The Skiatook Boys, however, fared much better, pulling off what is by far the most impressive victory of the season and taking down Collinsville, a 5A top 10 team, with a final score of 59-48.

The last time these two teams squared off, in Collinsville, the Cardinals won 72-37—a 35 point spread.

So how did the team manage to pull of such a huge turnaround and topple a conference powerhouse? For one thing, the defense was much improved. The last time they met, Skiatook gave up 24 points in the first quarter. This time they allowed only 48 points the entire game. Skiatook is a team that, at least when all the shooters are hitting, should be able to score with some of the best in the state, but if they continue to play such strong defense then they won’t have to put up 70 a game to win.

Braiden Blackwell was the man spearheading Skiatook’s scoring attack, putting up 16, but points came from all over the floor.

Cody Evans had 14. The Garner brothers combined for 15. Will Schulte had added a solid 8, and Reece Neil had 6.
Collinsville, on the other hand, struggled to score at all. Seth Boomer led the team with 14 and Fenderson had 12, but apart from those two, the team really struggled to score.

Still, the game was neck and neck through the first half. At the end of the first, Collinsville led 13-12. They held onto that lead and went into the half up 25-23.

The third quarter was big for Skiatook, though. The Bulldogs scored 15 points to only 10 from Collinsville and jumped out to the lead.

With the home crowd behind them in the biggest rivalry of the year, Skiatook exploded in the fourth—scoring 21 points and leaving Collinsville in the dust. It was the third highest scoring quarter of the season for the Bulldogs, and it could not have come at a better time.

After the game, Skiatook coach Shane Branscum was very proud of his team. “The boys did great,” he said. “We put four quarters together.”

He’s right. Skiatook has been plagued with occasional scoring droughts this season, but putting up double digits four quarters straight while playing lock down defense on the other end of the floor might be the key to their success.
