Oklahoma high school All-State week live updates: Humphrey’s late TD run lifts West to win
The Oklahoma Coaches Association high school All-State athletic events began Monday across the state. Here's a look at what happened.
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Oklahoma high school All-State: Humphrey’s late TD run lifts West over East
The annual All-State football game came down to the wire Friday at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Crain Family Stadium.
A tight battle throughout, the West got the ball deep in East territory and needed a clutch play to come away with the win.
Pauls Valley’s Justin Humphrey provided just that.
The quarterback ran for a touchdown with 1:17 remaining as the West went on to beat the East 15-14.
The stands were packed, and fans got to see a tightly-contested showdown that featured some of the state’s top players over the past few years.
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“It was my last time to play for Washington, so I was going to make it worth it,” said Washington defensive lineman Hayden Milner, who had two fumble recoveries in the first half.
“Me and my buddy were playing on the same team, and it was just a different experience playing with everyone else.”
Milner, who will continue his career at Division II Southwest Baptist University in Missouri, was one of the main standouts for a West defense that was stellar.
The West led 8-7 at halftime. The East put together a solid second half, but Humphrey’s touchdown run proved to be the difference.
The outcome wasn’t all that important though.
The biggest thing for the players was having some closure before moving on the next journey of their lives.
“It was nice to play one more high school game,” Milner said.
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Oklahoma high school All-State: Smith excels in final high school game
The connection was automatic for CJ Smith and Zander Baker.
Smith floated to the basket, and Baker speedily dished the ball to him for a perfect dunk.
The sequence looked as if they had rehearsed it, and it’s because they did throughout the season. The Putnam North stars played their final high school game together as West teammates Thursday night in Sapulpa, claiming a 93-83 victory against the East in the boys basketball Large All-State matchup.
“That’s my guy, man,” Smith said. “... I’m glad to have him on my team.”
Smith, who dazzled with a game-high 23 points, said choosing to play in the All-State game wasn’t a tough decision. He wanted the chance before taking his next step, which he said he will announce “soon.”
“You only get to do this once in a lifetime,” Smith said, “so I knew I was going to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s a blessing. Not everybody gets to go play in this type of environment, so I knew it was pretty much a no-doubter that I was gonna play.”
Percy Green of Del City energized the West with nine quick first-quarter points, and his team had built a large lead by the fourth. Jordan England of Carl Albert finished with 17 points, while Jordyn Brown of Ardmore added 16.
The Small game was closer, but the West slipped past the East, 71-68. Jagger Worley of Carnegie led the West with 14 points, and Tymier Adkins-Freeman of Crooked Oak added 10.
Although both teams dealt with inconsistencies at the free-throw line, Adkins-Freeman provided the final free-throw to secure the West’s win. He and William Mays of Millwood, both standout point guards, effectively shared the court, and forward Joe Hernandez of Texhoma starred in the paint with 10 points.
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Oklahoma high school All-State: East wins both girls basketball games
Tiani Ellison knew what to do in the second half.
When the momentum started slipping away from the Small East girls basketball team, the Silo star brought it back.
“I am used to tough situations like that,” Ellison said, “and I’m used to having to step up and do what I need to do to get the game going."
Kicking her offense into a higher gear, Ellison ensured the East defeated the West, 41-36, in the Small All-State girls basketball team Wednesday night in Sapulpa. She added all 10 of her points after halftime, including the basket that erased the West’s brief fourth-quarter lead.
And the East walked away with a sweep. The East dominated the West, 80-55, in the Large All-State game, but the small-school teams stuck close to each other until the end.
Although Small East led 23-14 at halftime, the West made a late push with a pair of 3-pointers from Jaelen Maples of Jones. Each time Maples struck, Ellison had an answer, set on ending her high school career with a win.
“That’s why it felt great,” said Ellison, a Missouri Western signee. “It was any other game for me, but it felt great because it was my last high school go-around.”
Emily Robinson of Caddo capped the victory with a free throw, finishing with nine points. Emma Stover of Okarche led the Small West with eight.
In the Large game, the East spread the ball around, and it worked. Taneya Howard of Broken Arrow created a spark in the second half, when she poured in 12 of her 14 points. Ellie Brueggeman of Tulsa Lincoln Christian rained 3-pointers from the left corner, recording a team-high 15 points, while Tulsa signee Elise Hill of Holland Hall added 11.
Although the West didn’t overcome the East’s balanced offense, Jillian Crawford of Piedmont tallied 20 points to lead all scorers.
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Oklahoma high school All-State: Westmoore’s Holden Martin finishes impressive high school career
Westmoore’s Holden Martin wasn’t sure if he’d compete at the All-State wrestling meet.
Martin definitely wanted to end his Jaguar career with one last high school match, but an injury called that into question.
“I hurt my thumb last week at Fargo, so it was a little iffy if I was going to wrestle,” Martin said.
Martin, the Class 6A runner-up at 175 pounds this year, went ahead and fought through it Wednesday and earned a win against Owasso’s Braxton Bacon.
He’s glad he did, and the day is something he’ll always remember.
“It’s my last (high school) match ever, so it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said.
Martin’s career isn’t over. Like many wrestlers at the All-State event, he’ll compete in college.
Martin signed with Kent State this spring and will fulfill his dream of wrestling at the Division I level.
He’ll likely be in the 174-pound weight class, although 184 is also an option.
Martin will cherish his time in high school and said his favorite memory was reaching the podium during his junior year.
He’ll do whatever he can to have some more success at the next level.
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Oklahoma high school All-State: OBU signee Boyer shines in Large volleyball match
Emily Boyer's final high school volleyball match encapsulated her versatility.
The Carl Albert star provided thunderous kills, delivered perfect sets and fed off her teammates’ energy Tuesday night in Jenks.
“It was definitely an adrenaline rush,” Boyer said. “But I really enjoyed it.”
Boyer and the West team defeated the East squad, 2-1, in the 2023 Oklahoma high school Large All-State volleyball match. She sported a shiny, new All-State ring after the match, and that wasn’t her only honor. The Oklahoma Baptist University signee was crowned West MVP, while MacKenzie Thiessen of Tulsa Union was named East MVP.
The East won the Small All-State match, 2-1, with Ella Drake of Tulsa Regent Prep leading the way as MVP. Mercedes Crandall of Cache received the Small West MVP award.
The Small East and Small West teams traded sets before the East captured the third, 25-16.
But in the Large match, the West team had the momentum in the beginning with a 4-0 run. West claimed the first set, 25-20, and rolled to a 25-11 victory in the second.
Although the East took the third set, 27-25, with a gritty performance from Thiessen, the West had already sealed the win.
Boyer helped create the West’s “it” factor, and she didn’t have to do it alone. Bishop McGuinness coach Kelli Miller, who led the West team, said the players had only an hour and a half to practice together, and that was all they needed to gel.
“I think it speaks volumes for them as individual athletes,” Miller said. “But then just the fact that they can compete together and work as a team when many of them haven’t played as a team before, it was super-fun for me to be a part of that.”
Boyer was one of the rare athletes this year who qualified for All-State in two sports: volleyball and tennis. Each athlete can compete in only one All-State game, so Boyer chose volleyball, but they can receive All-State honors in more than one sport. Jacobe Johnson of Mustang and Avrey Payne of Marlow are also two-sport All-Staters, qualifying in football and basketball.
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Oklahoma high school All-State: Carl Albert’s McLaughlin, Niles soak in final high school event
There was a fun and easy-going vibe Tuesday as players competed in their All-State matches at the University of Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
Some of the best players from around the state gathered for the event, and although they’ve had varying levels of success, they all wanted to savor one last moment as a high school athlete.
Carl Albert’s Keegan McLaughlin and TJ Niles were among them.
For McLaughlin, who placed sixth in No. 1 singles at this year’s Class 5A state tournament, the All-State event was the perfect send-off before he continues his career at Division III Grinnell College in Iowa.
“It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “I mean, I’ve been with these guys since I was in sixth grade. It’s sad to say goodbye, but I’m just so glad I got this opportunity.”
McLaughlin had been Carl Albert’s No. 1 singles player since he was a freshman.
Niles was on varsity for his first year this past season. He competed in No. 2 doubles and placed fourth at the state tournament.
“I did not think I’d be here at the beginning of the year,” Niles said. “I worked hard for this. Because this is my first year on varsity. Made it to state, didn’t think it would happen.”
Each All-State player competed in two doubles matches, one with a teammate of the same gender and one with a teammate of the opposite gender. The East had 12 victories, while the West had six.
The Carl Albert duo competed for the West and each took two losses, but that’s not what mattered Tuesday.
It was all about providing a memorable end to their high school careers.
And what will McLaughlin miss the most about not being at Carl Albert?
“The bus rides,” he said. “Those are the parts that I’ll remember. Of course I love being on the courts, but getting the team experience was what I loved the most about high school and middle school.”
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Oklahoma high school All-State: Ryan Healy, Piper McNeil dominate at swim meet
Some of the top swimmers in the state over the past few years gathered at Edmond Public Schools Aquatic Center for the All-State meet Monday.
For many, it was the final competitive swim meet of their careers. For others, it was their last chance to swim against some familiar competition before embarking on their college careers.
Edmond North’s Ryan Healy and Shawnee’s Piper McNeil fall into the latter category, and they dominated as they’ve done throughout their time in high school.
Healy, a Michigan signee, swam for the West and won the 200-yard individual medley (1 minute, 56.60 seconds) and 100 backstroke (53.64). McNeil, a Missouri signee, competed for the East and claimed victories in the 100 backstroke (59.32), 200 individual medley (2:09.87), 200 medley relay (1:58.42) and 400 freestyle relay (3:49.92).
The East won both the girls and boys competitions.
For swimmers like Healy, it was a memorable day.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. It was nice to see a lot of familiar faces that I’ve swam with the last four years. … It felt really good to able to finish it off strong, surrounded by friends.”
Along with Healy and McNeil, Claremore’s Sylvia Admire had a strong day.
An Illinois State signee, she claimed wins in the 50 freestyle (25.42), 200 freestyle (1:57.75) and 400 freestyle relay (3:49.92).
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Oklahoma high school All-State: West golfers defeat East
C.J. Phillips concluded his high school golf career with a new group of teammates, but they were already his friends.
Phillips of Edmond Santa Fe and Christian Johnson of Christian Heritage practice together nearly every day in Oklahoma City.
They were paired up for the All-State tournament, and their winning West team included several other familiar faces.
“It was awesome,” said Phillips, who plans to golf and study aviation at Central Missouri. “A lot of those guys, I’ve been playing against since I was 9 in U.S. Kids (Golf), so it was good that all of us kind of reunited for All-State and got to play together as a team.”
The West boys and girls combined for a 31-17 victory over the East in the 2023 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State golf tournament Monday in Catoosa. Sean Hushbeck of Comanche was the winning coach.
Golfers competed in pairs, and each pair could collect as many as four points. The West girls won, 16-8, while on the boys side, the West claimed a 15-9 victory.
But on the girls side, two East golfers had the best score of any pair. Emma Fields of Bixby and Josie Clevenger of Broken Arrow combined for a 67.
Two boys pairs tied for the low score. On the West team, Baylor Bostick and Caden Stevens of Duncan carded a 66. East golfers Cooper Hardison of Caney and Cale Vanbrunt of Jenks matched that score.
MaKaylee Cowan, a member of the winning West team, processed two realizations as she stood outside the clubhouse after the tournament.
“(It’s) bittersweet,” said Cowan, a University of Central Oklahoma signee from Yukon. “I’m excited for college, but it’s also kind of sad that high school’s officially over now.
“... But at the same time, another chapter of my life is opening now, so I’m just excited for that.”
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school All-State week scores, updates at Coaches Clinic
