Class A boys basketball: Tushka becomes first unranked team in state history to win state title

As the final shot sailed over the rim, the horn blared and echoed off the walls of State Fair Arena.

You could hardly hear it.

Tushka’s boys basketball team was rushing the floor, screaming and celebrating at midcourt. Fans behind them were doing the same.

Tushka accomplished something no other boys team in state history ever had Saturday night — win a championship as an unranked team.

Tushka got off to a big start in its 48-43 win against No. 2 Garber and held on the final three quarters. Every time Garber tried to chip away at the lead, Tushka answered. For a team that beat five top-10 opponents the last two weeks, it wasn’t a surprise to see the team do it a final time to win the Class A crown.

“It feels amazing,” Tushka coach Chris Zike said. “It’s so surreal right now. It’s going to hit me here in a little bit. I’m so proud of these boys. They’d run through a brick wall for each other.”

Tramel: Why Glencoe's state championship is a family affair for Jeff Weedn

The title is Tushka's second in school history.

In the past two weeks, Tushka (24-8 overall) has beaten six ranked opponents, finishing the season on an 11-game win streak. At the state tournament, it knocked off No. 5 Arapaho-Butler, No. 1 and defending state champion Hydro-Eakly and then Garber.

Tushka also beat No. 4 Caddo in regionals and No. 8 Rattan in area.

Tushka led 12-0 after six minutes, holding Garber (24-4) to only seven points in the first quarter. Lex Simon scored nine points and helped Tushka get off to a quick start, something Zike said was pivotal.

Garber slowly chipped away in the second and third quarters, making it a 31-27 Tushka lead heading to the fourth quarter.

With 4:30 left in the final period, Tushka’s lead was down to one, but Cole Simpson hit a couple 3-pointers and gave his team some cushion.

“We were just playing with a chip on our shoulder,” Simpson said.

Simpson said adrenaline took over late. He hit a late free throw to give Tushka its five-point cushion.

'You’ve got to believe': How Pittsburg edged Lomega for the Class B girls basketball state title, perfect season

Garber’s Solomon Bishop missed a 3 at the buzzer, and the celebration was on.

This is the third straight year Garber has been in the state championship game, finishing runner-up the past two seasons. David Nagel scored 13 points while Tydonte Chester added 11 and Bishop 10.

Yet it was Simpson’s 13 points and Jeffrey Mackey’s double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds that set Tushka apart.

Zike said Mackey, a 6-foot-7 senior, didn’t play basketball until his sophomore year, but it didn’t surprise Zike to see Mackey have as much success as he did down the stretch run.

Yet for Tushka, the rankings don’t matter because it has the gold ball.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Simpson said.

Cameron Jourdan covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Cameron? He can be reached at cjourdan@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @Cam_Jourdan. Support Cameron’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tushka knocks off Garber for OSSAA Class A boys basketball state title