Class 6A girls basketball: Bixby, Edmond North advance to state championship game

Cameron Jourdan, Oklahoman
·4 min read

NORMAN — The Class 6A girls basketball state tournament semifinals were Friday at Lloyd Noble Center. Here's a look at what happened:

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Edmond North 55, Sand Springs 35

Laci Steele knows how close Edmond North is to making school history.

That’s why she knew it was important to close Friday’s game strong.

Steele, a junior, took over in the fourth quarter of West top-ranked Edmond North’s 55-35 win against East No. 2 Sand Springs. The Sandites tried to make a late run after the Huskies controlled most of the game, but Steele’s nine-point fourth quarter helped Edmond North advance to the state championship game, where it will face Bixby at 12 p.m. Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center.

“They started to be more aggressive,” Steele said. “Our game plan was to have me in the middle with the ball, and it worked.”

Sand Springs' Layne Kirkendoll attempts a shot over Edmond North's Toni Papahronis during a Class 6A semifinal Friday at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
Sand Springs' Layne Kirkendoll attempts a shot over Edmond North's Toni Papahronis during a Class 6A semifinal Friday at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

Steele finished with a game-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Junior Elle Papahronis added 14 points.

Edmond North (27-1) hasn’t won a girls basketball championship in school history. That could change Saturday. The Huskies beat Bixby 75-34 back in December and haven’t lost to a Class 6A opponent this season.

Edmond North outscored Sand Springs (23-4) by 18 in the first half, and that margin was the same after the third quarter. But the Sandites made a run, getting the deficit to 10.

Hailey Jackson, who scored 13 points, and Journey Armstead made big plays to get baskets, but then Steele took over.

Edmond North coach Pete Papahronis said he wanted to get Steele looks in the post and allow her to take over.

“When she catches the ball in the backside post, there’s no help,” Papahronis said. “I don’t know a better player in high school basketball if you give the ball to her one-on-one in that position.”

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Edmond North's Laci Steele goes up for a basket while Sand Springs' Layne Kirkendoll defends during a 55-35 win Friday in the Class 6A semifinals at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
Edmond North's Laci Steele goes up for a basket while Sand Springs' Layne Kirkendoll defends during a 55-35 win Friday in the Class 6A semifinals at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

Bixby 35, Tulsa Union 34

Gentry Baldwin hands were trembling as she stepped to the line.

She knew what was at stake, though she tried not to think about it.

It was impossible not to.

The junior guard at Bixby was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left, her Spartans down by two against Tulsa Union. Make her free throws, Baldwin would send Bixby back into the state championship game.

She did just that.

Baldwin helped East top-ranked Bixby beat East No. 4 Tulsa Union 35-34 in a big come-from-behind effort. The Spartans outscored Union 16-5 in the final quarter, and Baldwin’s clutch free-throw shooting propelled Bixby into the Class 6A state championship game at noon Saturday.

“I’m literally still shaking,” Baldwin said after the game.

Baldwin said all that was going through her head was to make two free throws.

Make two, and that was enough to at least send Bixby (24-3 overall) into overtime. Baldwin thought she missed her first when it left her hand, but it rattled in. The second one went in easily.

Union called a timeout before her third free throw, but after leaving Bixby’s huddle, Baldwin noticed a couple Union players crying.

“I was like, ‘They think I’m going to make it,’” Baldwin said.

She did.

Union’s final shot attempt came up short, giving Bixby the win.

Union (19-7) took the lead with 6.9 seconds left off Aubrey Hishaw’s putback. Union star TK Pitts missed a layup attempt, but Hishaw grabbed the board and quickly put it off the glass and in.

Bixby was able to advance the ball into the front court before coach Tina Thomas called a timeout. With 3.9 seconds left, the Spartans inbounded the ball to Baldwin, who was then fouled attempting a deep 3.

“This group is just fun,” Thomas said. “I’d like to say I called a really good thing, but (the comeback) was 100% the resolve in their heart to make it happen.”

Gracy Wernli and Alyssa Nielsen had nine points each for Bixby while Desiree Marshall-Penny, Pitts and Hishaw each tallied nine for Union.

Cameron Jourdan covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Cameron? He can be reached at cjourdan@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @Cam_Jourdan. Support Cameron’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSSAA Class 6A girls basketball state tournament semifinal scores