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December 15, 2012

Bulldogs outclass Tigers 52-34

By Corbin Hosler The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Coming off a game against Class 3A’s third-ranked Midwest City on Tuesday, things didn’t get any easier for the Tigers. Top-ranked Edmond Memorial came to NHS on Friday, and while the Tigers were able to play with the Bulldogs at times they were unable to threaten the upset, falling 52-34.

A horrible first quarter in which the Tigers couldn’t knock down a shot set the tone for the game. Memorial outscored the Tigers 13-2 in the opening frame and forced NHS to play from behind the rest of the way.

NHS was able to keep within striking distance for much of the night, pulling the deficit to nine several times in the second half, but that’s as close as the Tigers would come.

“It seemed like every time we would get close, we just couldn’t get that next possession we needed,” coach Matt Thornton said. “But we kept battling. There’s a lot of fight in this team.”

Led by the dominating inside presence of Shaquille Morris, the Bulldogs dominated the paint. Morris finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks on the night, and he altered even more shots. That forced the Tigers to turn to jumpers, and they couldn’t get enough to fall. Jay Finley and Cooper Clark led the way for NHS with 10 apiece, but it wasn’t enough to match Memorial’s Aaron Young, who led all scorers with 17.

Still, there were some positives for the Tigers, including a second quarter in which they outscored Memorial 11-10 and a fourth quarter they played to within a point.

“We played well at times,” Thornton said. “Sometimes you see that peek of brilliance, but sometimes it disappears completely.”

Westmoore 70, Norman North 63: North got 23 points out of freshman Marcus Dickinson, but it wasn’t enough for the Timberwolves on Friday night.

The Timberwolves took a narrow lead into halftime, but shot just 32 percent in the second half as Westmoore slowly pulled away.

“We didn’t play as well tonight as we did Tuesday,” coach Butch Roberts said. “We played hard but not with as much of an edge. Our ball movement wasn’t quite as good, but mostly we just didn’t shoot it as well.”

Next up for North is the Crosstown Clash with Norman High at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Corbin HoslerFollow me @Chosler88chosler@normantranscript.com

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