THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Skiatook High School Athletics

The Skiatook Bulldogs entered their own tournament with only one win, and on paper they were highly mismatched. However, what cannot be shown on paper is the steady strides of improvement the young team has made over the first few games. The team started this season with 12 players that had never set foot on a varsity court, but the raw talent has been significantly shaped throughout the year. The Bulldogs have lost several games, but now they are losing close games to better opponents. Skiatook was matched up against a very tough East Central Cardinals (6-2) team in the first round of the tourney. The game was neck and neck through the first half, but East Central ended up separating and winning 75-45. The first quarter was one of wild runs. East Central opened the game up 7-0, but a 7-0 run fueled by the Garner brothers tied the game. An East Central steal led to a two-handed slam by Burke Putman, but Gavin Jackson knocked down a 3 to give the Bulldogs a 10-9 lead. The Cardinals flew back out front after an 11-0 run extended them up 20-10, but Skiatook scored 9 unanswered and narrowed the gap to 20-19 at the end of the first. Jayden Garner was all over the court, wreaking defensive havoc, scoring points, and creating scores for his teammates. The second half went back and forth, but East Central managed to separate late, stretching the lead to 42-32 at the half. The Cardinals’ Tyree Malone had 20 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists at the break. Putman had also added 13 and 4 assists. In the third, East Central exploded offensively and blew the game open to a 30 point spread. Malone had 29 points and Putnam ended with 18, both after only three quarters. The Cardinals held on to win 75-45. Skiatook’s second win of the year came in the second tourney game, a matchup against the Redemption Life World Institute (RLWI), who was defeated by Owasso 68-14 in the first round. This game was much more competitive than the first. RLWI was a very athletic team, but Skiatook’s discipline gave the Bulldogs an upper hand down the stretch. RLWI had a lead for the majority of the first half, but Cason Lester’s rebound turned into an and-one tied the game at 23. RLWI went on an 11-0 run from that point, and Skiatook did not score again until Shae Garner buried a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer, narrowing the score to 28-34 at the half. Skiatook went on a run of its own at the beginning of the third quarter, going up 39-37. RLWI answered, and the teams began trading punches from that point. Skiatook led 46-45 going into the fourth, and they managed to expand the lead as RLWI began to collapse while Skiatook moved the ball well and Jayden Garner went on the offensive. The Bulldogs won 58-51 and Garner ended with 19 points. His brother Shae had 9, all on three’s, and Gavin Jackson added 12. The Skiatook Bulldogs will be playing for 5th place on Monday, January 9 at 2:30 p.m.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Skiatook High School Athletics

BULLDOGS HAVE UPS AND DOWNS AT TOURNAMENT

LINDSEY RENUARD

Skiatook Journal | 1/9/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Amy Garner