Douglass Stays Alive With Narrow Win over Woodward

The defending champs still are undefeated against in-state teams this season.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:10 pm

By: News On 6

Douglass Stays Alive With Narrow Win over Woodward

Originally Published: Mar 10, 2011 10:20 PM CDT

Jessica Coody
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite being in unfamiliar territory, the defending state champion Douglass Trojans held off Woodward 58-56 to advance to the 4A state semifinals.

It was a rematch of the 2010 quarterfinal match-up between the two teams, in which Douglass pulled away in the end won 78-66 en route to their first gold ball since 1989.

Woodward led 10-9 after the first quarter, but Douglass outscored the Boomers in the second to take a 26-22 lead into half.

Seth Heckart had 15 of the Boomers 22 points at the break.

Woodward's Casey Covalt came out of the locker room on fire. He hit two quick 3's in the beginning of the third quarter. Woodward tied it up at 30 with the 5:48 mark in the third quarter.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter in a span of about 40 seconds, Heckart hit a 3 that tied it at 46, then Douglass' Stephen Clark responded with a 3, and Covalt answered back for Woodward with another 3 that tied it up at 49.

With 2:41 left in the game and a 51-50 lead, Douglass started holding the ball, and Woodward began to foul. After trading missed free throws, Douglass' Devonte Smith pulled down a rebound, got the putback and was fouled with 46.4 seconds left. Smith missed the free throw, but the bucket gave Douglass a 53-50 lead.

Douglass' Dorrian Williams calmly sank two free throws with 31.2 seconds left to put the Trojans up 57-53.

Heckart hit another big 3 with 11.3 seconds left to cut it to 57-56. Woodward fouled Williams again, who then made one-of-two free throws.

Heckart pulled down the rebound of the second free throw and took it the length of the court. He had a look at the game winning 3, but missed it at the buzzer.

Woodward hit 11 3's in the game, including six from Heckart, who finished with a game-high 32 points. Covalt scored 14 for Woodward.

Douglass was led by Smith who finished with 13. Clark, who was in foul trouble much of the game finished with eight.

Woodward finished the season with a 22-4 record.

Douglass will face the winner between Roland and Vinita in the State Semifinals at 7:30 p.m. at the Big House.