Class 4A basketball: Douglass wins area title, makes state tournament for first time since 2017
Terry McMorris smiled at the mention of the dunk.
McMorris, a standout senior wing on the Douglass boys basketball team, said he tries to dunk at least once every game, and he achieved his goal Friday night against Ada. But the slam that perhaps drew the most enthusiasm from him wasn’t one of his own.
Sophomore point guard James Greenhoward V waited near the perimeter, saw an opening and skied to the rim for a one-handed dunk that amplified Douglass’ fourth-quarter burst of energy. The Trojans ended the game with the momentum on their side as they defeated Ada, 48-38, winning the Class 4A Area II championship in Stroud.
For the first time since 2017, fourth-ranked Douglass is headed to the state tournament. The Trojans, who won seven titles from 2010-17, have a chance to renew their status as perennial contenders.
Second-year Douglass coach Steven Alexander Jr. sees everyone buying in.
“Where we’re at right now is kind of like a dream come true to all of them,” Alexander said. “That combined with the strides that we’ve made in this school in the last two years, it’s a lot of pride involved. When we’ve got kids who have pride, I just try to hone it and make sure I push it in the right direction.”
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The Trojans (23-1) are celebrating each other’s wins. They’re distributing the ball. And as the level of competition elevates throughout the postseason, Douglass continues to rise to the occasion.
After winning their first two postseason games by margins of 24 and 44 points, the Trojans had to hold on through close games. Douglass slipped past Tulsa Victory Christian, 44-40, to win a regional championship, and the road didn’t get easier with Ada.
Although the Trojans went on a 9-0 first-quarter run, 12th-ranked Ada had an emphatic response. The Cougars (20-7) jumped to a 23-22 halftime lead, giving up only five second-quarter points and taking advantage of turnovers.
McMorris, who won a 2021 state title with Del City, wouldn’t let Douglass fall into the losers’ bracket.
“I wasn’t playing my best in the first half,” McMorris said. “But I just had to pick it up.”
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The Cougars double-teamed him through much of the game, but the defensive pressure was nothing new for the senior star. He powered through with eight straight points in the third quarter to give Douglass a 34-29 lead, capping his run with a two-handed dunk.
McMorris led the Trojans with 20 points, and Greenhoward continued what his senior teammate started, adding all eight of his points in the fourth quarter.
As the Trojans prepare for their quarterfinal trip to State Fair Arena, McMorris understands how the tight matchup was beneficial.
“Games are not gonna be a blowout,” McMorris said. “All the games are gonna be close, so this is getting us ready for state.”
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Other storylines around the state
● The Class 6A Norman boys basketball team is headed to the state tournament after defeating Deer Creek, 66-56, in three overtimes.
● Class 6A Putnam North rolled past Bixby, 63-43, in a win-or-go-home area matchup with 29 points from CJ Smith. The Panthers face Broken Arrow with a state tournament berth on the line. Owasso shattered the Tigers’ undefeated record with a 63-59 overtime win, advancing to state.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS basketball: Douglass defeats Ada for area boys title
