By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
Enid will be without high-scoring guard Chris Fitzpatrick when the Plainsmen face Shawnee at 5:30 p.m. today in the first round of the Conoco/Phillips Arvest Invitational at Bartlesville High School.
Fitzpatrick was suspended for a week for violating a team rule, EHS coach T.J. Scholz said. The Plainsmen beat Centennial Conference rival Sand Springs 51-39 without him Tuesday.
Clint Gamble scored a career-high 18 points while Gibson Rose had 14 points on four 3-point baskets.
“I had a feeling someone would step up,’’ said Scholz. “Clint had a mismatch in the post and we were able to exploit that as much as we could. What we did last night is a testament to our senior leadership.’’
Shawnee lost all five starters from an 18-10 team which reached the Class 5A quarterfinals last season.
The Wolves fell to Western Heights, 72-51 in their season opener Tuesday.
The Plainsmen routed Shawnee 92-61 in the first round of the same tournament a year ago.
“I’m sure coach (Ron) Arthur will have them playing hard,’’ Scholz said. “I’m sure we’re going to have to play hard like we have the last couple of nights.’’
Arthur’s teams in the past played an up-tempo three-point and layup shooting offense, Scholz said.
The Enid-Shawnee winner will play the Putnam City West-Bentonville, Ark., winner at 7 p.m. Friday. The losers will play at 4 p.m. Putnam City West is ranked No. 2 in Class 6A.
Other first-round matchups pit Bartlesville and Ardmore at 7 and Broken Arrow, ranked No. 7 against Tulsa Rogers at 8:30 p.m.
The Plainsmen were third in the tournament a year ago, beating the host Bruins 63-50 in the third-place game.
“Our goal is to win at least two games,’’ Scholz said. “Putnam City West would be a good challenge for us. Maybe we can shock some people. We’ll see how we will react to playing three games in three days against quality competition.’’
Enid, the No. 4 seed in the tournament, is ranked No. 13 in this week’s OKRankings.com poll.
Enid girls meet Texas school
The Pacers will have two goals when they face Wichita Falls, Texas at 3:30 p.m. today in the first round of the 18th Annual Lady Bulldog Classic in Altus.
Enid was only 4-of-18 from the line in a 45-29 loss to Sand Springs Tuesday. The Pacers committed at least 25 turnovers.
“We’re going to have to play a lot better than we have in the last two games,’’ said Enid coach Layne Jones. “We haven’t played too bad on defense. We have to find a way to score and not commit so many turnovers.’’
The Pacers had trouble converting layups in a 52-31 win over Harding Prep Friday and the Sand Springs loss.
“We’re doing a lot of things which are correctable,’’ Jones said. “That’s the good thing about it. A lot of these girls have relied on somebody else in the past. They are real unsure of themselves right now. Once we get past that, we can turn the corner.’’
Enid beat Wichita Falls 43-42 in last year’s Lady Bulldog Classic championship game.
The Lady Coyotes, like the Pacers, are working through some graduation losses. Wichita Falls will use man and a zone defenses and will do a lot of pressing, Jones said.
“Their point guard is supposed to be one of the best we’ll see this year,’’ Jones said. “She’s real quick.’’
The Pacers are led by Haley Rasp (10.5 ppg) and Courtney Chelf (9.5 ppg).
Jones said the starting lineup will be a game-time decision but expects both Rasp and Chelf to start.
The Enid-Wichita Falls winner will play the Cache-Lawton Eisenhower winner at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Cache is ranked No. 1 in 4A.
Other first-round games pit Altus and Childress, Texas at 6:30 p.m. and Lawton MacArthur and Iowa Park, Texas at 5.
“This is a good bonding experience for us,’’ Jones said. “We can get to know each other a little bit.’’
