Column: What an early-season loss means for BTW
6A No. 1 Booker T. Washington suffered its first loss on the season at the hands of 6A rival Sapulpa. While Sapulpa is no chump, the loss sent a shockwave across the 6A landscape and can safely be classified as…
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Continue Reading6A No. 1 Booker T. Washington suffered its first loss on the season at the hands of 6A rival Sapulpa. While Sapulpa is no chump, the loss sent a shockwave across the 6A landscape and can safely be classified as an upset.
But what exactly are the implications of an early-season loss for the Hornets? Three games into the 2018-19 season, a quality loss to a talented team is a far cry from a season being in ruins; however, does this loss suggest that some changes need to be implemented?
Bryce Thompson and Seth Hurd were the two leading scorers in the game, contributing 29 and 21 points, respectively. The duo’s 50-point outing was watered down in the wake of the loss, but shouldn’t be ignored. Inside dominance from both of these guys was a high point for the Hornets. Booker T. won the inside battle in my opinion, not only in scoring, but also in rebounding and defense. However, not much less can be expected from two of the top-20 players in the state.
The remaining lineup’s inability to get anything going was surprising to me, however. Trey Phipps, who is regarded as one of the best — if not the best — shooters in the state, only hit one from range all night. Meanwhile, Jalen Breath, Hurd’s counterpart in the front-court, struggled in the scoring game. Usually, Phipps would be a likely candidate to lead the Hornets in scoring, and Breath would be a big contributor on the stat sheet as well, but both players struggled to get things to go their way against the Chieftain’s defensive presence. Sapulpa’s stiff defense about the perimeter and ability to put Breath in foul trouble should not be discredited though. Sapulpa playing aggressively was the catalyst, and their ability to limit some of the things Booker T. Washington does best was impressive. The narrative at the end of the night was Sapulpa’s supporting cast outplaying the Hornets’ supporting cast through attacking them in the most important places.
The Hornets’ loss is far from an end-all-be-all. This team can still compete with anybody in the state. Sapulpa can be more heralded for the way it performed than a lack of Booker. T not playing up-to-par. The Hornets will continue to get each team’s best when they match up, but with the taste of defeat in their mouth, I believe they will rise to that occasion. The Hornets and Chieftains will match up again on Feb. 1, and I’m looking forward to seeing the intensity both teams bring in that matchup.