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Posted: Jan 22, 2015 8:09 AMUpdated: Jan 22, 2015 9:14 AM

Bartlesville Set For Carl Albert Tourney

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Coming off a split to Sapulpa, both the Bartlesville basketball teams are ready for the Carl Albert Titan Classic, which will run from Thursday through Saturday in Midwest City. 

The girls first get Putnam City (7-7) at 5:30 on Thursday. The boy's face off against Star Spencer (7-6 in 4A). You can hear both those games on KWON 1400 AM, 93.3 FM. 

The ladies lost their most recent game to Sapulpa, 61-47, while the boys won 56-47. It was a bit of an offensive outburst for the boys, who had only scored in the 50s four other times this season. Bartlesville coach Clent Stewart talks about the start of the BHS game against the Chieftains. The Bruins struggled a bit on the defensive side of the ball, especially against the size on the post for Sapulpa. 

Stewart pumped up the pressure defensively in the second half. Bartlesville trapped more, and extended its defense along the perimeter. It resulted in less easy looks for the Chieftain post players,and turnovers for BHS. The increased pressure also gave the Bruins some energy on the defensive ball, which Stewart says they lacked. 

Stewart also employed a zone defense late in the fourth quarter, when BHS already had a lead. The change-up resulted in three straight Sapulpa turnovers, right when Bartlesville needed them most. Stewart talks about his strategy of playing zone late in the game with a lead. 

AJ Parker has shot the ball well at the point guard spot, as Stewart moved Parker to a ball-handling roll in an effort to use his speed on fast breaks, and play Antonio Castillo off the ball. So far the change has helped. Parker has made six three-pointers in his last two games, while Castillo just scored a season-high 27 points against Sapulpa. 

Castillo was fantastic on Tuesday, scoring 16 of those 27 points on free-throws. Castillo is shooting 87 percent from the line, thanks to a perfect 16-16 outing against the Chieftains on Tuesday. Stewart says that is rare, especially at the high school level. 

The Carl Albert tournament should provide some good tests for both Bartlesville clubs, against teams they don't usually see. 

There is one familiar foe for the boys that Stewart says he wouldn't mind facing again. Carl Albert, the host, beat Bartlesville in the finals of the Bruin's own ConocoPhillips Arvest Invitational back in early Janurary. 

You can listen to the entire interview with Clent Stewart on our Coach's Corner Page


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