Tauriawn Knight leads Santa Fe in win over Norman
After a long tournament weekend in Tulsa, Edmond Santa Fe forward Tauriawn
Knight said he was still feeling sore.
But he knew this one mattered.
As Class 6A No. 4 Edmond Santa Fe took down Class 6A No. 8 Norman 61-52 on Tuesday, Knight said his coaches preached the importance of bouncing back after the Wolves lost to Tulsa Union on Saturday night in the finals of Union Invitational Tournament.
“We knew this one would be a tough one,” Knight said. “Our bodies still aren’t fully ready after playing all weekend, but we needed the win.”
To get the win, Santa Fe did it with defense. Norman shot 35 percent from the field and was 2-of-12 from 3-point range while the Wolves recorded nine steals and seven blocked shots.
“We are really a good defensive team, but sometimes we don’t show it,” Knight said. “But tonight that was the only way we were going to get the W.”
As the regular season winds down, Edmond Santa Fe coach Josh
Williams says each game becomes more crucial for playoff seeding.
“We had this one circled on our calendar,” Williams said. “We needed this win and we preached that to our kids.”
Knight led Edmond Santa Fe in scoring with 23 points, a feat that Williams said is becoming more common.
“We tend to expect it,” Williams said. “He does everything. He rebounds, he makes plays for us everywhere, he’s phenomenal. I can’t say enough about him.”
Off the bench for Edmond Santa Fe, Jamaal
Smith stepped in for his brother Ben Smith, who was sidelined with a cramp.
Jamaal Smith finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
“He played huge for us tonight,” Williams said. “Really stepped right in and delivered for us all night.” Norman was led by Jakaree Homes who finished with 17 points. Jake Ogle added 14.
DOUGLASS SECURES WIN AGAINST SOUTHEAST
Following a rough stretch for Douglass in which the Trojans lost five of their last six, things went their way on Tuesday.
In a battle of Class 4A teams, Douglass found themselves up one point after three quarters. Douglass then used a 12-3 run in the fourth quarter to finish off Southeast 68-58.
Shaquille Hopkins lead in scoring with 18 points, while Andre Williams chipped in 13.
TIP INS
Piedmont took down Lawton MacArthur 72-66 behind 20 points from both Sage Peyton and Dylan Hahn ... DJ Walter scored 24 points to lead all scorers as Midwest City took down Choctaw, 86-53 . ... Jordan
Owens scored 22 as Star Spencer took defeated Classen SAS, 111-46.