EDMOND — It's the beginning of a new era for the Norman North boys, and they couldn't have dreamed of a better start.

Wanting to prove they could win without Trae Young, they did it in spectacular fashion.

Sure, the No. 8 Timberwolves (1-0) would have preferred guard Juwan White, one of their most experienced players, on the court for the final 6:45 of the 71-64 victory Tuesday. They could have been a little smarter with the ball, avoiding a sizable chunk of their 14 turnovers. However, in its first game without Young, who averaged more than 40 points a game last season, North did something no one has done in over two years, beat Edmond North (0-1) on its home court.

“It was good, learning how to play without Trae and how to grind out games,” guard Jalen Crutchfield said. “This could start a run for us. Usually, we've started the season off 0-1 the last four years [losing to Edmond North] but this year, we start 1-0, and we're going to keep running with this.”

Young's departure has meant a mental adjustment from each of North's contributors. Guards Drake Stoops, Stetson signee Jalen Crutchfield and White are the bedrock with which coach Bryan Merritt builds. Around them, guard Peyton Vinyard and forward Shemar Smith, touting limited experience, have to help grind out wins.

It was chaotic and messy at times Tuesday, but they got the job done.

What looked like a decisive blow, White fouling out while Norman North clung to a 51-47 lead, became a rallying call. He was assessed two personal fouls on one play, one for reaching in and a technical for talking back to the ref. It's one of those mistakes an inexperienced and thin North group can ill afford.

“He's got to be better than that,” Merritt said. “Whether it's a good call or bad call, just run over, sit down with your fourth foul and help your team win in crunch time.”

With White's 17 points and six rebounds on the bench, Norman North needed someone to carry the offense. Last year, this would have been Young's moment to shine, but instead, the T-Wolves turned to another player with Sooner ties.

Crutchfield, the son of OU associate head coach Chris Crutchfield, flourished, finishing 4 for 5 to score 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. His own run of eight straight points, kicked off by a deep 3-pointer, pushed Norman North across the finish line.

“He's not hesitating,” Smith said. “Everytime he hesitates, I tell him, 'You better stop that. You're senior here. You're a Division I recruit. Shoot the ball. We want you to shoot the ball. You're the best shooter in Oklahoma. Shoot the ball.'”

Alongside him, Smith added 17 points and 14 rebounds, the only glaring disappointment coming in the foul category. Smith, North's only frontcourt player with any experience, abided by his coach's command to not get in foul trouble, but he did too good of a job.

He recorded zero fouls despite playing the majority of the game, a fact he lamented afterwards.

“It just went to my head, 'Don't foul. Don't foul. Don't foul,' throughout the game,” Smith said. “Still, if I would have been fouling we probably wouldn't have won that game.”

In reality, the Huskies are in the same spot as Norman North, graduating almost all of its state championship-winning roster. They saw some promising signs as well, including 18 points from forward Damion Thorton. However, the night belonged to Norman North, fighting off a sure loss in the final minutes to beat a state tournament contender.
