Okarche turns in strong defensive effort to down Caddo for Class A boys championship
OKLAHOMA CITY — When Okarche lost in last year’s quarterfinal round of the state tournament, Hunter Mueggenborg was not happy.
In fact, the junior guard was flat out disappointed in the way his squad competed.
When they got back to The Big House this year, Mueggenborg was going to make sure there wasn’t a repeat of the same fiasco.
“We played here in 1997 in the finals,” Okarche coach Aaron West said. “It took 27 years to get back here. So I said, we ain't letting this one slip away.”
Facing defending champion Caddo for the Class A state title, the Warriors put forth 32 minutes of an all-out defensive assault to earn a 56-38 victory at State Fair Arena.
“It feels great,” Mueggenborg said. “We worked our tails off all year. We knew this is where we wanted to go.
"We had some unfinished business from last year. We lost out in the quarterfinals, so it feels good to finally win it for the first time in 45 years. It feels good.”
Mueggenborg posted 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He also added three assists.
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“I think a big difference from last year was we really just all came and played together more offensively,” Mueggenborg said. “Last year, we did not come ready to play. I think that was the biggest thing.
"I think when we come ready to play, we can beat anyone.”
In Caddo (22-7), Okarche was facing a team that had ridden the hot scoring of guard DJ Dill for the past two seasons. So, they made it their priority to put the clamps on the athletic and shifty senior.
The Warriors attempted to keep the ball out of Dill’s hands in the first half. They kept a defender in his face while another player shaded in his direction.
The Warriors' defense on Dill stayed tight throughout the game. He was held scoreless in the second half and finished the contest with 6 points on 3-of-8 shooting.
“Defense was the key,” said Okarche senior Caden Schieber. “The main thing was to stop No. 23 (Dill) and I think we did that pretty well. Focus on defense and know their stuff, their plays and stuff. That's the main focus.”
However, Mueggenborg said it was more than just a game plan and technique. The Warriors brought the right mindset and the right players to make it happen defensively.
“Just good defense. We have a bunch of dogs,” Mueggenborg said. “Easton Roby’s a dog. Wyatt Pinkerton was face-guarding Dill the whole time, so he's a dog. Jett Mueggenborg's a dog. We're all dogs.”
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Okarche outrebounded Caddo, 15-10, and dominated at the free throw line, 22 to 4.
Jett Mueggenborg paced Okarche (27-4) with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Roby chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds as the Warriors bring home their first title since 1979.
“It feels really good,” Hunter Mueggenborg said. “Coach West always talks about the 1979 team, so it's finally good to be the team talked about from here on out."
-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK
