Washington 72, MacArthur 64: Jarez Howard scored 13 of his 22 points in the second quarter, including nine in an 18-0 run that sent the Hornets (22-4) from a 21-18 deficit to a 36-21 lead.

The Hornets led by 15 at halftime and by 26 early in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Stallings had a game-high 23 points to lead the Highlanders (16-11).

B.T. WASHINGTON 72, LAWTON MAC 64
MacArthur 10 13 14 27--64
B.T. Washington 12 26 17 17--72
Lawton MacArthur: Stallings 23, Cook 14, Whitaker 7, Branstetter 6, Anderson 6, Struck 3, Jordan 3, Carstensen 2.
B.T. Washington: Howard 22, Thompson 11, King 9, Fuselier 8, Jones 8, Louie 6, Peel 4, Turner 2, Nash 2.

btw play tonight (3-12) against southeast for the gold ball. game is at 8:45 at the mabee center. go hornets!

quote:

Originally posted by robin copeland:
btw play tonight (3-12) against southeast for the gold ball. game is at 8:45 at the mabee center. go hornets!

Think anybody reads these? Too bad TSST, formerly known as McLain lost, that would've been old school.

BTW back in title game

By BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
3/12/2005

Hornets beat Ardmore and will face undefeated OC Southeast for Class 5A championship.

Booker T. Washington has accomplished the rare feat of reaching the Class 5A state finals in football and basketball in the same school year.

The second-ranked Hornets rolled into the basketball title game with a 71-61 victory over No. 4 Ardmore in the semifinals at Mabee Center on Friday night.

Justin Fuselier, the quarterback on BTW's state runner-up football team, had 17 points and helped spark a comeback after the Hornets fell into an early 11-point hole. BTW's Cruz Thompson scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half to finish off Ardmore.

The Hornets (23-4), who have won 18 in a row, will meet top-ranked Oklahoma City Southeast (26-0) for the championship at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Southeast ended the Cinderella postseason run of 11th-ranked Tulsa High School for Science and Technology 91-59.

Southeast is the defending 5A champion. BTW has won 13 Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association basketball titles, with its most recent in 2002.

"We have a tall order (Saturday) night," BTW coach Nate Harris said. "Southeast is a very good basketball team. We're going to have to play head-and-shoulders above our expectations.
But that's how you get better is to play the best. And Southeast is certainly the best."

BTW trailed 26-15 in the second quarter before going on a 12-0 run, capped by Fuselier's trey that gave the Hornets a 27-26 lead with 2:20 left. After a basket by Ardmore's Trea Stevenson, Fuselier drained another 3-pointer to lift BTW back ahead, 30-28.

Jamere King also contributed to the comeback with eight points in the second quarter, including two treys.

Ardmore battled back to a 30-30 tie at intermission as Brian Booker sank a free throw with three seconds left.

The Hornets, however, scored the first seven points of the third quarter. Ardmore scored the next four to cut its deficit to 37-34, but a technical foul on Jermaine Gresham's dunk seemed to deflate the Tigers. BTW then went on a 15-4 run and was never threatened again. Jarez Howard had 10 of his 11 points in the third to lead the Hornets' blitz that enabled them to end the period with a 54-40 lead.

Booker scored 22 points to lead the Tigers (20-8). Gresham added 14 points for Ardmore.

OC Southeast 91, TSST 59: Marchello Vealy scored 24, Kraig Bradley added 20 and Marvell Vealy had 18 points to lead the Spartans over the Titans (8-19).

Marchello Vealy had 10 points in the first quarter as the Spartans raced to a 28-11 lead.

Jeremy Henderson paced TSST with 15 points and DeMarco Johnson scored 14.


B.T. Washington 71, No. 4 Ardmore (20-8) 61
Saturday's Final
At ORU Mabee Center
No. 1 OC Southeast (26-0) vs. No. 2 B.T. Washington (23-4), 8:45 p.m.


B.T. WASHINGTON 71, ARDMORE 61
Ardmore 19 11 10 21--61
B.T. Washington 10 20 24 17--71
Ardmore: Booker 22, Gresham 14, Stevenson 12, Fagan 6, McGee 4, Murray 3.
B T. Washington: Thompson 21, Fuselier 17, Howard 11, Jones 8, King 8, Harris 4, Louie 1, Peel 1.

The "BT Express" got derailed last night by a very good OC Southeast team...wow, those Vealy brothers were something else. I was impressed by Justin Fuselier, he should be a starter, and Felix Jones, man, what an athlete.

This time, Spartans overcome loss of big lead
By BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
3/13/2005

Hornets storm back from 16-point deficit, but Southeast hangs on to win this time.

Oklahoma City Southeast coach Walter Brewer gave his team a valuable history lesson before the Class 5A championship basketball game against Booker T. Washington on Saturday night.

Brewer told his players about the Spartans' last state tournament meeting with the Hornets in the 2001 semifinals.


Booker T. Washington's Jarez Howard (front) sits on the floor while Nathan Harris (left), Damarques Potter (center) and Marcus Peel (right), sit on the bench during the Hornets' 81-68 loss to Oklahoma City Southeast in the 5A boys state championship.
STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World


"I told them that we had Booker T. down in that game by 17 at one time right before halftime and they came back to beat us," Brewer said. "I told myself that we weren't going to let that happen again."

It appeared that history could repeat as the Spartans saw a 16-point lead in the second quarter drop to four at halftime. But the Vealy brothers made sure the Spartans would not let this win slip away.

Marchello Vealy and Marvell Vealy combined for 48 points, including 35 in the second half, to lead the top-ranked Spartans over the No. 2 Hornets 81-68 at Mabee Center.

Marvez Vealy also contributed five points for Southeast (27-0), which completed a perfect season with its second straight state title and fifth overall as it snapped the Hornets' 18-game winning streak. BTW (23-5), which has a record 13 state titles, had won the last 10 times it had appeared in the state final under coach Nate Harris.

"Booker T. Washington is a great team," Brewer said. "And with coach Harris, that's a scary factor with all those gold balls that he has. I'm just glad our kids stepped up and met their intensity because Booker T. came to play."

Marvell Vealy scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help clinch the win for the Spartans. Marchello Vealy had 22 points and 18 rebounds. He scored 17 and had 15 boards in the second half after spending the second quarter on the bench with two fouls as he could only watch as the Hornets make a run at the Spartans.

"That was a little (frustrating)," Marchello Vealy said. "I wanted to get back in the game, but coach wanted me in for the second half. I had to (rebound) because they had been getting too many second-chance shots."

Marchello Vealy scored 13 in the third quarter to help stretch Southeast's lead from 28-24 to 52-40.

BTW's Justin Fuselier had 11 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, but the Spartans never let the Hornets get too close.

Jarez Howard's layup with six minutes left cut Southeast's lead to 58-50 but that was as close as the Hornets would get as Thomas Johnson answered with a trey that was followed by Kraig Bradley's basket that made it 63-50.

Felix Jones' basket and Cruz Thompson's free throw brought the Hornets within 63-53, but Marvell Vealy made two free throws and Marchello Vealy scored on a tip-in to vault the Spartans' lead up to 67-53.

Fuselier scored off a follow shot with 2:06 left to reduce BTW's hole to 73-64. But the Spartans raced down court and Marvell Vealy drained a trey that dashed the Hornets' hopes for a miracle. The Spartans never slowed down as Marvell Vealy added another 3-pointer and a basket in the final 90 seconds.

Thompson scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half. Howard added 13 points for the Hornets.

After Howard opened the game with a basket, Southeast reeled off 13 straight points, including five each from Marchello Vealy and Walt Brewer. Baskets by Marcus Peel and Jamar Louie ended the Spartans' run, but Marvell Vealy ended the period with a trey for a 16-6 Spartans lead.

Southeast opened the second period with three straight baskets to stretch their advantage to 22-6. But the Hornets then took advantage of Marchello Vealy being on the bench in foul trouble.

BTW, which was down 11 in the semifinals against Ardmore at a similar juncture, scored 10 consecutive points over the next two minutes.

Marvell Vealy, however, answered with a basket and a trey. Marvez Vealy added a free throw for a 28-16 bulge.

But Fuselier, who ignited BTW's second-quarter comeback on Friday, struck again. Fuselier had eight points in the half's final two minutes to cut the Hornets' deficit to 28-24. It almost was closer, but Fuselier narrowly missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Fuselier had a trey in the second half's opening moments to make it 30-27, but the Spartans followed with a 15-2 run and they were on their way to completing their perfect season.

"We had a big bull's-eye on our back," Marchello Vealy said. "We had to finish it up.


Booker T. Washington's Justin Fuselier (10) tries to jump around Oklahoma City Southeast's Marchello Vealy (45) during the 5A Boys State Basketball Tounrament at the Mabbe Center in Tulsa, OK, March 12, 2005.STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World


Booker T. Washington's Jarez Howard (right) (21) drives by Oklahoma City Southaast's Krig Bradley (32) during the 5A Boys State Basketball Tounrament at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, OK, March 12, 2005.STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World


Booker T. Washington's Jarez Howard (right) (21) shoots around Oklahoma City Southeast's Marchello Vealy (45) during the 5A Boys State Basketball Tounrament at the Mabbe Center in Tulsa, OK, March 12, 2005.STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World

Saturday's Final
At ORU Mabee Center
No. 1 OC Southeast (27-0) 81, No. 2 B.T. Washington (23-5) 68
Summaries

OC SOUTHEAST 81, B.T. WASHINGTON 68
OC Southeast 16 12 24 29--81
B.T. Washington 6 18 16 28--68
OC Southeast: Marvell Vealy 26, Marchello Vealy 22, Bradley 11, Brewer 5, Marvez Vealy 5, Young 5, T.Johnson 5, J.Johnson 2.
B.T. Washington: Fuselier 24, Thompson 18, Howard 13, Jones 7, Louie 4, Peel 2.

guess it's just the 2 of us bobby. the btw/southeast game was a great one. southeast has a legitimate claim to "greatest"! btw played well, but southeast played better & w/o attitude no less. my "new" team, okc northeast, (new school) got blown out in the semis. oh well for 2005... & let's go 2006!

BTW is currently ranked #9 in baseball. Gonna go try and watch them this season...

BTW beat Grove 8-5 to advance to State!

They play Shawnee at Broken Arrow at 1:30 on Weds. Also in their bracket is Altus and Claremore.

Good luck, Hornets!

Rebecca Parks won 5A state tennis crown, she smoked everyone she played. She's only a sophomore.

Booker T won!!! Hey, they are a good team. The SS has signed w/ Arkansas and might get drafted in the later rounds.

BTW has not been to state since 1997 and before that when I was a sophomore in 77.

So they play tomorrow at 4 pm vs. Claremore who's ranked #2. Kelley is #1 (and in a different bracket, by the way, before the final game it is now double elimination, which is how it should've always been) but BTW beat them a few weeks back. We watched Claremore play Altus after BTW's game and they look good, esp the 1B who can crank!, but BTW, if they play errorless and use their speed and get guys on base, can beat them.

The winning pitcher, Jarrod Hershberger, who won today, signed w/ Connors Juco, which is ranked #1 in NJCAA, and so he'll be teammates w/ John Whitaker's (class of 80) son, Tyler.

Hornets repeat as 5A girls champs

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
5/15/2005

Young Booker T. Washington squad overcomes two runners being disqualified to score eighth crown.
ARDMORE -- Booker T. Washington won five girls state track titles in the 1990s. The Hornets seem poised to dominate another decade.

Washington repeated as Class 5A state champions Saturday and did it with a roster that included two seniors, according to coach Greg Nash.

"We have some good young kids coming back," Nash said. "You've just got to keep adding to it each year."

The Hornets won their eighth girls state track championship, including their sixth under Nash, and scored their second-most points (129) in state meet history despite having runners disqualified in the 100 and 200.

Nash said his team easily could have accumulated 140 points.

Washington scored 136 points at the 1990 state meet, launching a span of five titles in eight years. The Hornets didn't win another championship until 2004, but the dynasty is well on its way toward resurrection.

Nash credited a total team effort, but the Hornets could have won a state championship with just their 72 relay points. Meet runner-up Altus finished with 65 points.

Ashley
Crisp, Miesha Dinkins, Jalesa Walker and Lauren Corbitt teamed to win gold in the 400 and 800 relays. Robyn Carter, Crisp, Sara Vaughn and Walker combined to win the 1,600 relay, while Vaughn, Shannon Sullivan, Jenny Chadd and Carter placed third in the 3,200 relay.

Carter repeated as champion in the 400 and was one of two individual gold medalists for Washington.

Corbitt won the long jump.

The Hornets scored in 11 events and, shortly after the meet, Nash began talking about how he needed to find additional athletes that will allow him to field a more complete squad.

Nash indicated that his girls want to add to the program's legacy.

"We have great tradition in our sports at Booker T.," he said. "They kind of look in the gym and they look at all of our banners in the gym.

"They want to be part of girls track team that is a traditional power and they want to be involved in track. They want to be in the program because we try to run a good program and be consistent in what we do."

The Hornets won their first repeat state titles since 1993-94.

The most significant individual accomplishment at the 5A girls meet was delivered by Shawnee junior Chelsea Threet, who set a state meet record and overall state record by clearing 12-1 in the pole vault.

Threet set a state meet record of 11-3 last year.

Devon Fox of Norman North entered this year as owner of the overall state meet record, clearing 11-8 at a 2002 regional meet.

Boy's T&F finished tied for 5th:

Booker T. Washington's Felix Jones dethroned defending state champion Lynn Payne of Capitol Hill to win the long jump. Altus, which entered the meet as the defending state champion, finished second with 83 points. Altus trailed by only nine points entering the final two events, but Shawnee scored 20 points in the 1,600 run to lock up the team title.

RE: Baseball

Thursday's game

Claremore 6
BTW 5

Highlight: Zac Coplon snatched the game from the jaws of defeat with his bare hand, and he and Matt Gray singled home ninth-inning runs to break a 4-4 tie. Washington had the winning run at third with one out in the eighth, but Coplon, charging from first base, caught Justin Baney's suicide bunt with his bare hand and doubled off K.D. Radford at third.
Keys: On the play before, Radford seemed to score on an inside pitch that went to the screen after Baney tried to bunt it, but umpires ruled that Baney had fouled the pitch and Radford went back to third.
Notes: Coplon also doubled home a run and pitched the first four innings, striking out five. Jacob Romaine (7-1) pitched the final five innings for the win. Brett Bollman doubled twice, driving in two runs in the fourth and putting himself in position to score the go-ahead run in the ninth. . . . Hornet starting pitcher Jeremy Webster had a homer and double, and Jarod Hershberger had an RBI-double among his three hits.
Records: Claremore 35-5; Washington 26-14.

Ridiculous call, Baney did not foul tip the ball and the call was the homeplate umpire's call to make which he supposedly did not see, which should have meant there was not a foul tip and thus BTW wins and advances to championship game of the bracket w/ no losses....

=================


Washington 9
Altus 3
Highlight: Jerry Price went the distance for the Hornets, but Altus ace Michael Hermer was hit by a pitch in the second inning and couldn't continue. Price scattered six hits and struck out seven.
Keys: The Hornets scored six times in the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie. K.D. Radford led off with a single to left, reached third on a two-base error and scored the go-ahead run on Jamel Jones' single.

Claremore fells BTW in semi; Comets soar

By JOHN D. FERGUSON World Sports Writer
5/14/2005

BROKEN ARROW -- Claremore got a sterling two-hit, seven-strikeout performance from pitcher Matt York and the Zebra defense backed him with two outstanding plays to beat Booker T. Washington 7-1 in the Class 5A state semifinals Friday.

A Tiger Field crowd of 400 watched the left-handed York scatter two hits and put Claremore in the 5A championship game for the second year in a row. Claremore lost last year's final to Kelley and must play the Comets again.

The title game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at ORU's J.L. Johnson Stadium.

York (9-0) admitted he didn't have his best stuff.

"That's the biggest game I've ever pitched in," York said. "I got a lot of help. They hit the ball really hard, and we made some great plays."

If ESPN had been on hand, the diving catch of center fielder Jordan Reed robbed Hornet Jeremy Webster of a sure triple to lead off the third inning would have been a Top 10 highlight nominee. But, it was third baseman Jack Lamoreaux, who dove and stabbed a line drive off the bat of Jamel Jones.

Claremore was ahead 4-1 when Washington got runners to second and third
with two out. Jones hit a rocket toward third base, and Lamoreaux nabbed it to prevent two runs.

The Zebras (36-5) added three runs in the sixth, as Reed drilled a two-run triple. Garrett Steinbrook laced an RBI single. Reed, Steinbrook and Steffon Williams finished with two RBIs each. Bryan Woody and Zac Coplon led the 10-hit attack with two hits each.

Justin Baney got a two-out double in the second to score Ian Vancuren for the Hornets' only run. Jarod Hershberger (8-4) went the distance for Washington (26-16) and got the loss.

Claremore lost to Kelley in last year's championship 2-0. The two teams have split two meetings this season.

Short yardage aids Hornets

By KEVIN HENRY World Correspondent
9/4/2005

TSST falls to BTW after two TD drives within the Titans 30.

Booker T. Washington's offense can be dangerous from anywhere on the field.

When the Hornets don't have to travel far to the end zone, it's a tough scenario for the opponent. TSST found that out firsthand Saturday afternoon at Melvin Driver Stadium.

The 5A third-ranked Hornets started two first-half possessions inside the TSST 30-yard line and capitalized on both opportunities with touchdowns.

Using the momentum from the short touchdown drives, Washington went on to post an 18-6 victory over TSST in the annual Northside Classic contest.

"When you get two quality teams together, it's hard to go 80 yards for a score," said Washington head coach Antwain Jimmerson. "It was key for us to take advantage of those shorter field opportunities. You have to score when you can and take advantage of opportunities."

After a scoreless first quarter, Washington broke through. After a 13-yard punt gave the Hornets possession at the TSST 26, Hornet quarterback Justin Fuselier and tailback Michael Harris alternated carries, with Fuselier finishing off the four-play scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge.

Booker T. Washington High School's running back Michael Harris (left) (32) gets good yardage before TSST's Jerrico Thomas (26) makes the tackle in their football game on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005. SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World


The extra point try sailed wide left, giving Washington a 6-0 lead with 8:51 remaining in the first half.

The action was the first of the summer for Fuselier, who missed practice and scrimmages while re covering from surgery.

The senior quarterback rushed 15 times for 50 yards, but Jimmerson said Fuselier's value to the team goes far beyond statistics.

"He's a winner who gets the job done," Jimmerson said. "He's a kid who leads by example and a leader for this team."

Following Washington's first touchdown, it took just one play for the Hornet defense to get the ball back as Jermaine Holmes pounced on a fumble at the TSST 13.

Washington methodically used its ground game during the drive, with Harris capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown dive to give Washington a 12-0 lead with 5:31 left in the first half.

Washington's defense wreaked havoc on the Titans throughout the game. Including a 37-yard run by TSST's Rashad Rushing on the game's first play, Washington limited TSST to four first downs and 64 total yards in the first half. Things didn't get much better for the Titans in the second half as they produced just 38 yards.

Rushing put TSST on the scoreboard early in the third quarter when he intercepted a Fuselier pass and raced 47 yards for the score to pull the Titans within 12-6 with 9:21 left in the third quarter.

Washington quickly answered with its best offensive showing of the day.

Starting at their own 39, the Hornets marched down the field on the legs of Fuselier and Harris. The duo combined for all but five of Washington's yards on the drive, with Harris scampering 18 yards over left end for a touchdown to expand the Hornet lead to 18-6 with 4:27 left in the third quarter.

Harris finished the game with 109 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.

"It's good to see him picking up the form we saw from him in the state championship game last year," Jimmerson said. "We're going to depend on him a lot this year. We're expecting him to be a leader."

B.T. WASHINGTON 18, TSST 6
B.T. Washington 0 12 6 0--18
TSST 0 0 6 0-- 6
BTW: Fuselier 1 run (kick failed)
BTW: Harris 1 run (pass failed)
T: Rushing 47 interception return (kick failed)
BTW: Harris 18 run (run failed)

BTW TSST
First downs 12 8
Rushes-yards 50-170 35-106
Passing yards 22 -4
Comp-att-int 3-6-1 1-9-2
Return yards 109 39
Punts-avg. 3-33.3 4-26.3
Fumbles-lost 5-2 2-
Penalties-yards 4-40 7-55




Booker T. Washington wide receiver Damarques Potter (center) gets good yardage before TSST's Michael Phillips (left) and Joseph Hooks make a tackle. Dolphin Davis (No. 15) is behind Hooks.
SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World


Booker T. Washington's Michael Harris (left) tries to break free from TSST's Jerrico Thomas.
SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World

Muskogee 37, BTW 28: Lewis-led Roughers prevail

By BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
9/10/2005


'Fastest kid' rushes for 172 yards, two TDs in victory over Hornets.

Muskogee junior quarterback Rell Lewis had an illness this week, but he finished Friday night's game feeling much better than the Booker T. Washington Hornets.

Lewis rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries, scored two touchdowns and passed for another to lead the ninth-ranked Class 6A Roughers past the No. 2 5A Hornets 37-28 at S.E. Williams Stadium.

The loss snapped the Hornets' regular-season winning streak at 35 -- dating back to 2001.

"Rell is a special human being," Muskogee coach Ron Lancaster said. "He had some sickness this week and kind of ran out of gas tonight, but he's just got that spark. He's the fastest kid on the field that I've ever seen when he decides to go.

"What really makes him special is he floats. But when he sees that opening, it's a spurt, and you can't catch him."

Lewis, who suffered a major knee injury midway through last season, helped avenge a 34-27 loss to BTW last year.

"I thought in the third quarter that it was going to be like last year, when whoever scored last was going to win," said Lewis, whose 68-yard TD run gave Muskogee a 22-14 halftime
lead. "Our offensive line did a great job and so did Dre (Stout)."

On 28 carries, Stout rushed for 144 yards and two TDs.

"He ran tough," Lancaster said.

So did BTW's Michael Harris, who had 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Midway through the third quarter, Lewis led a 65-yard, seven-play drive for the tiebreaking TD and the Roughers (1-1) were not caught again.

In the fourth, BTW (1-1) was on the move near midfield when Ethan McBride popped the ball loose from Harris. Muskogee's Derek Burton scooped up a Harris fumble and rumbled 23 yards to the Hornets' 19. Five plays later, Lewis rolled right and scored on a 7-yard run to boost the Roughers' lead to 37-28 with 5:37 remaining.

"That turnover made the difference," BTW coach Antwain Jimmerson said. "We're so young and we're going to learn so much from tonight."

Each team plays the current No. 1 team in its respective class next week as Muskogee faces Union and BTW meets East Central.

During the early '90s, Jimmerson was an assistant under Lancaster at Jenks.

"It's always fun to face my old mentor," Jimmerson said. "I've got a lot of friends on their staff. It's the only time we don't pull for each other."

Lancaster added, "I'm proud to have him (Jimmerson) as a friend. He's such a competitor."

Barry Lewis 581-8393
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com

MUSKOGEE 37, B.T. WASHINGTON 28
Muskogee 8 1487--37
B.T. Washington 86 140--28
M: Owens 17 pass from Lewis (Stout run)
BTW: Radford 86 pass from Fuselier (Harris run)
BTW: Harris 6 run (kick failed)
M: Stout 2 run (Crank kick)
M: Lewis 68 run (Crank kick)
BTW: Potter 35 run (Radford pass from Fuselier)
M: Stout 3 run (Lewis run)
BTW: Harris 11 run (run failed)
M: Lewis 7 run (Crank kick)

MU BTW
First downs 19 15
Rushes-yards 48-352 37-211
Passes 4-13-1 4-9-0
Passing yards 53 94
Return yards 25 -10
Punts 2-3 6.0 3-37.7
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-yards 3-25 2-20

East Central 31, BTW 22: Barnett's breaks

By BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
9/17/2005


East Central running back Steven Brisker attempts to avoid a pair of Booker T. Washington defenders during the Cardinals' 31-22 win over the Hornets on Friday night. Brisker rushed for 207 yards on 35 carries. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

Cardinal receiver catches two TD passes, blocks an extra point as East Central avenges last year's loss.

After a close loss last week, East Central coach Travis Hill wanted Michael Barnett to handle the football more in the Cardinals' Class 5A showdown against Booker T. Wash ington on Friday.

Although the speedy Barnett did not have as many touches as planned, he made the most of his opportunities.

Barnett cashed in a couple of breaks, catching two touchdown passes and blocking a conversion kick to help the No. 1 Cardinals outlast the second-ranked Hornets, 31-22, at East Tulsa Sports Complex.

"He's a fantastic player and took advantage of the (chances) he did have," Hill said. "And he played a great game for us defensively."

The Cardinals (2-1) avenged a 42-35, double-overtime loss to BTW (1-2) last year.

"I want the ball, but as long as we win, it doesn't matter how much I get it," Barnett said. "People said we couldn't beat Booker T. But we proved them wrong."

One reason that Barnett, who had four catches for 66 yards, did not see a lot of passes in his direction was the running of Steven Brisker, who gained 207 yards on 35 carries. Brisker,
who usually shares time with Tyonta Reed, had to go most of the way at tailback. Reed was limited due to a bruised thigh. He did score the winning TD on a 9-yard scamper, his only carry.

"It was very exciting to see Steven take it on his shoulders," Hill said. "He is so strong."

Brisker, Barnett (who plays in the secondary) and the rest of the Cards' defense held Michael Harris to 57 yards on 13 carries.

"We had great motivation and intensity," said Brisker, whose performance at defensive end also was praised by Hill.

BTW's Justin Fuselier completed 12-of-22 passes for 217 yards and two TDs. K.D. Radford had five receptions for 118 yards.

Radford caught a 66-yard bomb to give BTW a 20-17 lead with 3:39 left in the third quarter.

The Cardinals, however, countered with a seven-play, 70-yard drive that was aided by two pen alties. After the quarter was extended by an illegal substitution by BTW, Reed's TD gave the lead to the Cards, 24-20.

On the Hornets' first play following the kickoff, East Central's Charlie Joseph recovered a fumble at the BTW 35. Five plays later, Randy Palmer threw a pass that was tipped by Demarques Potter and into the hands of Barnett in the end zone for a 31-20 lead with 9:47 left.

"I just kept my eyes on the ball on that last TD," Barnett said. "You've got to keep playing."

Barnett opened the scoring with a 40-yard TD catch in the first quarter when he was left open after Potter slipped.

In the middle quarters, Potter had better luck as he kept BTW in the game with a 67-yard TD catch and an interception. East Central led 17-13 at halftime.

EAST CENTRAL 31, B.T. WASHINGTON 22
B.T. Washington 7 6 7 2--22
East Central 7 10 7 7--31
EC: Barnett 40 pass from Palmer (Eason kick)
BTW: Fuselier 11 run (Page kick)
EC: Joseph 3 run (Eason kick)
BTW: Potter 67 pass from Fuselier (kick blocked)
EC: FG Eason 24
BTW: Radford 66 pass from Fuselier (Page kick)
EC: Reed 9 run (Eason kick)
EC: Barnett 16 pass from Palmer (Eason kick)
BTW: Safety, Peralta kicked ball out of end zone

BTW EC
First downs 9 18
Rushes-yards 29-93 57-278
Passes 12-22-1 4-12-1
Passing yards 217 66
Return yards 3 22
Punts 5-30.2 2-32.5
Fumbles-lost 5-4 3-1
Penalties-yards 11-91 5-35



Booker T. Washington quarterback Justin Fuselier has the football stripped by East Central's Charlie Joseph in the second quarter at East Central High School, Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. East Central converted the turnover into a field goal. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

Winters' debut lifts Hornets

By BARRY LEWIS AND JOHN D. FERGUSON World Sports Writers
9/25/2005

Booker T. Washington's 77-26 victory at Durant was its highest scoring output since an 81-0 win over East Central in 1965. All of the Hornets' points Friday came in the first three quarters.

The third-ranked Class 5A Hornets, who trailed 20-14 late in the first quarter, were sparked by junior quarterback Collier Winters' debut. Winters, who was ineligible for the first three games, was cleared by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association last Monday after an investigation of his transfer from Claremore, where he played last year.

Winters was 8-for-10 for 264 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for a TD.

"Collier is a great kid who studies the game," BTW coach Antwain Jimmerson said. "While he was ineligible, he prepared so that he would be ready when he was able to play."

Winters' addition enabled Justin Fuselier to move from QB to wideout. Fuselier had a 68-yard TD catch.

"As happy as Collier was to play, I think Justin was even happier because wide receiver is his natural position," Jimmerson said. "This really opens up our offense and makes our passing game better."

Haven't been updating this, any of you living out of town, out of country interested?

BTW beat Hale last night 54-7 I think it was. Playing Claremore at S.E. Williams next Friday 11.11 in first round of the state playoffs.

TW had no article about the game in today's newspaper.

To those out of state, BTW lost to Shawnee in the quarterfinals, 14-10 a few Fridays a