OKLAHOMA CITY — Norman beat Putnam City North, 45-40, in overtime Tuesday (Feb. 4) in a 6A-2 contest.

After a halftime 23-19 lead evaporated due to a Norman 11-3 run in the third quarter, North (13-7, 6-4) trailed by six points (32-26) early in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Keaton Murry hit a 3-point play and then knocked down a trey to make it 36-35, Norman, with 2:59 left.

Norman (15-4, 9-1) kept the lead until :33 left when junior TJ McNeely hit the front of a pair of free throws to tie the game to tie the game 38-38.

The Panthers would have an opportunity to win it in regulation as junior Nate Muriithi was fouled as time expired. However, Muriithi missed both free throws, sending the game into overtime.

Norman controlled the overtime tip off and the extra period, with only Muriithi scoring for North, a bucket with 3:16 left.

“It felt like a playoff game. It felt like a playoff atmosphere,” Putnam City North coach DJ Lemons said. “Our guys need that challenge, and they need to go through that.”

Murry led North with 12 points, including three treys. Senior Khai Brown added eight points and four rebounds.

Sophomore Mekhi Thomas finished with five points and five rebounds.

North struggled from the field, shooting 29 percent.

Despite the loss, Lemons said his team is in the process of turning the corner.

“When when we’re all clicking on all cylinders, we’re still kind of inconsistent where our our stars aren’t being the stars some games and I feel like when they all click together, I feel like we’re a good, dangerous team,” Lemons said.

Lemons said the loss be a lesson the postseason nears.

“If we want to be the team that we’re supposed to be and want to make it the state and qualify for state, we have to get stops and we have to make the right shots at the right time as well,” Lemons said.

UP NEXT

Putnam City North travels to Choctaw Friday (Feb. 7) at 7:30 p.m.

The Yellowjackets (14-8, 7-3) beat Lawton Eisenhower, 73-44, Tuesday.

North beat Choctaw, 57-44, Dec. 20.

“They’re gonna be out there looking for their revenge, so we gotta come in there and we gotta have a great start,” Lemons said.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton

	1	2	3	4	OT	F
Norman (15-4, 9-1)	10	9	11	8	7	45
Putnam City North (13-7, 6-4)	11	12	3	12	2	40