Coweta boys down Bishop Kelley to win conference title
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Saturday, February 09, 2013
2/09/13 at 5:35 AM
Although the Class 5A playoffs are two weeks away, Friday night's meeting between regional hosts Coweta and Bishop Kelley had a postseason-type atmosphere.
Zach Norris scored 19 points to help sixth-ranked Coweta clinch its second consecutive Metro Lakes Conference title with a 55-40 victory over No. 9 Bishop Kelley.
"It feels real sweet," Norris said. "Especially here (at Bishop Kelley). It was a real fun game. This is a game we've had circled on the schedule every year."
Coweta (17-3, 10-0) also won the earlier meeting, 55-52, at Coweta on Dec. 18.
"We came out with more fire and effort than last time," said Norris, a 6-foot-4 senior guard. "This was a great test going into the playoffs against the No. 4-ranked team on the East side. I'm very anxious for the playoffs to start."
The Tigers, the No. 3 East seed, led the entire game. They scored the first six points against a Kelley lineup that included several seniors who started because it was the host Comets' Senior Night. Norris scored six in the opening quarter.
Coweta jumped to a 13-2 lead, but the Comets rallied to cut their deficit to 25-21 late in the first half before Coweta's Hayden Holmes sank a 3-pointer just before intermission.
In the second half, Kelley moved within 28-26 before Norris and 6-5 freshman forward Jake Ross took charge, Norris, who averages 15.2 points, scored the next seven points, Ross followed with two baskets and Caleb Norris finished a decisive 14-4 run with a 3-pointer that made it 42-30. Ross scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.
"Jake had a great week last week," Coweta coach Scott Norris said. "Bishop Kelley does a great job taking away our outside shooters. We knew going in with our two big men we could have a mismatch. Jake stepped up and made us look smart."
Brennen Adams led the Comets (14-7, 8-3) with nine points. Coweta held Kelley's leading scorer for the season, forward Matt Craig, to two points. Craig entered averaging 15.8 points.
"It's become a great rivalry," Scott Norris said. "It's a fun environment here. We've finally been able to make it a big game the last four or five years."
Coweta, after wrapping up the Metro Lakes crown, has two games remaining before the playoffs.
"It's a testimony to our seniors to all the hard work and effort they've given," Scott Norris said about the title. "We have different guys that step up every night.
"Every game is a learning experience because we still have some youth."
Bishop Kelley 58, Coweta 33 (girls): Seana Stoia scored 15 and freshman Leah Colon added 14 points to help the eighth-ranked Comets (12-9, 6-5) snap a three-game losing streak.
Bailey Norton paced Coweta (5-15, 2-8) with 11 points, including three treys. Coweta's Courtney Haas also had three treys for all of her nine points.
Stoia, a senior, made 10-of-10 free throws for Kelley, which led 35-12 at halftime. Kelley also won the meeting at Coweta, 53-42, on Dec. 18.
COWETA 55, BISHOP KELLEY 40
| Coweta |
18 |
10 |
16 |
11 |
- |
55 |
| Kelley |
9 |
12 |
11 |
8 |
- |
40 |
Coweta (17-3): Z.Norris 19, Ross 12, Holmes 8, C.Norris 8, Roberson 4, Graham 2, Swboni 2.
Bishop Kelley (14-7): B.Adams 9, J.D. Limes 6, Josh Limes 6, Smith 6, Edmondson 5, Carson 4, Craig 2, Simpson 2.
BISHOP KELLEY 58, COWETA 33 (girls)
| Coweta |
9 |
3 |
12 |
9 |
- |
33 |
| Kelley |
20 |
15 |
17 |
6 |
- |
58 |
Coweta (5-15): Norton 11, Haas 9, Kelley 4, Brewster 3, Lee 3, Elliott 2, Whiteley 1.
Bishop Kelley (12-9): Stoia 15, Colon 14, Schulz 9, Stephens 7, Collins 5, McCorkle 4, Berry 2, Ngo 2.
Original Print Headline: Coweta downs Bishop Kelley
Barry Lewis 918-581-8393
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Bishop Kelley's Matt Craig (right) defends Zach Norris during a game against Coweta at Bishop Kelley on Friday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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