OKC Storm's Eddens takes over in fourth to top Carl Albert
MIDWEST CITY — OKC Storm coach Stephanie Brady believes star senior Raelene Eddens has two choices when she steps on the floor — be frustrated or dominate.
When she chooses the latter, something special happens.
Thursday afternoon, Eddens spent three quarters falling into the same trap she’s faced all season. She was frustrated.
But the fourth quarter was different. Eddens took over and helped the Storm hold off a rally from Carl Albert for a 61-49 victory in the Titan Classic.
The Oral Roberts signee scored nine of her 15 points and grabbed seven of her 10 rebounds.
“I just took a minute to focus and gather myself up, because I was frustrated from the beginning of the game because I wasn’t handling the ball very well, shooting well,” Eddens said. “I had to pull it out for my team and myself.”
Eddens missed four weeks this season after suffering a bruised tibia. Thursday was her fifth game back, and it was her best.
She had played timid, fearing injury even before she got hurt. Not anymore.
Eddens was aggressive with five steals and two blocked shots. But she missed most of the third with foul trouble before really putting things together.
“She had a reality check,” Brady said. “She displayed the leadership we needed her to have tonight.”
The Storm never trailed in the game and led by as much as 17.
Paige Lewis added 16 points.
Carl Albert’s Dava Guy scored 18, including eight in the fourth.
Newcastle overcomes shooting woes for rout
Newcastle coach Brett Sanders watched nearly every shot during the Racers’ shootaround fall. It was going to be a good night.
But something changed in the first half.
The Racers struggled shooting against a young Heritage Hall team. It took the Racers’ star junior, Maddy North, and a freshman post to pull them out of the slump for a 55-30 victory in the annual Otho “Sweet Pea” Curtis Newcastle Invitational.
North scored 18 points, 10 in the second half. Freshman Lauren Cook added 15 and eight rebounds as she works her way back from a volleyball injury that cost her the first half of the season.
Newcastle, ranked No. 14 in Class 4A, may have struggled shooting, but it still controlled the game. The Racers led 24-7 in the second quarter.
Heritage Hall was led by Hannah Stanley, who scored 15 points.
Shawnee, El Reno to meet in semis
Two 2017 Class 5A state tournament teams will square off in Friday’s semifinals in Shawnee’s tournament.
Shawnee, now in Class 6A, dominated McAlester for a 38-22 win with 10 points apiece from Monica Brooks and Makyra Tramble.
El Reno routed Northwest Classen 72-34. Massey Beard scored 15, while Hayden Freeman pitched in 11.
The teams will meet at 7 p.m.
Tip-ins
Moore freshman Aaliyah Moore scored 13 points in the Lions’ 63-21 rout of Durant in the John Nobles Tournament. … Blanchard’s Brittney Garrett led the way in a 49-22 rout of Ada with 15 points. …. Cashion’s Presley Payahsape scored 19 in a 56-28 rout of Crossings Christian to open the County Line Tournament. … Dale’s MiKayla Rutland scored 15 in a 61-30 rout of Crescent.