Four quarters on Saturday's Oklahoma high school basketball tournament championships

Oklahoma high school basketball tournaments wrapped on Saturday. Here's a few takeaways from the action.

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Putnam City North beats Carl Albert in Titan Classic

Carl Albert's Quincy Hopkins took the ball at the 3-point line in a dire situation.

Down one point to Putnam City North in the final seconds of the Titan Classic championship game Saturday night, Hopkins tried to take control as he had all night en route to scoring 23 points.

After trying to evade PC North's KJ Payne with a series of screens, Hopkins passed the ball to Hutch Russell for an open 3-pointer. It bounced off the back iron. Another putback attempt from Carl Albert’s Jordan England did the same as Putnam City North outlasted Carl Albert for a 62-61 overtime victory in the boys basketball title game.

PC North's Zander Baker, who scored 19 points in the final, was the Titan Classic Most Valuable Player. CJ Smith tallied a game-high 26 points and Payne had eight.

“Adversity,” Smith said. “Each day we faced challenges in practice… We don’t break down as a team, we get stronger each day. We go and work and work and work and that’s what it’s led to on the court. We’re built for these type of moments we played great. We had some tough times but we bounced back, that’s really all that matters.”

Baker scored 10 of Putnam City North’s first 15 points as he attacked a mismatch. The quick surge of scoring was the boost Putnam City North needed to get its offense jump-started in a hectic environment.

“Control the pace of the game,” Baker said. “We needed stops and scores. That’s the whole thing in basketball it’s getting a stop and then getting a score so, that’s what we needed to do to win the game.”

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Edmond Memorial girls take down Carl Albert

Baylor Franz took the screen and darted to her left with the ball.

The guard from Edmond Memorial anticipated the help defense and gave a hesitation move to blow by the second defender. She made a way through traffic and laid the ball up with her right hand on the left side of the basket as the defender was draped over her back.

The hard-fought shot fell through the cylinder and Edmond Memorial extended its lead. Franz was smothered by the Carl Albert defense all night but when she was able to find her spots, the Bulldogs were able to gain momentum to finish.

Edmond Memorial escaped Carl Albert with a 73-67 win to take the Titan Classic championship.

Edmond Memorial dominated in the painted area with Addy Johnson and Lexi Hensley finishing at the rim. And the Bulldogs needed every bit of their effort as Carl Albert’s Kamryn Sutton made seven 3-pointers on the night, six in the first half to keep the game close.

“It means a lot,” Franz said of the title. “They were a hard-fought team, they shot the ball really well but we stuck through it and just kept our heads up and played through it.”

Franz was named as the Titian Classic Most Valuable Player but it was Avery Hjelmstad that led the Bulldogs in scoring on Saturday. Hjelmstad finished with 22 points while Franz had 10.

“It wasn’t my best performance,” Franz said, “but we got the dub (win) so that’s all that matters.”

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Without one of its top players Janiyah Williams, who was an Oklahoman All-State first-teamer last year, the Bulldogs were still able to take down a tough Titan team. Williams is out with a hip strain. Edmond Memorial coach Rachel Crabaugh said it was a statement win for the Bulldogs.

“To be able to go on this run without Janiyah,” Crabaugh said, “and still get the confidence on the offensive end and know that we’re capable of winning games, it gets you excited to know we’re going to have another weapon coming back. So, it makes us less predictable. People can watch this film but they're not going to be able to prepare for what’s coming.”

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‘Everything is connecting’ for Deer Creek

Smiles crawled onto the Deer Creek basketball players’ faces as they accepted their trophy. They huddled on the court and gathered with peers for photos. They screamed in jubilation.

The high-energy postgame scene unfolded two weeks earlier at the McGuinness Classic.

And it happened again Saturday night. This time, the Antlers could celebrate on their home court.

Deer Creek’s boys basketball team stormed past Edmond Memorial, 67-47, to finish first in the Bruce Gray Invitational, winning their second tournament this January.

Coach Mike Donnelly welcomed the sense of deja vu.

“It’s special,” Donnelly said. “I don’t think it will ever get old.”

The Class 6A No. 16 Antlers dominated Western Heights and McGuinness in the first two rounds, but the title game was no mismatch as they met a surging Edmond Memorial squad. With clutch leadership from junior guard Ciaran Pedulla, the Class 6A No. 17 Bulldogs had survived overtimes against Heritage Hall and then-undefeated Holland Hall to reach the championship.

With their fast-paced style, the Antlers (10-6) squelched that momentum.

Deer Creek went on a 15-0 run in the first half, scoring on all levels. Hudson Linsenmeyer kept knocking down deep 3-pointers. Jeremiah Deering energized his home gym with his signature dunks. And Clyde Davis Jr. drove into the paint and boosted the Antlers at the free-throw line, finishing with 15 points.

Linsenmeyer and Davis, the tournament's co-MVPs, said their success started with defense. Davis had a knack for prying the ball from the Bulldogs (9-6).

“We’ve just been working really hard watching film,” the sophomore guard said, “and everything is connecting.”

The Antlers aren’t at the top of a stacked Class 6A field. But with two tournament titles, they’re lurking in the rankings as a formidable team that knows how to piece together consistent wins - a skill that could come in handy in March.

“We’re gonna enjoy it,” Donnelly said. “We’re gonna rest. We’ve got to finish the stretch we’re on … and I think if we just take the same approach that we’ve taken to this point, who knows? Hopefully, we’re talking about the state tournament.”

Holland Hall takes last-second win over Harding Prep

Elise Hill patiently dribbled the ball near midcourt.

The Holland Hall senior guard waited for her opportunity before racing toward the basket and drawing a foul.

She had to do it to break the tie with 6.8 seconds left.

Hill hit the winning free throws in the Tulsa Holland Hall girls basketball team’s 37-35 victory over Harding Charter Prep in the Bruce Gray Invitational finals. Class 5A No. 6 Holland Hall (13-2) and Class 4A No. 8 Harding Prep swapped leads throughout the game, but the Dutch had the edge with Hill’s 18 points.

Senior guard Azjah Reeves stood out for Harding Prep, leading the Eagles with defensive tenacity and a team-high 17 points. Despite outscoring Holland Hall 16-7 in the first quarter, Harding Prep (16-3) couldn’t preserve the lead.

Reeves and sophomore guard Jordyn Anderson represented Harding Prep on the All-Tournament Team. Hill, a University of Tulsa signee, was named tournament MVP, while Holland Hall teammates Mia Fugate and Sophia Regalado were also All-Tournament selections.

Tip-ins

Buckle of the Wheatbelt Tournament: Both of the host school’s teams won. The Kingfisher girls defeated Weatherford, 40-35. Caden Kitchens led the Kingfisher boys team to a 61-51 victory over Weatherford.

Cashion County Line Tournament: The Oklahoma Christian School boys basketball team rolled past Tuttle, 65-51, for the first-place trophy. On the girls side, Dale slipped past Silo, 60-57, with 36 points from Brook Rutland. The top-ranked Pirates are on a 19-game win streak.

John Nobles Invitational: The Midwest City girls basketball team defeated Tulsa Booker T. Washington, 53-41, to take first place. On the boys side, Evan Barber led Westmoore to a 74-55 win over Millwood.

Jones Kiwanis Tournament: Host school Jones beat Life Prep (Kansas), 32-24, to win the girls bracket. Mount St. Mary won the boys bracket, defeating Oklahoma Christian Academy, 68-61, as Braeden Lloyd received MVP honors.

Shawnee Invitational: The Broken Arrow boys basketball team stayed undefeated and placed first with a 66-55 victory against Mustang. The El Reno girls team powered past Jenks, 50-36.

Otho “Sweet Pea” Curtis Newcastle Invitational: Douglass earned a 79-76 win against Newcastle, placing first in the boys bracket. On the girls side, Edmond Santa Fe pulled off a 44-40 victory against Piedmont in double overtime.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school basketball scores, highlights for January 21