bluesooner17
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For all of the success Choctaw has had the past decade, the Yellowjackets still lacked one thing.
A conference championship.
Friday night, they won the Big 10 Conference title and in the process pulled off a huge 53-49 upset of No. 1 Putnam West to enter the playoffs with a momentum boost.
“I guess that’s the best way to do it,” Choctaw coach Ryan Maloney said.
The loss is Putnam West’s first against an in-state opponent this season. It’s also just the second time it’s been held to less than 50 points.
Choctaw, the defending Class 6A state champions, were at times dazzling.
The Yellowjackets went on a 14-0 run in the first quarter to take control, appearing incapable of missing a shot or making a mistake.
“It was just exciting to know that we came out prepared,” Choctaw senior Jordan Saxton said.
Choctaw controlled most of the game, but Putnam West had one big run left in the fourth. Trailing 42-30, the Patriots forced 11 turnovers in the quarter and cut the deficit to two twice in the final 80 seconds.
But Saxton, Aliyah Llanusa and Bailey Golden each made a pair of free throws.
“We believed in each other,” said Golden, who battled cramps in both legs late in the game.
Golden had 17 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and an assist. Llanusa added nine points and Makayla White pitched in 10.
That balance helped overcome 27 turnovers, most of which stopped play and did not let Putnam West to fastbreak situations it normally gets.
And Choctaw proved something.
“We showed that we aren’t a pushover team because everyone thinks that since Ana (Llanusa) graduated,” Golden said. “We can back who we are.”
A conference championship.
Friday night, they won the Big 10 Conference title and in the process pulled off a huge 53-49 upset of No. 1 Putnam West to enter the playoffs with a momentum boost.
“I guess that’s the best way to do it,” Choctaw coach Ryan Maloney said.
The loss is Putnam West’s first against an in-state opponent this season. It’s also just the second time it’s been held to less than 50 points.
Choctaw, the defending Class 6A state champions, were at times dazzling.
The Yellowjackets went on a 14-0 run in the first quarter to take control, appearing incapable of missing a shot or making a mistake.
“It was just exciting to know that we came out prepared,” Choctaw senior Jordan Saxton said.
Choctaw controlled most of the game, but Putnam West had one big run left in the fourth. Trailing 42-30, the Patriots forced 11 turnovers in the quarter and cut the deficit to two twice in the final 80 seconds.
But Saxton, Aliyah Llanusa and Bailey Golden each made a pair of free throws.
“We believed in each other,” said Golden, who battled cramps in both legs late in the game.
Golden had 17 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and an assist. Llanusa added nine points and Makayla White pitched in 10.
That balance helped overcome 27 turnovers, most of which stopped play and did not let Putnam West to fastbreak situations it normally gets.
And Choctaw proved something.
“We showed that we aren’t a pushover team because everyone thinks that since Ana (Llanusa) graduated,” Golden said. “We can back who we are.”
