Tempers flared throughout Thursday’s extremely anticipated High-25 girls’s faculty basketball matchup between the one-loss LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners.
The sport featured gamers shoving — which led to ejections — coach’s technical fouls and a noticeable clipboard-slapping second from LSU coach Kim Mulkey. LSU ahead Sa’Myah Smith and Oklahoma ahead Liz Scott had been each tossed from the sport after the shoving incident within the first quarter.
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Head coach Kim Mulkey of the LSU Girl Tigers seems to be on within the first half throughout their sport in opposition to the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Enviornment on January 24, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Pictures)
Oklahoma heart Beatrice Culliton was battling for place within the paint with Smith when the 2 received snarled. Culliton elevated her arm to create some separation, and Smith retaliated by pushing her to the bottom. Scott, who was additionally within the paint space, responded by shoving Smith.
Smith was corralled by Joe Schwartz, LSU’s assistant of basketball operations. The groups separated and went again to their bench areas. The usually even-keeled Smith was referred to as for a foul on the play after which ejected following a evaluation.
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“Pushing, I suppose, is taken into account preventing,” Mulkey mentioned. “It (Smith’s response) was stunning. It harm our staff together with her not being part of tonight, as a result of we’re attempting to develop her. My previous mentor (former Louisiana Tech coach), Leon Barmore, at all times mentioned you have to preserve a cool head in a scorching sport. . . . By no means let ’em see you sweat.”
Mulkey additionally gave a nod to the sport’s leisure worth: “I suppose it was entertaining for the followers.”
Play resumed after the ejections, with Oklahoma main 12-11. The Sooners took benefit of the 6-foot-2 Smith’s benefit to maintain it shut, rallying from a 24-point deficit late within the third quarter to get inside one level within the remaining minute.
An total view of the Pete Maravich Meeting Heart on March 19, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Rebecca Warren/NCAA Images through Getty Pictures)
Within the third quarter, Mulkey slapped a clipboard that assistant coach Seimone Augustus was holding. LSU was having fun with a 67-45 lead on the time. Mulkey proceeded to yell and level for a number of seconds, whereas Augustus appeared to take care of a short second of shock.
Referees later assessed a technical foul after the Tigers’ coach argued a foul name in opposition to star guard Flau’Jae Johnson. Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk additionally obtained a technical at a unique level within the sport.
The chippy sport ended with a complete of 5 technical fouls and 63 free throw makes an attempt.
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“We noticed loads of issues tonight,” Mulkey mentioned. “You noticed ejections. You noticed two groups rating over 100. You noticed a technical on the second flop. . . . I received teed up, and she or he informed me I received teed up for pointing on the large display. I used to be positively wanting on the large display, and I used to be not actual joyful, however I don’t know if I level. However she’s throughout the best way. No matter.”
The Tigers’ 107-100 win over the Sooners improved seventh-ranked LSU’s report to 22-1.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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