Norman Punches Ticket to State Finals

Thursday night’s game in Memorial High’s Memorial Veterans Gym featured three of 2021’s top-15 ranked prospects. [player_tooltip player_id="30543" first="Chantae" last="Embry"] (No. 2 in 2021) and [player_tooltip player_id="30552" first="Kelbie" last="Washington"] (No. 5 in 2021) from Norman put on an absolute show against [player_tooltip player_id="151306" first="Temira" last="Poindexter"] (No. 11 in 2021) and the Sapulpa Chieftans. When the dust had settled on the 6A Area Final, Norman moved on to the Oklahoma State Finals by a score of 61-42. Despite all of the star-power from the 2021 class on display - and it was fully on display - there were a few youngsters who stood out also. <table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 58.4352%;height: 63px"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px"> <td style="width: 16.6667%;height: 21px"></td> <td style="width: 6.67309%;height: 21px;text-align: center"><strong>1Q</strong></td> <td style="width: 7.98479%;height: 21px;text-align: center"><strong>2Q</strong></td> <td style="width: 6.99727%;height: 21px;text-align: center"><strong>3Q</strong></td> <td style="width: 7.03422%;height: 21px;text-align: center"><strong>4Q</strong></td> <td style="width: 6.69132%;height: 21px;text-align: center"><strong>F</strong></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px"> <td style="width: 16.6667%;height: 21px"><strong>Sapulpa</strong></td> <td style="width: 6.67309%;height: 21px;text-align: center">16</td> <td style="width: 7.98479%;height: 21px;text-align: center">5</td> <td style="width: 6.99727%;height: 21px;text-align: center">7</td> <td style="width: 7.03422%;height: 21px;text-align: center">14</td> <td style="width: 6.69132%;height: 21px;text-align: center">42</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px"> <td style="width: 16.6667%;height: 21px"><strong>Norman</strong></td> <td style="width: 6.67309%;height: 21px;text-align: center">13</td> <td style="width: 7.98479%;height: 21px;text-align: center">10</td> <td style="width: 6.99727%;height: 21px;text-align: center">16</td> <td style="width: 7.03422%;height: 21px;text-align: center">22</td> <td style="width: 6.69132%;height: 21px;text-align: center">61</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> &nbsp; <strong>Individual Scoring</strong> <strong>Sapulpa</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id="151306" first="Temira" last="Poindexter"] - 14, Stailee Heard - 10, [player_tooltip player_id="53112" first="Ray" last="Osborn"] - 8, [player_tooltip player_id="151320" first="Alexis" last="Lewis"] - 7, [player_tooltip player_id="151328" first="De’Shawnti" last="Thomas"] - 3 <strong>Norman</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id="30543" first="Chantae" last="Embry"] - 17, [player_tooltip player_id="30552" first="Kelbie" last="Washington"] - 16, Myka Perry - 13, Mikayla Parks - 8, Aaliyah Henderson - 7 &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_151816" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jason Green - Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong><span style="color: #000080">[player_tooltip player_id="151306" first="Temira" last="Poindexter"]</span> | 6-2 | Jr.- F | Sapulpa</strong> Poindexter was determined to get her points. When the staunch Tiger defense would not allow her to drive to the lane where she normally likes to play, Poindexter stepped out and hit two three-pointers. She defended one of the best players in the state and did an admirable job. Poindexter would be served well by not showing her frustration with teammates at certain points during the game and instead being a more encouraging leader. With time, she will learn to play with people with less talent than she possesses and utilize them in a way that helps the entire team. Though this season ended on a down note, do not be surprised to see Poindexter become a true leader and take her team to the state finals next season. [caption id="attachment_151817" align="alignright" width="300"] Jason Green - Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong><span style="color: #ff6600">[player_tooltip player_id="30543" first="Chantae" last="Embry"]</span> | 6-1 | Jr. - F | Norman</strong> Seeing Norman play in person - rather than on websites with recruiting videos - is truly awe-inspiring. It is rare to see someone so young already know how to do the things that she does inside. Her post moves are unparalleled and she can seemingly score at will at points during the game. Embry’s defense can change everything that the offense is trying to do. She is a disruptor. Embry is not a vocal leader. She lets her play do all of the talking. [caption id="attachment_151818" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jason Green - Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong><span style="color: #ff6600">[player_tooltip player_id="30552" first="Kelbie" last="Washington"]</span> | 5-7 | Jr. - G | Norman</strong> If Embry is the quiet leader of the Norman Tigers, Washington is the very vocal leader of the team. She is a fiery player that the entire team feeds off of. On Thursday night, Washington took four charges and had numerous steals. Her defense is key to everything that the Tigers do. On offense, Washington is the key. Her dribble drives through traffic are a nightmare for opposing defenses. If the double team comes, Embry is there for what is almost always a sweet dish off. More often than not on Thursday, Washington was fouled in the post. She made all eight free-throws that she shot in the second half. <strong><span style="color: #000080">Stailee Heard</span> | 5-10 | Fr. - G | Sapulpa </strong> <strong><span style="color: #ff6600">Aaliyah Henderson</span> | 5-8 | Fr. - G | Norman</strong> The player rankings list for 2023 is rapidly growing and these two freshmen are guaranteed to be on it. Heard is a straight-up scorer. She is ferocious with the ball in her hands. She can shoot it from deep or take her defender one and one and blow by them. Do not be surprised to see Heard at the top of the 2023 list if she continues to play the way she has this season while out on the grassroots circuit. Henderson could very easily be overshadowed by the star-power on her team. Instead, she actually stands out amongst the crowd. She defends everyone, including Poindexter for Sapulpa. She has a motor that does not stop and a drive to score that is almost unmatched. She is most definitely one of the three heads of Norman’s three-headed monster. Soon, she will be the star of the team and find herself right up at the top of the 2023 list with Heard.