Booker T. Washington rebounds from first defeat as Hornets roll to Jenks-Union Invitational championship

BTW beat the Trojans 61-48 in the title game at Frank Herald Field House.

By Buck Ringgold

JENKS — It wasn't a good start to the week for Booker T. Washington's boys basketball team.

The end of the week, however, was much more to the Hornets' liking.

BTW bounced back from suffering its first loss on the season by coming through the bracket in the Jenks-Union Invitational Tournament. The Hornets, who lost to Tulsa Union on Tuesday, paid the Redhawks back in Friday's semifinals before coming to Jenks on Saturday and taking down the hometown Trojans, 61-48, in the title game at Frank Herald Field House.

"I think we really needed that; it was our first loss, and that loss really got our attention," said Kam Parker, a 6-foot-1 senior who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"We focused on (listening to) the coaches and doing what we needed to do to getting back together and playing as one, so that (loss) really sparked us for this run."

BTW (13-1) lost 67-65 to Union on Tuesday. After winning their opening round game Thursday against Ponca City, the Hornets returned to Union for Friday's semifinal and got their revenge, holding off the Redhawks, 65-62.

But the Hornets couldn't rest on their laurels, knowing they had to turn right around and play at Jenks, which has been ranked No. 1 in 6A for much of the season.

"First of all, (Jenks coach) Clay Martin's a wonderful coach, and so any time you go against a Clay Martin team, you know you've got to bring your A game," BTW coach Eli Brown said. "I was up until 3 or 4 o'clock (Saturday morning) clipping film and studying and trying to get my kids the best prepared as I could on short notice, and they stepped up to the challenge.

"And it's a hostile environment, we're on the road essentially at their house and we had to go to Union at their house, and so these are good tests for us, to see where we are, and Jenks is a phenomenal team and they're not going away and neither is Union."

Parker helped the Hornets on Saturday by hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the opening quarter, as BTW led 13-11. The Hornets then stretched the lead out to five at the break, 26-21.

"Our motto is 'Keep the main thing the main thing,' which is to win, and that's what was important and we came in here and did what we needed to do, which was play together and be selfless," Parker said.

Then the Hornets extended that lead in the second half thanks in large part to Lathan Boone.

Boone, a 6-foot junior, scored 19 of his 22 points after halftime. He had 16 points in the fourth quarter after the Hornets entered the frame still up by five, 37-32.

But it was Boone's ability to knock down treys which allowed BTW's lead to grow, eventually getting into double digits. He had four 3's in the fourth, the last giving the Hornets a commanding 55-38 edge with less than two minutes left.

"Lathan woke up and played like the player I know he can play like," Brown said. "It was also staying steady, and making good decisions on offense, moving the ball, finding (Boone) when he's hot and then getting consecutive stops on defense and rebounding.

"We know we're the smallest team in the state probably, but we've got to perfect other things in order for us to get where we're trying to go and we're getting in that direction."

Aaron Potter, a 6-4 senior, added nine points in Saturday's win. He was also named to the All-Tournament team.

Jenks was led by 15 points from Dylan Golightly and 12 from Ben Averitt. Golightly hit two 3's as well.

Tulsa Union 60, OKC Storm 55 (OT)

The Redhawks rallied late in regulation to force overtime and then scored the final six points to pull off the win in Saturday's third-place boys game.

Union trailed, 55-54, with more than a minute left in overtime before tying the score on a free throws. Then a put-back from Chris Mason put the Redhawks (8-6) in front to stay.

Five Redhawks reached double figures, with Cedric Dixon scoring 13 points, including making three 3's. Mason added 12, while Dalen Fuller, Damonn Sanders and Trent Pierce each had 10 points apiece.

Mike Quick, of the OKC Storm, led all scorers with 21 points, with Austin Bacy adding 10. Both players each had two 3's.

LeFlore County Tournament

Championship

Pocola 53, Spiro 39

For the first time since 1999, the Pocola boys basketball team claimed the LeFlore County Tournament championship.

The Indians jumped out to a 13-5 lead after the first quarter and also led, 28-13, at halftime en route to the win in Saturday's LCT title game in Talihina.

Pocola also swept the county titles for the first time since 1991 with the girls team also winning earlier on Saturday.

For the Indians (14-1) in Saturday's win, Garrett Scott finished with 17 points and hit two 3-pointers, while Eli Garrett had 13 points.

Jared Huff had 10 points to lead the Bulldogs.