Oklahoma 3A boys quarterfinals: Oklahoma Christian School using last season's playoff loss as motivation
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Christian School came into the 3A state tournament with last season’s conclusion still on the Saints' minds.
The talented Saints were knocked out in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Class 4A tourney and it left them knowing they let a title get away from them.
However, OCS is now using that as motivation as they battle to make it to the final game this year. So when they found themselves in a tight contest with Kellyville in the quarterfinals Tuesday, they remembered what they were playing for and went on to win, 75-51, at the State Fairgrounds Arena.
“We have a lot of leaders,” OCS senior Luke Gray said. “Even with one guy not doing good, we have four or five guys tell us and they'll pick us back up.
"I think that's really huge for us and it'll continue to help us throughout the playoffs.”
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Despite Kellyville making their first-ever appearance in the state tournament, they came and battled the heavily experienced Saints in the first half. Led by Logan Hansen and Easton Nance, they were able to keep within striking distance.
However, that all changed in the third quarter when Luke Gray returned to the lineup after being in foul trouble in the second quarter. Along with Carson Jones, the duo took turns scoring buckets to push the Saints' lead to 20 and never let the Ponies make it a contest in the second half.
“The key was just all of us playing together and just keeping each other accountable and just playing through anything,” said Jones. “We've been preparing for this game since October 1st, so (it was) just working through it.”
Hansen and Lofton Roach paced Kellyville with 11 points each. Ryker Buckley chipped in with 10 points.
Jones led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting. Despite the early foul trouble, Gray posted 19 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in the victory. Junior Nsengiyumva hauled in seven rebounds as well.
As a team, the Saints forced the Ponies into 18 turnovers while winning the rebounding battle, 39-24.
“I think it was our defense. We didn't really do a good job when we came to the defensive pressure, so I think when we were able to play defense the way we did (Tuesday), it helped us and feed our offense,” Gray said. “I was able to hit some shots down the stretch that were good and it gave us some momentum boosters, so it was good for us.
"That third quarter was huge for us.”
The Saints will face Cascia Hall in the semifinals on Friday at Yukon High. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
“We just want to focus on being more efficient on offense and be more aggressive on our rebounds and loose balls,” said Jones.
But the Saints will also be one step away from reaching the biggest stage the program has ever been on. And they do not want to let the opportunity slip away again.
“We've been here so many times,” Gray said. “We know what to expect when it comes to the state tournament, and we just haven't gotten over that hump of winning a gold ball. So we're a senior-led team and this is the year.
"We don't have it next year. We're done after this, so it comes down to all of us getting down and dirty and we'll be good.”
Cascia Hall 58, Metro Christian 55
After making it to the 3A title game last season, Metro Christian bowed out in the quarterfinals this year.
Led by Memphis Duffle, Cascia Hall did enough down the stretch to hold off the Patriots.
Duffle posted 19 points while Daniel Jarrett added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Wyatt Powell scored 16 points for the Patriots. Jackson Sowards added 14 points and nine boards in the loss.
In three games this season against the Patriots, the Commandos went 3-0 and outscored them by a total of 14 points.
Cascia Hall will face top-seed Oklahoma Christian School in the semifinals Friday. The two teams have not faced each other this season.
-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK
