NORMAN — For 2 1/2 quarters, Putnam City North was looking for a knockout punch against Piedmont on Wednesday (March 11). After all, the Panthers entered the game with an average margin of victory of 26 points a game and close games have been a rarity.

Trailing 22-20 to the neighboring Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the 6A state tournament, North coach DJ Lemons told them to stop looking for a 20-point win. Any win would send them to the semifinals.

“Let’s play our brand of basketball,” Lemons recalled telling his team. “Possessions are going to get smaller and it’s going to be more intense.”

A third-quarter momentum swing propelled the Panthers to a 42-34 win over the Wildcats at the Lloyd Noble Center.

North forward Nate Muriithi knew at halftime that he wasn’t dominating down low. He said Piedmont junior Jacob Campbell “was outplaying him.”

“I was like, I gotta turn it up,” Muriithi said, surrounded by teammates joyfully piling towels on the senior “Thunder-style.”

So, when sophomore Keaton Murry missed a layup, Muriithi stormed into the paint for the slam to tie the game at 22.

A switch had flipped and the momentum had changed even though the score hadn’t changed much.

Piedmont proceeded to turn the ball over. Muriithi scored again on a reverse layup to give North a 24-22 lead.

While Piedmont inched closer, the Panthers never trailed after that point.

The Panthers slowed the game down in the final period. Lemons said that was by design as some of his younger players were in “scramble mode.”

“Let’s go to the game plan. If we can run, run. If not, just make them guard us because they don’t want to guard us as well,” Lemons said.

Wildcat senior Carter Hainrihar sank two free throws for to cut the deficit to four points, 38-34, with 18.8 seconds remaining. Piedmont freshman Jeremiah Millhouse fouled North sophomore CJ Heskett before the ball was inbounded in the back court. Heskett hit both foul shots.

Now the Wildcats were forced to foul and junior Miles Jackson hit two more free throws and the Wildcats preceded to turn the ball over to seal the win.

Lemons wasn’t surprised by the intensity of the first game at state this season.

“It was what it was supposed to be – a playoff game,” Lemons said. “A state championship game with the with the last eight teams in it. I couldn’t be more grateful for us to be in the final four.”

North had eight of the nine players who saw time on the floor score points.

Murry and fellow sophomore Devion Gillispie each scored nine points.

Murry was 4-of-8 from the field (including one North’s two 3-pointers). He also had a steal.

Gillispie drew Lemon’s praise after returning to a 6th-man role after junior Mekhi Thomas returned from injury.

“We brought him off the bench because we needed a spark. He did exactly that,” Lemons said while predicting Gillispie would likely make the All-Tournament team.

Gillispie was 4-of-6 from the field with an assist and a steal.

Senior TJ McNeely added six points on 2-of-4 shooting. He also had two rebounds.

Muriithi followed with five points, six rebounds and two assists.

Jackson and Heskett each scored four points including those important fourth quarter free throws.

Senior Malakye Schoats had three points, two rebounds anad an assist.

Muriithi wasn’t surprised by the balanced scoring.

“That’s the best part about our team, man. It could be anybody’s night, like the Thunder, man. We call ourselves ‘Baby Thunder’ a lot,” Muriithi said with a smile as his teammates hollered and jumped around him. 
”As you can see, we’re put together, and that’s why I love so much about this group.

“This is the best high school team I’ve ever had in my life. These guys, I know they love me, and we’re put together, and wer’re going to win this thing.”

NORTH BOYS, GIRLS MAKE HISTORY

The win (and the girls team’s win over Edmond North earlier in the day) marked the first time both the North boys and girls have ever advanced to the semifinals in the state tournament during the same season. Both the boys and girls teams have qualified for state in the same season but both teams never won.

TIP-INS

• North won the battle in the paint, 24-14.
• The Panthers also dominated in second chance points, 14-4.
• North edged Piedmont, 6-4, on fast breaks.
• The Panther bench outscored the Piedmont bench, 17-2.
• Piedmont took advantage of seven North turnovers by turning them into 10 points. North scored six points on seven Piedmont turnovers.
• The Wildcats’ struggled at the line, hitting 11 of 17 shots (64.7 percent). North was 12-of-15 (80 percent)
• Piedmont seniors Hudson Hite and Hainrihar finished their high school career with double-figure games. Hite had 12 points,four rebounds and steals. Hainrihar added 11 points and four five rebounds.
• North senior Mekhi Thomas saw limited minutes with two points and three rebounds. He also had a steal.

UP NEXT

North (27-1) plays Mustang (25-4) Thursday (March 12) at 7 p.m. at Carl Albert.

The Broncos held off a late run from Edmond Santa Fe in a 76-68 win late Wednesday night.

Former Putnam City guard Mar’Quell Robinson scored a game-high 17 points for Mustang. He also had six rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Sophomore Garrett Smith added 16 points and four rebounds.

Senior Andrew Reynolds and sophomore Scyon Wilborn each scored 13 points. Wilborn moved to Mustang from Putnam City West during the offseason.

Mustang has won four straight since finishing the regular season with a 69-62 loss to 5A power Carl Albert.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton.

	1	2	3	4	F
Piedmont (22-7)	5	11	12	6	34
Putnam City North (27-1)	6	11	13	12	42

CLASS 6A BOYS OKLAHOMA STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2026 (At Lloyd Noble Center)
Norman 59, Tulsa Union 50
Owasso 63, Southmoore 48
Putnam City North 42, Piedmont 34
Mustang 76, Edmond Santa Fe 68

THURSDAY, March 12, 2026 (At Carl Albert High School)
Norman vs. Owasso, 5:30 p.m.
Putnam City North vs. Mustang, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, March 13, 2026 (At OG&E Coliseum)
Championship, 6 p.m.