Victory boys hold on to beat Okmulgee; Webster girls fall
BY JOHN D. FERGUSON World Correspondent
Friday, December 07, 2012
12/07/12 at 5:50 AM
MANNFORD - When Victory Christian needed a stop or a key basket, Chris Crawford and Damion Parker came through big time.
The Conquerors fought off a determined Okmulgee 50-45 in semifinal action in the boys bracket of the 26th Lake Keystone Classic Thursday night.
Victory Christian (4-0) will play in Saturday's 8:30 p.m. final against the winner of the Piedmont-NOAH game. Okmulgee will face the Piedmont-NOAH loser in Saturday's third-place game at 5:30 p.m.
The game battled back and forth with 10 ties and 14 lead changes before Crawford and Parker settled the issue in the last 4:39.
Crawford got two key steals in the final 1:13 while Crawford had nine points in the quarter and two insurance free throws at the end.
Overall, Crawford managed 11 points, three steals and five rebounds. Parker had a team-high 19 points, caused a turnover, got two steals and an assist.
The game was tied at 45-all with 2:44 left. Crawford then hit 2-of-4 free throws, but also got two important steals to thwart the Bulldogs (2-2).
Victory Christian's defense held Okmulgee scoreless in the final 2:44.
"It's good to have Chris on the team," Parker said of his teammate. "He's one of the best defensive players I've ever played with. He's so wide (in his wingspan)."
The Bulldogs were not an easy foe. Orlando Harris hit a game-high 20 points. He had four 3-point baskets and finished with 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Teammate Cameron Johnson had 11 rebounds and was tough inside.
"Last year we beat them by 30 both times we played," Parker added. "Okmulgee is a good team this year."
The Conquerors had one bad quarter, allowing Okmulgee to score 20 in the opening period.
"We could have played better, but we played good as a team," Parker added. "We are looking forward to Saturday and winning the championship."
Cushing 54, Webster 26 (girls): The Tigers got a dominating performance from Cheron Lewis, who had a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. If Lewis got the ball inside unguarded, she scored with regularity.
Lewis scored nine of her team's first 13 points as Cushing pulled steadily away from Webster.
The Warriors (2-3) tied the game twice early, but never led. Ciara Asberry's 16 points led Webster.
Cushing's Mariah Burris joined Lewis in double-figure scoring with 14. Burris also had eight rebounds.
The Tigers will face Piedmont in Saturday's 7 p.m. final. Webster will play Victory Christian at 4 p.m. in the third place game.
VICTORY CHRISTIAN 50, OKMULGEE 45 (boys)
| Okmulgee |
20 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
- |
45 |
| Victory Christian |
17 |
9 |
10 |
14 |
- |
50 |
Okmulgee: Harris 20, Wallace 7, Bagby 6, Allen 6, C.Johnson 4, A.J. Johnson 2.
Victory Christian: Parker 19, Crawford 11, Freeman 7, Awalt 5, Terry 4, Jordan 2, Adesokan 2.
CUSHING 54, WEBSTER 26 (girls)
| Webster |
6 |
10 |
4 |
6 |
- |
26 |
| Cushing |
13 |
17 |
5 |
19 |
- |
54 |
Webster: Ci.Asberry 16, Ch.Asberry 6, Ward 4.
Cushing: Lewis 20, Burris 14, K.McCullough 8, Youngman 5, Hagler 4, Jones 3.
Associated Images:
Victory's Chris Crawford (10) shoots a layup after a steal in the last minute of the game during Mannford tournament action in the semifinals between Victory Christian and Okmulgee boys basketball on Thursday. JOEY JOHNSON/For the Tulsa World
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