Stingy D ‘Merritts’ a win for Jackets

The progression in Colby Connel’s seasons at the helm of the Kingfisher boys basketball program may eventually be able to be judged by his teams’ first game.

Two years ago, the Jackets were defeated at Chisholm in Connel’s first game as the head coach and it turned into a seven-win season.

Last year the Jackets defeated Merritt by 12 points and rode that momentum to 16 wins and a spot in the area tournament.

This year? KHS made the return trip to Merritt to begin Connel’s third season.

The Jackets headed back east on I-40 with a 65-37 victory.

“There were a lot of good things we saw, but also a lot to work on,” Connel said of the win. “There are a lot of things we can still clean up and will have to get better at.”

One thing that was sharp most of the night was Kingfi sher’s defense.

While Merritt shot a respectable 42 percent from the floor, the Jackets managed 22 more shot attempts in the game.

That was due in large part to 26 Merritt turnovers the Jackets converted into 28 points of their own.

Merritt’s 11 points in the first quarter were the most the Oilers scored in any frame.

Offensively - and not unexpectedly - the Jackets got a big night from senior Hayes White.

The guard poured in a game-high 22 points, all of it coming in the first three quarters as KHS saw its lead swell to 52-27.

White scored 17 of his points in the second and third quarters.

He made three 3-pointers as KHS went 7 of 25 from long range overall.

Cash Laird added two of his own as part of his 10-point night.

Some of the new faces on this year’s squad combined for 22 points.

Arik Luke scored eight points of 4 of 5 shooting.

Croston Martin and Mike Easley scored 7 points apiece.

Easley led the team with five assists.

The Oilers were led by Joel Parra’s 10 points and six rebounds.