Let’s Talk About “The Game”
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Y’all know which game I’m talking about. How often do we sports fans complain about teams ducking another team and not playing competition of their caliber? Well, the two undisputed best teams in Oklahoma got a chance to match up…
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Continue ReadingY’all know which game I’m talking about. How often do we sports fans complain about teams ducking another team and not playing competition of their caliber? Well, the two undisputed best teams in Oklahoma got a chance to match up on Thursday night in a game that wasn’t previously scheduled due to sudden openings and they both took it. Hats off to the head coaches of both Classen SAS (4A No. 2 – 18-1) and Edmond North (6A No. 1 – 21-1) for being willing to face off with the best when given the opportunity.
In the past when the stars have aligned and we have gotten the two best teams to face off in the Super Bowl or some other big game, how often has it turned out to be a complete dud? Well, that was not the case here. Both sets of players clearly felt the gravity of the situation and though playoffs loom on the horizon for both teams – and undoubtedly a championship game for both, as well – neither team took a single possession off on Thursday night. The game had the atmosphere of a championship game and for that reason, we all came out winners. Congratulations to both teams for an incredible showing and for being a testament to the quality of Oklahoma girls’ high school basketball.
You could forgive some in attendance for thinking that maybe it was a bad idea for going ahead with the game on short notice as undefeated Edmond North took off on an 11-0 run to start the game. But, this is not an average 4A team we’re talking about in Classen SAS. Though they trailed at the half, 30-18, and at the start of the third, 50-40, the Comets can never be counted out. Through relentless defensive pressure and the hot shooting of McDonald’s All-American Darianna Littlepage-Buggs Darianna Littlepage-Buggs 6'1" | SF Classen SAS | 2022 State #24 Nation OK , Classen SAS outscored the Huskies 18-6 in the fourth quarter to walk away with the title – from my point of view, at least – of “the best team in Oklahoma.”
Player of the Game
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs Darianna Littlepage-Buggs 6'1" | SF Classen SAS | 2022 State #24 Nation OK | 6-1 SF | Classen SAS | 2022 | @DariannaBuggs22
It was good to see the best player in the state of Oklahoma deciding the game that would determine the best team in the state. It was as if – for one night at least – something was right in this crazy, messed-up world. Darianna started to get hot in the third quarter as her midrange jumper – the absolute best in the state – started to fall. In the fourth quarter, she pulled down rebound after rebound and could not be stopped in the post. There was no answer down low for her. Typically, Edmond North can bully any team with their size at almost every position, but despite Classen SAS being a smaller school, that was not the case during “The Game.” Littlepage-Buggs showed that she is the biggest star in the room in terms of size and skill and everyone else needs to take notice. With her playing that way, Classen SAS will finally get that elusive Golden Ball this year during her final season as a Comet. Littlepage-Buggs finished with 21 points and 16 boards. She is committed to Baylor.
Standouts
Laci Steele Laci Steele 5'10" | SF Edmond North | 2023 State OK | 5-10 SF | Edmond North | 2023 | @LaciSteele2023
The heir apparent to the title of “Best Player in the State of Oklahoma” took on the current titleholder and was just barely outplayed. Had a few more shots fallen at the end, the top two players on this article would have been reversed and so would the scoreline. Steele had a three-point shot with the teams tied 54-54 with a few minutes left that went as far into a basket and came out as any ball I have ever seen in my life. I mean, honestly, it probably should have counted for having passed so far through the rim before it came back out. Laci still ended up with 20 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists and definitely has nothing to hang her head about. If last night’s game proved anything, it is that A.) she is a superstar who can most definitely carry her team to a championship and B.) the Edmond North Huskies are still by far the favorite to win the 6A championship and it’s not even close.
Skylar Durley | 5-9 F | Classen SAS | 2025
A good friend of mine always says “It’s not what you do, but who you do it against.” Doing it against Edmond North is a really big deal. A freshman getting huge minutes for a team the caliber of Classen SAS definitely says a lot, too. The fact that she pulled down 11 boards against a team with the size and skill of the Huskies says even more. Durley is a hard-nosed player who is unafraid to beat and bang which is exactly what you need against the 6A No. 1 squad. She goes hard all game long and was a standout on almost every possession for her speed and toughness. She scored six points, but you can tell that as time goes on, she will flourish in Head Coach James Perinovic’s offense. She wasn’t ranked in the last iteration of the 2025 rankings, but she will be now and it will probably be very high. Though the 2025 class is loaded, she is a future star and from the looks of it, already a borderline D-I player. I look forward to seeing more in the future.
Ataya Casaus Ataya Casaus 5'6" | CG Edmond North | 2022 State OK | 5-6 G | Edmond North | 2022 | @AtayaCasaus
Though the announcers never quite figured out how to say her name, I know that college coaches all over are learning it. I’ve personally had several reach out with questions about her status. After last night’s performance, I expect even more. Ataya is the real deal. Playing guard for an undefeated (in 6A), state championship favorite team says a lot about a player and then you see what she can do – especially against the best of the best in Classen SAS. Casaus had 11 points with a few HUGE three-pointers. She has a flare for the dramatic and though her team may have been rattled down the stretch (they only scored six points in the final quarter), Ataya was not part of the issue. When she got the chance, she made her shots. Seminole State, Eastern Oklahoma State, Redlands CC, and others have offered this phenomenal guard. You should be next. You’re not going to want to miss out. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to see her play pretty soon when the playoffs kick-off.
All Scorers
Classen SAS (58) – Darianna Littlepage-Buggs Darianna Littlepage-Buggs 6'1" | SF Classen SAS | 2022 State #24 Nation OK – 21, Jordan Harrison Jordan Harrison 5'5" | PG Classen SAS | 2022 State OK – 12, Micah Gray Micah Gray 5'8" | CG Classen SAS | 2022 State OK – 10, Skylar Durley – 6, Jaida O’Conner Jaida O’Conner 6'1" | SF Classen SAS | 2023 State OK – 5, Kara Busby – 4
Edmond North (56) – Laci Steele Laci Steele 5'10" | SF Edmond North | 2023 State OK – 20, Toni Papahronis Toni Papahronis 6'0" | CG Edmond North | 2022 State OK – 12, Ataya Casaus Ataya Casaus 5'6" | CG Edmond North | 2022 State OK – 11, Allison Heathcock Allison Heathcock 6'0" | SG Edmond North | 2024 State OK – 6, Elle Papahronis Elle Papahronis 5'11" | SF Edmond North | 2023 State OK – 4, Kate Melton Kate Melton 5'7" | CG Edmond North | 2024 State OK – 3