PawneeSports
02-15-2006, 10:56 PM
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TAHLEQUAH TIGERS (http://www.tahlequahtigers.com/)
COMETS STREAK PAST TIGERS TO CLINCH MLC TITLE
Written by: Gregg Stilwell, Press Special Writer
TULSA - The Tahlequah Tigers put up a fierce battle against Class 5A number one ranked Tulsa Bishop Kelley before falling 65-59 in Metro Lakes Conference action Tuesday night at Comet Gymnasium.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 13-8 and clinched the MLC championship for the Comets. The Tigers finished in second place in the loop with a record of 7-3. Tulsa Kelley has a record of 9-0 in conference play with one game to play. Tahlequah has completed their conference slate.
“I was really happy with the way we played,” said head coach Leroy Qualls. “We did a great job of playing defense and shut down their main man, senior Tim Kelley. None of their starters had much success and they had to go to their bench to find some scoring, unfortunately one of their reserves Tyler Mitchell scored 19 points.”
“We are disappointed that we couldn’t win the conference,” said Qualls, “but a second place finish is great in the Metro Lakes. We finished ahead of Claremore and Bixby who are both ranked in the top 10. It was especially encouraging to see how we handled (Tim) Kelley who is 6-7. We had our plan of how to stop him and it worked. When we face Bartlesville in the playoffs next week we will be facing Noah Hartsock who is 6-8 and this game was a great way to prepare for stopping him.”
The Comets streaked to a 9-0 lead to begin the game.
Finally, six minutes and forty-five seconds into the contest Matt Qualls knocked the lid off of the basket to make the score 9-2.
A three-pointer by Jacob Todd brought the Tigers back to within 10-5, but Kelley extended their lead. The Comets scored the final four points of the period to take a 14-7 lead into the second period.
Bishop Kelley took their largest lead of the game at 22-7 with 5:23 remaining in the opening half of play.
The Tigers, on the road and on the ropes, showed why they are a team to be taken seriously in the playoffs by roaring back with a 12-0 run that cut the Kelley lead to 22-21.
Matt Qualls scored the first seven points of the Tahlequah run with three field goals and a free-throw. Senior David Qualls sank a three-pointer to cut the lead to 22-17 and Matt finished off the run with another basket and a pair of free-throws.
Bishop Kelley was able to break the run with a three, but David Qualls gave the Tigers the momentum heading into the locker room with a three-pointer from 25 feet at the buzzer, sending the teams into the intermission with the Comets leading 25-24.
“That run showed what these kids are made of,” said coach Qualls, “they never stopped believing that they could win.”
Defense was the name of the game in the third, with neither team able to score for the first three minutes of play. When things finally got going offensively, the Comets took control initially, moving ahead 30-24. But Jacob Etzkorn hit a three to quickly bring the Tigers back within 30-27.
Field goals by Todd and Matt Qualls brought Tahlequah back to a 36-30 score, but three-pointers by Tulsa Kelley kept the Comets in front.
Matt Qualls scored the final four points of the period to send the Tigers into the final stanza trailing 39-36.
The lead was cut to two thanks to a three-pointer by Etzkorn and a steal and a lay-up by Todd tied the game at 41-41 with 6:23 to play, sending the large contingent of Tahlequah fans into a frenzy.
Kelley took command once again with back-to-back three-pointers by Mitchell putting the Comets in front 49-43.
Etzkorn and Marcus Tyner scored key baskets to pull the Tigers back to within three at 51-48. But another clutch three by Mitchell propelled the Comets back to a six point lead at 54-48.
The Tigers could never get any closer. For every field goal or three-pointer Tahlequah hit, the Comets answered. A final three pointer by Todd set the final score at 65-59.
Tahlequah will return home on Friday for their regular season finale’ against the Ropers of Tulsa Will Rogers. The Tigers have clinched their third straight winning season and the second under the direction of Leroy Qualls.
Tahlequah 07 17 12 23 - 59
Tulsa Kelley 14 11 14 26 - 65
Tahlequah - Matt Qualls 21, Jacob Todd 14, David Qualls 11, Jacob Etzkorn 8, Marcus Tyner 5
Bishop Kelley - Tyler Mitchell 19, Dallas Keuchel 15, Nick Bettinger 9, Tim Kelley 7, Joey Bryce 7, Parker Frazier 6, Luke Erbacher 2
http://www.tahlequahtigers.com/newlogo2005.JPG
TAHLEQUAH TIGERS (http://www.tahlequahtigers.com/)
COMETS STREAK PAST TIGERS TO CLINCH MLC TITLE
Written by: Gregg Stilwell, Press Special Writer
TULSA - The Tahlequah Tigers put up a fierce battle against Class 5A number one ranked Tulsa Bishop Kelley before falling 65-59 in Metro Lakes Conference action Tuesday night at Comet Gymnasium.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 13-8 and clinched the MLC championship for the Comets. The Tigers finished in second place in the loop with a record of 7-3. Tulsa Kelley has a record of 9-0 in conference play with one game to play. Tahlequah has completed their conference slate.
“I was really happy with the way we played,” said head coach Leroy Qualls. “We did a great job of playing defense and shut down their main man, senior Tim Kelley. None of their starters had much success and they had to go to their bench to find some scoring, unfortunately one of their reserves Tyler Mitchell scored 19 points.”
“We are disappointed that we couldn’t win the conference,” said Qualls, “but a second place finish is great in the Metro Lakes. We finished ahead of Claremore and Bixby who are both ranked in the top 10. It was especially encouraging to see how we handled (Tim) Kelley who is 6-7. We had our plan of how to stop him and it worked. When we face Bartlesville in the playoffs next week we will be facing Noah Hartsock who is 6-8 and this game was a great way to prepare for stopping him.”
The Comets streaked to a 9-0 lead to begin the game.
Finally, six minutes and forty-five seconds into the contest Matt Qualls knocked the lid off of the basket to make the score 9-2.
A three-pointer by Jacob Todd brought the Tigers back to within 10-5, but Kelley extended their lead. The Comets scored the final four points of the period to take a 14-7 lead into the second period.
Bishop Kelley took their largest lead of the game at 22-7 with 5:23 remaining in the opening half of play.
The Tigers, on the road and on the ropes, showed why they are a team to be taken seriously in the playoffs by roaring back with a 12-0 run that cut the Kelley lead to 22-21.
Matt Qualls scored the first seven points of the Tahlequah run with three field goals and a free-throw. Senior David Qualls sank a three-pointer to cut the lead to 22-17 and Matt finished off the run with another basket and a pair of free-throws.
Bishop Kelley was able to break the run with a three, but David Qualls gave the Tigers the momentum heading into the locker room with a three-pointer from 25 feet at the buzzer, sending the teams into the intermission with the Comets leading 25-24.
“That run showed what these kids are made of,” said coach Qualls, “they never stopped believing that they could win.”
Defense was the name of the game in the third, with neither team able to score for the first three minutes of play. When things finally got going offensively, the Comets took control initially, moving ahead 30-24. But Jacob Etzkorn hit a three to quickly bring the Tigers back within 30-27.
Field goals by Todd and Matt Qualls brought Tahlequah back to a 36-30 score, but three-pointers by Tulsa Kelley kept the Comets in front.
Matt Qualls scored the final four points of the period to send the Tigers into the final stanza trailing 39-36.
The lead was cut to two thanks to a three-pointer by Etzkorn and a steal and a lay-up by Todd tied the game at 41-41 with 6:23 to play, sending the large contingent of Tahlequah fans into a frenzy.
Kelley took command once again with back-to-back three-pointers by Mitchell putting the Comets in front 49-43.
Etzkorn and Marcus Tyner scored key baskets to pull the Tigers back to within three at 51-48. But another clutch three by Mitchell propelled the Comets back to a six point lead at 54-48.
The Tigers could never get any closer. For every field goal or three-pointer Tahlequah hit, the Comets answered. A final three pointer by Todd set the final score at 65-59.
Tahlequah will return home on Friday for their regular season finale’ against the Ropers of Tulsa Will Rogers. The Tigers have clinched their third straight winning season and the second under the direction of Leroy Qualls.
Tahlequah 07 17 12 23 - 59
Tulsa Kelley 14 11 14 26 - 65
Tahlequah - Matt Qualls 21, Jacob Todd 14, David Qualls 11, Jacob Etzkorn 8, Marcus Tyner 5
Bishop Kelley - Tyler Mitchell 19, Dallas Keuchel 15, Nick Bettinger 9, Tim Kelley 7, Joey Bryce 7, Parker Frazier 6, Luke Erbacher 2