OKLAHOMA CITY — Norman High and Guthrie closed out the final game on the first day of the Bishop McGuinness Classic with an overtime thriller. Trouble for the Tigers was that they came up on the wrong end of the 58-55 game.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Tigers, who appeared to have the game under control before a furious late Guthrie comeback. Down eight points in the third quarter, the Bluejays came alive and began lighting it up from behind the three-point line, hitting five shots from behind the arc to get back in the game.
After the lead changed hands five times in the fourth quarter, both teams had a chance to win it. But both shots came up short, and the pair headed to overtime knotted at 53.
In the extra period, Guthrie held onto a slim 57-55 lead when NHS was forced to foul. But the Bluejays missed three of four free throws to give the Tigers a chance, and NHS was in position to tie the game after Cooper Clark was fouled on a three-point attempt at the buzzer. But he wasn’t able to convert, and Guthrie came away with the win.
“Things just didn’t bounce our way tonight,” NHS coach Matt Thornton said. “We didn’t make enough plays down the stretch. We’ve got to bounce back from this, come out and find a way to get a win.”
Sam Blodgett led NHS with 18 points, while Clark finished with 16. NHS plays NW Classen at 1:30 p.m. today.
Booker T. Washington 53, Norman High girls 26: Norman High faced off against Booker T. Washington in the first round of the Westmoore tournament and came up short in a tough 53-26 loss.
It was the high-pressure defense of Booker T. that gave the Tigers trouble, caused turnovers and led to easy transition baskets.
“We played hard but not very smart,” coach Nichole Copeland said. “We have to be better against pressure.”
NHS next plays Mustang at 3 p.m. today.
Corbin HoslerFollow me @Chosler88chosler@normantranscript.com
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