Big second half leads Memorial past Sapulpa

Jacob Thionnet ripped down a defensive rebound and let out a roar. It was just another in a long list of second-half rebounds from the Edmond Memorial Bulldogs, and it clinched their Class 6A State Quarterfinal win over the Sapulpa Chieftains Thursday night at Catoosa High School. Thionnet’s rebound was his best rendition of his team’s decision to hit the glass after the halftime intermission — something that helped Memorial rebound from a 26-23 deficit after Sapulpa finished the first half on an 11-0 Chieftain run. “Coming back out I felt like we rebounded the crud out of the basketball,” Edmond Memorial head coach Shane Cowherd said after the win. Rebound they did. Though they still lost the rebound differential Thursday night, the Bulldogs grabbed the loose ones when it mattered most. Like Parker Clarida skying for two crucial ones late in the fourth quarter. Both saw him rebound through contact — earning two trips to the free-throw line and knocking all four of his tries down. And, after Clarida fouled out even later in the fourth, JV Seat, Drew Tennial and the roaring Thionnet all took their turns grabbing impactful missed Sapulpa shots. “Parker had a couple big ones, Thionnet had a number of big ones, JV Seat, too,” Cowherd said. “That was the toughest, most physical and fastest team we’ve played all season, and we’ve played some really good ones.” It wasn’t just the rebounds that were difference, though. Memorial shot a scorching 66 percent (21-32) from the field Thursday night. The Bulldog defense, meanwhile, held Sapulpa to just 18-of-61. Crucial to Memorial’s offensive successes Thursday night was freshman standout JV Seat, and senior leader Drew Tennial. Seat finished with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists — even once finding Sean Pedulla out of a double-team for one of Pedulla’s perfect 3-for-3 3-pointers on the night. Pedulla finished with 14 points overall. “We understood we had an opportunity to get JV on track against them,” Cowherd said. “We did a good job of finding him and finding opportunities, and that’s the key.” Finding Seat was crucial, especially late. Tennial finished with a double-double 15 points, 11 rebounds, but midway through the fourth he was stepped on by a member of the officiating crew. Tennial left the court under his own power for examination, and during his absence Seat netted his final three shots on the night. Tennial returned late in the fourth to record two rebounds, a block and an assist after the freak occurrence. Memorial’s explosive second half salvages what was a torrid run from Sapulpa midway through the second quarter. The Seat-to-Pedulla 3 preceeded Thionnet destroying a Chieftain long-ball try. He even corralled the rebound, leading to Sapupla foul and subsequent timeout. Out of the stoppage, though, Sapulpa ended the first half on an 11-0 run, taking the lead just before halftime. And, out of the intermission, Sapulpa’s Julian Smith netted three third-quarter 3-pointers. “We made more than our fair share of mistakes,” Cowherd said of the brief lapse. “But the second half we played with a lot more clarity to our game, and that’s what was important.” That clarity helped Memorial stomach the punch. Despite Smith’s flare-up, Memorial held Sapulpa to just five made 3s in 26 tries; Despite losing rebounds 35-34, the ‘Dogs froze Sapupla to 13 made 2-pointers in 35 looks. “We played a lot more fundamental and that’s what it takes to win games in the state tournament. You have to play sound basketball.” Edmond Memorial next faces the winner of Midwest City and Putnam City North tomorrow night at 9 p.m., held in Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center Arena.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Edmond Memorial High School Athletics

BIG SECOND HALF LEADS MEMORIAL PAST SAPULPA

AARON ALBERTSON

Edmond Sun | 3/9/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Drew Harmon