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Sports

February 8, 2010

CA nips red-hot fightin’ Chicks, 68-65

By CHUCK LARSEN

Sports Editor



MIDWEST CITY – No. 11 Carl Albert barely avoided the upset and ended the red-hot Chicks’ five-game win streak Thursday night, eeking out a 68-65 win at home in a game rescheduled due to weather.

Chick coach Bryan Merritt was pretty happy with his Chicks’ effort.

“We were totally out-classed,” the coach said. “They’ve got D-1 type kids all over the place, but our guys played a lot harder than them tonight.”

Junior wing Chase Rodgers had 11 first-quarter points and senior center Ryan Hightower had nine, two of them on a strong putback with a second left to put the Chicks up 24-19. However, Rodgers went to the bench with his third foul with five minutes left in the second quarter and CA was able to make a run and grab a 40-32 halftime lead.

Chickasha seemed out of sync with Rodgers out, and the Titan’s senior post Larry Cunningham went off for 11 points to turn things around.

Carl Albert was able to hold the lead through the third quarter, but Rodgers buried his third and fourth three-pointers as the Chicks made a furious rally in the final eight minutes and seemed to throw the Titans out of rhythm with their defense.

“We played hard and we threw everything we had at them defensively – a box and one, triangle and two, sagging man – we just couldn’t stay in front of them,” Merritt said.

“That’s the most stuff I’ve ever used in one game. They were just too athletic and too quick.”

Their quickness helped the Titans make a dozen trips to the free throw line as Chickasha was caught a half-step behind them too many times. CA converted 10 of 18 free throws while Chickasha got to the stripe three times all game, converting three of five.

Rodgers finished with a game-high 24 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Hightower got his double-dub with 18 points and 13 boards, and Jacobi Davis finished in double figures with 14 points.

Cunningham finished with 19 for CA, Trevante Porter added 15 and Markell Walker dumped in thirteen.

“Our kids played great and played with a lot of heart,” Merritt said. “I’m proud of them.”

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