Tulsa Central Wears Area Crown After Downing Cards

Ryan Devers scores 26 points and leads the Braves to a state quarterfinals appearance and a second win over East Central this season.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:09 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Central Wears Area Crown After Downing Cards

Originally Published: Mar 4, 2011 10:15 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Central Braves won their 5A Area tournament with an exciting 52-45 win over East Central Friday night. The Braves celebrated at midcourt with their trophy hoisted towards the crowd as their fans went nuts in the stands. The Braves are looking for their first state title since 2006.

The Cardinals trailed by five at halftime in front of a noisy gym crammed with fans. They got down by as many as seven before going on a 9-0 run. The two teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 34.

Central sprinted to a 44-38 lead with 2:17 to go. After a turnover, Ryan Devers hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Braves a 47-38 lead. They’d push that to their largest lead of the second half with another field goal, but couldn’t ice the game at the free throw line.

The Cardinals got a jumper from Cody Colbert to pull to within six points, and cut the deficit to five after a missed Braves free throw and another layup. Central played keep-away for the final 17 seconds to win.

Devers scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the second half. Charles Boaz scored 12 the Braves.

The win advances the Braves (15-4) to the state 5A state quarter final round. Central beat the Cardinals in two out of three meetings this season. The season series was tight. Central only outscored East Central 155-149 combined.

Andrew Wilson scored 19 points to lead East Central. The senior center was limited by foul trouble in the second half. Colbert scored 8 points for the Cardinals.

East Central can still make it to the state tournament by beating Edison in the loser’s bracket Saturday night. The Eagles defeated Bishop Kelley in an elimination game 51-44 Friday night. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Webster High School.

The state tournament begins on March 10th and will be held at the Mabee Center on the Oral Roberts University campus in Tulsa.