Five Takeaways: Owasso vs. Sapulpa
Sapulpa made a statement to the East side of Class 6A with a double-digit victory over Owasso 90-76 on Tuesday night. Coming off a big week Owasso struggled against the pressure Sapulpa brought. Sapulpa should secure a regional host in…
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Continue ReadingSapulpa made a statement to the East side of Class 6A with a double-digit victory over Owasso 90-76 on Tuesday night. Coming off a big week Owasso struggled against the pressure Sapulpa brought. Sapulpa should secure a regional host in the playoffs and this game just added to that case. The Chieftains are a legitimate contender for the Class 6A Gold Ball.
Smith maturing before our eyes
Julian Smith has always had the “IT” factor to his game. After watching the young man play for 20 minutes you can see why he is so highly thought of as a prospect. Size is the biggest thing limiting him at the next level. But we have seen plenty of 5’10 Guards show they can be successful at the NCAA Division I level. For most of his career defense has been a major question mark. He is answering the call this year playing with great intensity and passion on defense. You can see a clear difference in the focus Smith is bringing on defense. He was able to get a ton of steals that led to easy fast break points. Which brings us to our next improvement Smith has made this year. He is sharing the ball the best of his high school career. The vision of Smith has improved along with his passing skills. With more playmakers around him Smith is doing an exceptional job setting up his teammates. Of course, we can not leave out what he has always been talented at scoring the basketball. Smith took advantage when the defense left him open especially from distance.
Energy boost off the bench
Te’Zohn Tafe is the energizer bunny for Sapulpa off the bench. As soon as he came in he made a huge impact with great speed and quick hands on defense. He gave Owasso fits snatching steals that led to easy run out buckets. Tafe was best in transition situations, but did also show his ability to shoot the rock. Considering Tafe is just a sophomore he will be one of the clear leaders for Sapulpa after this season.
Fast pace leads Sapulpa to victory
Sapulpa thrives in pressure situations leading to fast break points. They played with fantastic intensity smothering Owasso’s Guards. The Chieftains were able to press full court at times throughout the game with great success. The wheels fell off for Owasso in the third quarter when Sapulpa not only played great defense but also found great open shots for points. Owasso did what they could to close the gap in the fourth behind a gritty performance from Seth Pomeroy but it was just too late.
Pomeroy battles his tail off
The scoreboard did not read what Seth Pomeroy wanted it to at the end of the night. However, he had nothing to hang his head about with the heart he left on the floor. Pressure came his way all night long from much quicker Sapulpa Guards, Pomeroy struggled at times against the press, but also had his fair share of success. Owasso is going to need the Guards around Pomeroy to get better at handling pressure. The small college who lands Pomeroy is going to get a guy that never stops battling. He is not the fastest, tallest, or most athletic, but always produces.
Other notable performances
Camryn Dennis 2019 Sapulpa Guard had a nice game for the Chieftains as the steady hand. He consistently gave them points in a balanced manner. Dennis is going to be a steal for the college who lands his talents. Hunter Hoggatt 2020 Sapulpa Wing came up huge with key shooting from the outside. Hoggatt will be prepared to take on a bigger scoring role next year. Preston Hendricks 2019 Owasso Forward played his but off down low for the Rams. He was key in the boards and tough baskets inside. Trenton Ellison 2021 Wing has a nice night shooting from distance for Owasso.
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