Downing Breaks Basket at Memorial-BT Washington Game

Originally Published: Feb 19, 2010 11:6 PM CDT

Curt Hill
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – Cameron Downing didn’t bring down the house at the Booker T. Washington-Memorial game, but he did bring down the hoop.

Downing snapped a support beam on one of the baskets while dunking during warm-ups. For several minutes, fans from both sides stood in awe and took pictures on their cell phones as the hoop hung from one beam.

“We were doing warm-ups and just getting hyped for the game. Then I went up and dunked it,” Downing said. “I was walking to the back of the (lay-up) line and one of my teammates tapped me on the back of the shoulder. I turned around and the goal was falling down.”

School officials brought a ladder onto the court and attempted to repair the hoop, but decided that they were unable to fix it and postponed the contest. The game was moved to Saturday and the Chargers won in dominating fashion, 69-43.

While everyone will remember the incident, Downing said it probably won't be a career-defining moment.

“If it would have been in a game, maybe it would have been better, but it’s just warm-ups," Downing said.

This is actually not the first time that the 6-foot-9, 220-pound senior has taken down a basket.

“I broke one in middle school on our outside hoop – it was wooden, and it was kind of old, and kind of raggedy," Downing said.