Braggs nets a career-high 26 points to lead Putnam North to state final
Staff Writer junruh@oklahoman.com
Putnam North’s Chris Braggs believed he would bounce back. He had to one day after a dismal state quarterfinal performance that saw him go scoreless. He wasn’t happy. His coach wasn’t happy.
“I’ll be honest with you, I ripped his rear,” Putnam North coach Ryan Wagner said. “He wasn’t ready to play.”
Consider Braggs redeemed. Putnam North’s 6-foot-3 senior could hardly miss in the second half as he tied a career high with 26 total points to help lead No. 3-ranked Putnam North past No. 2 Norman North 73-64 in Friday’s Class 6A boys basketball state
TULSA —
semifinal at the Mabee Center.
“Yesterday’s dead,” Braggs said about Wagner’s message. “Today’s a new day.”
The Panthers (24-5) play the winner of Broken Arrow and Edmond Santa Fe at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in their first title game appearance since 2008.
Under Wagner, it’s been a steady climb to the title game. Two years ago, Putnam North was eliminated on Day 1. Last year, it was the semifinals.
That was his message at halftime trailing Norman North by one.
Braggs, Micah Thomas and Aokiye Iyaye then took over to gain an 11-point lead.
Braggs scored 15 points. Thomas was electric at point guard. Iyaye had two huge steals in the fourth quarter after Norman North cut the Panthers’ lead to two behind three straight 3s.
Putnam North quickly jumped back ahead by eight and pushed the lead to as much as 12.
“I feel like a lot of times you get caught up in the moment and lose perspective, but it’s just about playing hard,” Wagner said.
Norman North (25-3) came out red hot behind Drake Stoops, who finished with 21 points, but never gained complete control.
Braggs and Co. took that in the second half.
“It’s neat to have a kid that’s been with me for four years be able to handle that intensity and pressure,” Wagner said. “He stepped up.”