Bluejays fly by Western Heights

By: Chris Evans

The second ranked Guthrie Bluejays needed 40 minutes to put away the Stillwater Pioneers on Tuesday night, but needed just eight minutes to finish off the Western Heights Jets 66-45.

Guthrie would jump out to a 17-5 first quarter lead and would never look back. Although the Jets were able to pull within eight, 29-21, with 1:12 to play before the half, Guthrie proved to be good and remained perfect on the year with a 7-0 record.

Senior Kent McDonald led the way in the first quarter with six points with junior guard Keaton Callins right behind him with five first quarter points against the Jets zone defense. Western Heights would play 1-3-1, 1-2-2, and 1-2-2 trap zone defenses the entire night despite trailing throughout the night. The Jets did not get into double digits until 10:30 into the game.

The Bluejay coaching staff understands that they will see a lot of zone defenses this season with most teams not able to match up with Guthrie's athleticism and energy.

In the second quarter, Guthrie would get some bench help from Devon Hall, Kentrell Brothers, and Adam Smith would all three combine for 14 points off the bench. Guthrie's bench would finish with 21 points.

The Bluejays carried a 33-20 lead with them to the locker room despite junior stand-out Donte' Foster scoring just two points.

Western Heights was able to get to the free throw line 15 times and connecting on 10 of them for a 67% average. Meanwhile, the Jays were 2-4 with all four free throws coming in the last nine seconds of the half. Also in the half, Western Heights had six turnovers to Guthrie's seven.

Foster would warm up in the third quarter by scoring 10 points as the Jays would go on a 15-7 run to begin the quarter. A portion of the run was in part of the Jays full court pressure midway through the third quarter that resulted in four points and a Jets time out all in 17 seconds.

Despite going 4-10 from the free throw line in the third quarter, Guthrie outscored Heights 20-13 and lead 53-33 after 24 minutes of action.

The fourth quarter would get started with a spark. At the 6:56 mark Foster would throw down a two handed jam. Foster ended the game with 16 points to follow up a 35 point performance against Stillwater.

Guthrie finished the game 8-17 (47%) from the line and 15 turnovers, although four of those turnovers came in the games final two minutes.

Foster's game high 16 points was followed by McDonald's 13 points, Callins had 10 points, Brothers added 8, Jonathan Washington and Hall each had six, Adam Smith had four, and William Bohannon came off the bench, in the fourth quarter, and hit a three pointer.

Guthrie travels to Canadian County to take on the 12th ranked El Reno Indians, Tuesday night, for the first of two match ups between the two schools this year in the regular season.

The game can be heard on Triple Play Sports, 105.1 FM, with the pre-game show following the Lady Jays post game show. Chris Evans, Casey Porter, Chris LeGrande, and Shawn Ingle will have the call of the game.

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