By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The eagerly-anticipated trip to St. Gregory's University in Shawnee is in the books. It was worth the 30-mile trip, regardless of gas prices.
Pawnee defeated Crescent, 78-53, in a game that was not decided until two second half runs by Pawnee. Pawnee's junior Keiton Page, who averages 35 points per game and is already committed to Oklahoma State, only managed 26 points.in the first half. In all, Page lit up the scoreboard for 40 points. I'm not sure what's more impressive, Page's mid-range game or the fact that he only shot 26 times to get 40 points. He was 14 of 19 from inside the three-point arc, and 3 of 7 behind it.
The other player in the battle, Crescent's Prince Shaw, also failed to disappoint. He scored 32 points in the contest, including 21 in the first half. Toward the tail end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, Shaw went on a personal 9-0 run including a three-point buzzer beater.
In the end, Pawnee had too much for Crescent. Pawnee has a nice second option in senior Jonas Lyons, who scored 22 in the victory. In the fourth quarter, Lyons scored 12 points alone to help put the game out of reach.
At 5-10, Page doesn't give you the impression of a major college recruit at first glance. After about four minutes into the game against Crescent, he started proving what all the hype was about. There is not a more fundamentally sound player I have seen in years. It will be interesting to see what he can do in Stillwater.
As for Shaw, it wasn't like Pawnee had anybody that could stop him, either. In the second half, he was forced to take more three's than he is accustomed to. He was also relatively efficient, scoring his 32 on just 21 shots.
Having seen Pawnee and Oklahoma Christian School both in person now, I can't imagine anybody else throwing their name into the equation as another likely Class 2A champion. OCS will have trouble with Pawnee's guards, while Pawnee will not have an answer for Blake Griffin at 6-9, and Wilson Holloway at 6-7. It should be interesting.
A full recap is coming earlier this week after a busy, busy weekend of Regional and Area action.
Scott Hansen: shansen17@cox.net