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JV Seat shoots from the post -
Sean Pedulla led Memorial with 18 points in his final high school game -
Senior Keyshon Spotwood -
Sean Pedulla shoots a 3-pointer -
Senior Tate Mazza
TULSA - Javeon McCalister lifted the ball into the net, sinking both the shot and hearts.
The senior’s shot provided the decisive points as the Edmond Memorial boys’ basketball team fell 47-44 to Del City Saturday night at the Mabee Center in the Class 6A state championship game.
No. 1 Memorial (17-2) battled to the end through a back-and-forth affair but came up just short.
No. 2 Del City (22-4) claimed its second boys’ basketball state championship and first since 1980.
Memorial coach Shane Cowherd said it came down to a couple of possessions at the end.
“Once we got into that tight game scenario where we just couldn’t quite get that key stop and didn’t have a couple bounce quite our way,” Cowherd said. “We got good opportunities getting downhill to the rim, (we) couldn’t finish… It was a hard-fought game. I’m proud of my kids. More importantly, I’m just glad that we got the opportunity to play.”
The Eagles led 34-29 after the third quarter, but the Bulldogs began the fourth with a 9-0 run to retake the lead. Memorial held steady for a while, but the Eagles finished the game with a 6-0 run to win.
Memorial had a chance down 45-44 inside the final 30 seconds, but Del City sophomore Terry McMorris forced a held ball after a missed shot. The possession arrow favored the Eagles with 7.6 seconds to go. After a pair of free throws by senior Sherrod Davis, Memorial had to put up a desperation shot that did not go in.
Both teams had big runs. Del City dominated the first quarter, leading by as much as 14-5. The Bulldogs responded by outscoring the Eagles 16-5 in the second. Del City then retook control, outscoring Memorial 13-4 in the third. Memorial started the fourth strong, but the Eagles did enough to win.
Cowherd said both teams were able to capitalize on their strengths at different times.
“They just made a couple more plays than we did at the end,” Cowherd said. “That’s what state tournament games are about. You’ve got two really good teams that are gonna battle it back and forth and test each other and try each other. Each team tries to find the right answers. They found one more right answer than we did.”
Del City senior Keyondre Young led all scorers with 26 points. Memorial senior Sean Pedulla followed with 18. McCalister and Memorial junior JV Seat had 9 points apiece.
Despite the result, Cowherd said he is proud of his team, which is bringing home the silver ball.
“They fought their butts off,” Cowherd said. “They prepared the right way. They did the right things to put themselves into this position. One game doesn’t define them or their season. It’s unfortunate, and we’re hurting, and we’re sad. But, in the end, once again, the fact that we were. The fact that were, that we got the opportunity to be together every day. That we got the opportunity to get through a season. That we got an opportunity to get all the way into the state tournament, that’s the most important thing.”