The Best: Tahlequah Sequoyah vs Oktaha
Tahlequah Sequoyah took on Oktaha in a Top-10 Matchup in Class 3A. it happened in the Small School section of the Bedouin Shrine Tournament. Oktaha was undefeated coming into this matchup and played like it too. Both teams came out on fire to start to game but Tahlequah Sequoyah slowly started to pull away. Sequoyah continued to assert their dominance throughout the game and finished with a 61-51 victory over Oktaha.
MVP: Adam Saine 2018 Tahlequah Sequoyah Post
Adam Saine had a big time performance for Tahlequah Sequoyah in a big time game. Sequoyah found a weakness they wanted to exploit from Oktaha and Saine was the answer. The Indians fed the ball to Saine throughout the night and he stepped up and finished his opportunities. He was physical inside the paint and could not be stopped as he gathered a majority of the rebounds. Saine finished the game with 16 points.
Offensive MVP: Dean Austin 2018 Oktaha Guard
Dean Austin played with his heart on his sleeve against Tahlequah Sequoyah in the championship game. The effort that Austin was giving was obvious to any person in the crowd and it showed up on the score sheet as well. Austin shot the ball well keeping Oktaha in the game at different points. He got Oktaha into their offense and hardly turned the ball over. Austin finished with a game-high 20 points on the night. If Austin continues to shoot the ball as well as he did against the Indians, Oktaha will be a tough team to beat.
Defensive MVP: Bobby Cade 2018 Tahlequah Sequoyah Guard
Bobby Cade was the most athletic player on the court. He played a physical game and was able to make his presence known. He attacked the basket and finished at the rim against a good Oktaha team, but his offense was only part of the success he had tonight. He was able to lockdown whoever he guarded. He forced Oktaha to turn the ball over throughout the night with tough defense, which led to some easy shots for the Indians. If Cade can continue to play at this level small schools should take notice.
The Best Aspect: The Small School Crowds
In a small town or a small high school, communities rally around their sports teams. It was evident this was the case in the Class 3A matchup as the Muskogee Civic Center was packed. Both teams’ fans showed up in bunches and cheered their teams on. The crowd being so involved in the game was an incredible aspect of an already high quality game.
Best Under the Radar Performance: Tyler Baldridge 2018 Oktaha Post
The big man for Oktaha had a big game for Oktaha. He was a monster on the inside for Oktaha and worked hard to keep them in the game. He rebounded well against the Indians on the offensive end giving himself some easy baskets. He finished the game with 12 points on the night. Oktaha will hope Baldridge can continue playing well in his role. If he can the Tigers will go far this season.
The Best Shooter: Reece Herrin 2018 Tahlequah Sequoyah Guard
Reece Herrin was the best shooter on the court for Tahlequah Sequoyah on the night. He had the ability to get open to knock down shots from the perimeter. Herrin finished well at all three levels with a beautiful stroke. He will be a player that has big games for the Indians throughout the year, as he can get hot from beyond the arc. He finished the game with 14 points. If Herrin can produce like this on a nightly basis, the Indians will make a deep push into March.