Oklahoma City Douglass holds off city rival Millwood, 52-51, on late free throw
OKLAHOMA CITY - When Millwood and Douglass meet up, it’s the very definition of a rivalry game.
Even though the two Oklahoma City programs are in different classes, they know each other well.
So, when the two defending champions squared off Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd, there was more than just wins and losses on the line. There were bragging rights for an entire year.
In the end, it was the Trojans who protected their home court with a 52-51 victory at Douglass High.
“The key was toughing together,” Douglass junior Davon Scott said. “That's our motto. That's our saying, and whenever things get thick, we come together as a team, and we come together as brothers always.”
Despite the temperatures dipping below 10 degrees, the intensity inside the Douglass gymnasium was at a fever pitch throughout the night. With former Falcons' guard Jaden Nickens - who recently transferred to Douglass - now on the roster for the Trojans (7-4), that just added to the emotions throughout the night.
Even though Nickens, who has committed to playing football at the University of Oklahoma, was in street clothes and didn’t play, he had a continually verbal sparring match with his former teammates.
However, the game came down to more than talking. Like most big contests, it was execution and free throws that were prevalent in the final moments.
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With Douglass leading, 50-49, and just 21 seconds left in the game, Landry Ballard Jr. stepped to the line with a chance to pad the Trojans' lead. He made 1-of-2 from the line to put the Trojans up by two.
Millwood (9-4) came down and tied the game on a baseline drive and score by Adrian Nelson with just 10 seconds left.
The Trojans didn’t call a timeout and pushed the ball up court. Scott caught the ball on the wing and drove to the basket, where he was fouled by Zyhir Fisher with .7 seconds showing on the clock.
Scott stepped to the line and missed the first free throw. However, he calmly knocked down the second to put Douglass up by one. It was the only free throw he made the entire night.
“My mindset was I got to knock both these down,” Scott said. “I didn't make the first one, but the second one I knew was going in. I put the confidence in myself to make it.”
Oklahoma City Douglass player Davon Scott hit a free throw inside the final second to lift the Trojans past city rival Millwood, 52-51, on Jan. 13, 2024.
All Millwood had time for was a full-court heave that was off the mark as time expired.
“We talk about when things get tough, figure out a way to be a little bit tougher,” Douglass coach Steven Alexander said. “And I felt like Devon is a great free throw shooter.
"He normally doesn't miss any of them, but I knew that if he would relax, get his composure, take his time, I knew he would be successful with the second free throw.”
Xon Williams paced Millwood with 15 points. Chance Davis added 10 points in the loss.
“I think we left too many mental errors out there,” Millwood coach Dorrian Williams said. “But I do think our team fought really hard.
"We showed who we are, what we are made of, and what Millwood stands for. It's just unfortunate we didn't come out with the win (Saturday).”
Scott led Douglass with 15 points. Ballard and Jaden Williams each chipped in with 7 points.
“We played good. We played good in moments,” Alexander said. “I felt like there were times where we could have been more solid with the basketball, but in a game like this, a rival game, both teams want to win really bad.
"Kudos to Millwood for not quitting. They made a run. We made a run. So overall, I'm really happy with my team's performance just to come out with a win.”
With the game being played on a Saturday night, it allowed many of the top players from other teams to be on hand to watch. That just added to the electric atmosphere that saw school officials turning fans away because the gym was at capacity.
It’s the same type of environment both coaches want their players to get used to if they are going to defend their respective state titles (Douglass in Class 4A and Millwood in Class 3A) when the postseason arrives.
“This is another war. All wars prepare you for the next war, and there are very few teams that are in our class that is built like Millwood, a very scrappy guard-heavy team that can make shots,” Alexander said. “So I just hope that this prepared us for the next game and the ones in the future.”
Oklahoma City crosstown rivals Millwood and Douglass square off Jan. 13, 2024. The Trojans edged the Falcons, 52-51, on a late free throw.
-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK
