'This is what dreams are made of': Jaken Weedn's free throws seal Class B boys state title for Glencoe
When Jaken Weedn stepped to the free-throw line, it was a situation he had seen hundreds of times before.
A one-and-one situation. Game on the line. State championship up for grabs.
First shot, swish. Second shot, swish.
Kids across the state dream of hitting a game-winning shot in State Fair Arena every year. Weedn got to do just that Saturday.
Weedn’s two free throws pushed Class B fourth-ranked Glencoe past No. 1 Roff 47-46 on Saturday afternoon. Weedn, the son of coach Jeff Weedn, scored six points in the final quarter, but none were more important than his free throws with less than 10 seconds left.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Jaken Weedn said. “This is what dreams are made of.”
The championship is Glencoe’s first since 2015 and the fifth in school history.
While Jaken Weedn was calm while sinking his free throws, his dad was also watching something he often pondered about.
Tramel: Why Glencoe's state championship is a family affair for Jeff Weedn
“As a dad that is a coach, that’s what you always dream of,” Jeff Weedn said. “We talked about it all the time at the house. It’s him, not me.
“He has put in all the work to come through in that moment.”
And come through Jaken Weedn did.
He scored 13 points and hit two 3-point shots, including a pivotal one halfway through the fourth quarter to help Glencoe dig out of a 7-point hole with 6 minutes left. Cade Baldridge made a powerful one-handed layup while being fouled to put Roff up 40-33, but that’s when Glencoe (30-2 overall) made its push.
Jeff Weedn’s younger son, Jaxton Weedn, hit a 3 to start the comeback. Tre’ Speer hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final quarter to help close the gap.
Every time Roff tried to pull away, Glencoe answered.
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“Early on, there was no flow to the game,” Jeff Weedn said. “It was just what they wanted. But we settled in, started to press and our kids made shots.”
Baldridge, who scored five points, had a go-ahead layup with about 30 seconds left before Speer turned it over on an offensive foul. Then Jaken Weedn stole the following inbounds pass and was fouled, sending him to the line.
Even though he was in the mecca of Oklahoma high school basketball, it wasn’t any different than shooting at his hoop in the driveway or an empty gym. Thousands of screaming fans tried to do something to distract Jaken Weedn.
None of it worked. And now he and Glencoe are state champions.
“It’s unbelievable,” Jaken Weedn said. “It has not set in yet.”
Cameron Jourdan covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Cameron? He can be reached at cjourdan@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @Cam_Jourdan. Support Cameron’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSSAA Class B boys basketball: Glencoe beats Roff for state title
