Class 3A boys basketball: Millwood, Tulsa Metro Christian will meet for gold ball
The Class 3A boys state basketball semifinals were held Friday morning at State Fair Arena. Here's a look at what happened:
More:What to know about the Oklahoma high school basketball state tournaments
Millwood 83, Crooked Oak 50
Jaden Nickens is in just his second year at Millwood, but the star sophomore dropped a meaningful historical reference in his postgame comments, reflecting the Falcons’ knowledge of the lineage of their legendary program.
“This is our house, this is Chop’s house, and you know we wanna go out and win,” said Nickens, who had 14 points and five assists in Friday’s 83-50 rout of Crooked Oak in a Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinal at State Fair Arena.
Nickens is too young to have played for Chop — a.k.a. Varryl Franklin, the legendary Millwood coach who brought the school 13 of its 16 state championships before retiring in 2018.
But these Falcons know what will be on the line on Saturday: another gold ball, the 17th for Millwood, which would overtake Tulsa Booker T. Washington for the state record.
More:Millwood sophomores are why the Falcons are soaring, even if they are 'a little squirrely'
Zyhir Fisher led Millwood with 15 points, going 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Sixth-ranked Crooked Oak (25-3) was led by Tymier Adkins-Freeman and Daevion Hill with 15 points apiece.
While Nickens and his fellow sophomores are looking for their second title in as many years, seniors William Mays and Carlos Strong are hunting a title in their final game.
“It’s a special moment, because we know we got one left,” said Mays, who had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Strong added 10 points and eight boards.
Another member of their senior class, former point guard Rickey Hunt Jr., will be on the bench with them Saturday as an honorary teammate. Hunt enrolled early at Ohio University and has begun spring football practice, but is returning to see his team try to finish off title No. 17.
But that title won’t come without a strong showing from Millwood’s youngsters — sophomores like Nickens, Fisher and last year’s hero Chance Davis.
Coach Mike Jeffries says he has to guard against his younger players getting “a little squirrelly” and that’s one of the reasons he opted to have the team stay together at the Millwood Multisport Facility, the recently constructed $4.5 million complex on the north side of the high school campus.
“We’ve got sleeping bag, air mattresses,” Jeffries said. “We’re just watching everything there on the big screen, eating, stretching, everything.”
With that, Jeffries has been able to keep his team together, so no one was late for the bus prior to a pair of 9 a.m. starts Thursday and Friday. Coaches gather players’ phones for a 10 p.m. lights-out each night.
“We didn’t do it last year,” Jeffries said. “Last year, we had a little different dynamic.
“This year is a little bit different. These guys are still trying to get to know each other. … They seem to be enjoying it.
The Falcons will be back on the floor early Saturday, with the 3A title game set for a 10 a.m. tipoff.
More:Carlson: Want to see some of the nation's best HS basketball players? Stay in Oklahoma
Tulsa Metro Christian 67, Prague 57
Brady Cox stepped to the free throw line with 40.5 seconds to go and the Metro Christian senior was feeling the pressure.
The previous two-plus minutes of game action had been rocky as the top-ranked Patriots (26-2) tried to put away upset-minded Prague (25-3).
A turnover here, a missed free throw there.
But Cox shook off the tension.
“We were just trying to keep it together those last couple minutes,” said Cox, who matched teammate Wyatt Powell with a game-high 20 points. “I knew I missed a couple before that, but I knew I was gonna knock ‘em down.”
He did, sealing Metro’s spot in the state championship game.
More:Class 2A girls basketball: Dale, Howe advance to state championship
“I’ve always dreamed of it as a kid,” Cox said. “It’s so special. We know there’s just one more and we’re gonna hold up the gold ball tomorrow. That’s the goal.”
The Patriots will face second-ranked Millwood for the title at 10 a.m. Saturday inside the Big House.
Metro is seeking its first-ever championship in boys basketball, while Millwood is on the hunt for its state-leading 17th.
“I’ve said all year, they’re the No. 1 team,” Metro coach Bryon Flam said. “They deserve to be No. 1. For us tomorrow, we haven’t been the underdog very often, so we’re gonna come in with the underdog role.
“We know we’re going home with a ball tomorrow, it’s just a matter of which color. We’re gonna come out and give everything we have.”
Prague, which was making its first-ever semifinal appearance, was led by Blestin Miller with 16 points and nine rebounds.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSSAA Class 3A boys basketball state tournament semifinal scores
