipping away, but the Mustangs made plays down the stretch, such as Nunn scoring an old fashioned three-point play.
“We were a bit loose in the third quarter,” Hines said. “Calumet is tough to guard and they all can shoot the ball.
"Once we settled down early in the fourth quarter, we played like we could. I was proud of our guys for the way they kept playing.”
With a minute left, the Fort Cobb student section began to chant, “I believe that we have won.”
Nunn scored 18 points, Jaxon Willits 14 and Eli Willits 11. Rogers finished with 11 rebounds.
For Calumet, Dalton Belcher scored 19 points - 12 in the first half - and Hunter Arnold scored 10.
Fort Cobb also is going for the triple crown, as they won the 2022 fall baseball state championship. They can accomplish that this spring.
“I told (Mustang baseball coach) Dale Bellamy, 'Tag, you’re it,’” Hines jokingly said. “We have a great chance to win in baseball this spring and it will be exciting.”
