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Jaylen Chelf applies the pressure on Piedmont. Photo by Mike Monahan -
Nate Benford. Photo by Mike Monahan
Another close game didn’t go Guthrie’s way Friday in a season- ending 6360 area round loss to the Piedmont Wildcats.
The Bluejays finished 11-15, seven of those losses by five points or less.
Senior Jaylen Chelf closed out his basketball career with 26 points to lead Guthrie. Braydon Morgan helped spark a comeback with 16 second-half points after a scoreless first half. Jaylen Harper chipped in with 10 points, while Nate Benford (6) and Corbin Witt (2) closed out the scoring.
The Bluejays trailed 29-20 at the half after a 7-0 spurt by the Wildcats at the end of the second quarter. It was 42-36 after three quarters, setting up a seesaw fourth quarter that found the Bluejays taking the lead, 60-59, with 35 seconds remaining.
The game was then decided at the free throw line as Piedmont made four straight free throws and converted 10for-12 in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats, who were in the double bonus for the final 12:35, went 20-for-25 from the charity stripe, while the Bluejays were 10-for-13.
Piedmont lost on a buzzer beater to El Reno on Saturday. The Bluejays will have to replace seniors Corbin Witt and Jaylen Chelf and, hopefully, will have Alex Clark back after missing the season with an injury. “Obviously, the season did not end how we were hoping it would,” Guthrie coach Sean Morgan said. “But, not having Alex Clark play this season due to a severe injury and winning our regional game vs. Lawton Mac was a big accomplishment. I am proud of these kids.” Morgan said he will miss his seniors.
“I’ve coached Jaylen since he was a freshman. I have seen him grow into a young man and I hope and pray he has the time of his life playing football at SNU (Southern Nazarene) next year,” he said.
Looking ahead, there is plenty of optimism.
“The Bluejays are set up to be competitive next season,” Morgan said. “We will return four juniors, Nate Benford, Alex Clark, Jaylen Harper and Braydon Morgan. They have all played a lot of minutes for this program and know what’s expected of them. We’re also returning two key sophomores and a freshman in Kyran Axtell, Isaiah Dearman and Aiden Hardiman.”