Still No. 1!

North girls & boys win state again

NORMAN — The interview room in Lloyd Noble Center evoked a significant memory for Dylan Warlick.

When the Edmond North junior took his place behind the crimsonskirted table and spoke into the microphone, he recalled sitting in that spot a year earlier.

There, when he was a sophomore caught up in the grandeur of a fresh state title, a bold declaration had slipped out of his mouth.

“I said we’re gonna win two in a row, so I kind of put it on myself,” Warlick remembered.

Twenty-six wins and 364 days later, the Huskies made it happen.

In a showdown of the top-ranked Class 6A West and East teams, Edmond North emerged with a 58-49 victory against Broken Arrow on Saturday, securing its second straight state title. Only about five hours after celebrating the girls basketball team’s second consecutive championship, Edmond North was enjoying another repeat.

In a showdown of the top-ranked Class 6A West and East teams, Edmond North emerged with a 58-49 victory against Broken Arrow on Saturday, securing its second straight state title. Only about five hours after celebrating the girls basketball team’s second consecutive championship, Edmond North was enjoying another repeat.

“We were stressed,” junior guard T.O. Barrett said.

The reality of expecting to win a second straight state title sank in for Warlick throughout the season, and he said his nerves were higher this year in the state finals than they were during his championship debut.

“Expectations are difficult to handle at times,” Edmond North coach Scott Norris said. “But I think our team did a great job day in and out of preparing.”

Broken Arrow led throughout the first half, taking advantage of early opportunities from 3-point range. Senior guard Justice Sutton finished the game with 14 points, going 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, while Dow logged a team-high 15 points.

Despite the Tigers’ energetic start, the Huskies headed into the second half with greater defensive concentration. After shooting 7 for 11 from the field in the second quarter, Broken Arrow hit only 3 of 12 field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter.

The Huskies had swung the pendulum in the third quarter, using a 5-0 run from Barrett and Warlick to take a 41-37 lead, and they didn’t relent.

Although Warlick and Barrett led the way, they didn’t have to carry their team. TJ Strong added 11 points and went 4 for 4 from the free-throw line, adding the last point of the game. Dontrell Yearby carried out his defensive assignment against Dow. Tatum Ridge provided nine points, making all four of his field-goal attempts.

Girls end season at 29-0

NORMAN — After the champions rushed toward the trophy and gloriously paraded it in front of Edmond North’s student section, Elle Papahronis embraced Laci Steele.

Just as they did a year earlier, the childhood friends stood on the court at Lloyd Noble Center with shiny gold medals around their necks. This time, it was the final moment of their high school basketball careers.

“I may get emotional because these girls have brought this program on the map,” said Edmond North coach Pete Papahronis, sitting between daughter Elle and a misty-eyed Steele in the postgame news conference. “Not themselves only, but (they’re) four-year starters, (and) in my opinion, the best senior tandem in the state of Oklahoma.”

Saturday afternoon, they lifted their team out of an unfamiliar scenario to reach the pinnacle of Class 6A success again.

The Huskies escaped a nail-biter against Norman, 65-58, to secure their status as back-to-back state champions and polish off an undefeated season.

After trailing by as many as 13 points, West top-ranked Edmond North made a tremendous comeback.

Call it the fancy bow on the gift that Elle Papahronis and Steele have given to Edmond North’s girls basketball program.

Through four starting seasons, the dynamic duo has lost only a dozen games.

This year, the Huskies (29-0) rolled past every opponent, usually in dominant fashion. But in the state finals, they had to win differently. East thirdranked Norman (22-5), featuring star sophomore guard Keeley Parks, led 166 at the end of the first quarter while Edmond North was shooting 2 for 11 from the field.

It was a wake-up call.

“I didn’t want the last thing that I would remember about high school (to be) losing my last game,” said Elle Papahronis, who had a monster game with 30 points and 12 rebounds. “I don’t know. I think I just blacked out. I was like, I have nothing to lose. I’m going to go out, and I’m going to do everything I can to win this game “

Marking one year in business

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