WARR ACRES – Union sprinted to 70-38 win over host Putnam City in the third-place game of the Putnam City Invitational Saturday (Jan. 6).
The teams were tied early at 2-2 but that was the closest the Pirates would get in the game. Union reeled off 12 straight points and never looked back, leading 18-6 after one period.
The Pirates tried to cut into the lead, but a 14-4 third quarter for Union put the game away.
Union (8-2) had three players in double-figures, Dalen Fuller (24), Miles Flemons (13) and senior Erik Madrid (10). The 7-foot-2 Madrid affected the Pirates’ ability to get inside the pain and he was named to the All-Tournament team.
“We thought it’d be really tough to match up with the size,” Putnam City coach Garland Parks said. “We didn’t really expect (Fuller) to shoot the basketball the way he did.”
For the Pirates (4-7), Junior DJ Stephens led the team with eight points. Fellow junior Kelton Locke added seven.
Putnam City fared better in the fourth quarter and Parks appreciated the effort.
“We just try to encourage them. Just keep playing,” Parks said. “You never know what can happen. Come out and play hard.”
The lesson from the tournament for Parks was to avoid slow starts.
“Figuring out that we just have to be ready to compete from the beginning,” Parks said. “I mean, every game is going to be tough for us. We just have to just come ready to play hard and compete. And whatever happens, happens.”
Parks praised freshman Miles Jackson who came off the bench and scored six points.
“He’s a kid that really has a a lot of potential,” Parks said.
UP NEXT: The Pirates will face Union again, on the road, on Tuesday (Jan. 9). This time the game will be a Class 6A District 3 matchup.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Union | 18 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 70 |
| Putnam City | 6 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 38 |
Putnam City (4-7) – DJ Stephens 8, Kelton Locke 7, Miles Jackson 6, Dreylynn Denson 6, Edwin Lloyd 4, Ben Thompson 3, Jaiden Perry 2, John Sheffey 2.
Putnam City North 59, Lawton 53
Panther junior Anthony Leonard poured in 30 points as North won the fifth-place game over Lawton.
“I was getting a lot of open shots and my teammates was (sic) driving and looking for me,” Leonard said. “I hit about four threes today. “And we was (sic) really connected on the defensive end.”
Leonard, scored 43 points earlier this season and 31 against Carl Albert in the Mustang Holiday Classic. He was named to the 2024 PCI All-Tournament team.
“(Leonard) was quiet and efficient,” North coach Mike Jeffries said. “As long as he just stays patient, it’ll come back to him.”
At the end of the first quarter, he drained a half court shot to put the Panthers up, 12-6.
Jeffries credited his team’s defense for the win.
“We Just did a good job of running our 1-2-2 (defense) against them, kind of threw them off a little bit, defensively,” Jeffries said.
The Wolverines (7-4) went over five minutes without scoring in the second quarter, enabling North (7-7) to build a 14-point lead (22-8).
“That’s kind of where we got to build our lead. We knew in the second half (Lawton) was going to come out and try to speed us up,” Jeffries said.
In the fourth quarter, Jeffries was proven right. Lawton got back in the game as North turnovers led to Lawton points. The 48-26 lead when the quarter shrank to only eight points (58-50). Leonard and fellow junior Khai Brown scored all 11 points in the quarter to seal the win. Brown finished with 13 points on three treys while Leonard sank four 3-pointers.
After losing the rivalry game with Putnam City on the opening night of the tournament, North rebounded with two wins. Jeffries attributed that to his players sharing the ball.
“It’s kind of up and down, trying to let them know, hey, when we trust each other and we, you know, we’re a good team and when we start playing selfish and just not trust each other, expect bad results,” Jeffries said.
UP NEXT: The Panthers return to Class 6A District 2 play, traveling to Norman North Tuesday (Jan. 9).
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Lawton | 6 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 53 |
| Putnam City North | 12 | 17 | 19 | 11 | 59 |
Putnam City North (7-7) – Anthony Leonard 30, Khai Brown 13, Mekhi Thomas 6, Khalil Williams 6, Jaiden Robinson 2.
Putnam City West 87, Northwest Classen 64
The Patriots won the seventh place game with a fast start against the Knights.
West (6-7) built a 24-7 first quarter lead behind nine points from sophomore Nate Muriithi and two 3-pointers from sophomore DJ Carter.
In the second half, junior Kaidon Rayfield heated up, scoring 18 of his game-high 24 points. Muriithi finished with 17.
Rayfield was named to the All-Tournament team.
Northwest Classen (4-8) was led by junior Brandon Butler’s 23 points (19 of which came in the second half).
UP NEXT: The Patriots host Westmoore Friday (Jan. 12) in a Class 6A District 2 matchup.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Northwest Classen | 7 | 11 | 23 | 23 | 64 |
| Putnam City West | 24 | 16 | 27 | 20 | 87 |
Putnam City West (6-7) – Kaidon Rayfield 23, Nate Muriithi 17, Qua Wheeler 8, Jaden Constant 6, DJ Carter 6, Damari Gilstrap 6, JJ Wilson 5, Antonio Green 4, Joradn Warrior 4, Antonio Anderson 4, Elijah Turner 2, Jordan Kaluki 2.
Putnam City Invitational
Boys Bracket
THURSDAY, Jan. 4
Tulsa Union 74, Lawton 62.
Norman North 48, Northwest Classen 39.
Midwest City, 74 Putnam City West 68.
Putnam City 43, Putnam City North 37.
FRIDAY, Jan. 5
Lawton 56, Putnam City West 47.
Putnam City North 57, Northwest Classen 48.
Midwest City 75, Tulsa Union 74.
Norman North 54, Putnam City 30.
SATURDAY, Jan. 6
Putnam City West 87, Northwest Classen, 64. (Seventh Place)
Putnam City North 59, Lawton 53. (Fifth Place)
Tulsa Union 70, Putnam City 38. (Third Place)
Midwest City 51, Norman North, 37. (Championship)
Putnam City Invitational Boys All-Tournament Team
Erik Madrid – Union
Kaidon Rayfield – Putnam City West
Noah Jones – Norman North
Anthony Leonard – Putnam City North
Carlesheon Young – Midwest City
Outstanding Player – Roy Henderson – Midwest City
Outstanding Coach – Torey Neal – Midwest City
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