Chargers take down Booker T. Washington for second straight championship

by Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonTUL)
3/16/2018 5:14:24 PM
posted in: Game Summary | 1,616 views

TULSA — James Alexandre’s stat line shows zero assists in the Class 5A state championship. That’s not exactly true

The junior guard was handing out celebratory Skittles after 5A No. 1 Memorial wrapped up second straight state championship with a 79-67 victory over fifth-ranked Booker T. Washington on Saturday.

“I usually have some before every game,” Alexandre said. “It hypes me up.”

Alexandre did log six minutes against the Hornets (20-7), but his only mark on the stat sheet was a missed field goal. After all, he left the scoring up to the tall teammates, siblings, Kalib and Keylan Boone.

Kalib Boone racked up 18 points and 11 rebounds, and he did most of his damage at the free throw line, where he finished 8 of 12. Keylan Boone logged 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Memorial senior Kori Guest added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Overall, the Chargers connected on 25 of 54 field goals and 9 of 21 from beyond the 3-point arc.

“I knew I had to step up and make some shots,” Guest said.

Memorial’s victory gave the Chargers three wins in four tries against the Hornets this season.

“We had been working all year to get here,” Guest said. “We weren’t going to hold back.”

Memorial coach Bobby Allison wanted to limit Booker T. Washington’s transition opportunities, and the Chargers did just that, giving up only eight Hornet points on the fast break.

“We just did a good job of matching up,” said Allison, who watched as Kalib Boone kept Booker T. Washington sophomore Bryce Thompson under wraps all game long and held him to four points, all in the second half.

Trey Phipps led Booker T. Washington with 24 points, and his five 3-pointers kept the Hornets alive for most of the second half. Jaycson Bereal and Demarco Jones both added 11 points for the Hornets, and Seth Hurd entered in 13 points and nine rebounds.