Small schools take center stage in Oklahoma City, kicking off March Madness.
By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Class A
Boys
Quarterfinals at Moore
Game 1: Okarche (22-2) vs. Howe (27-1), 2 p.m.
Game 2: Cyril (19-5) vs. Okeene (25-1), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: Pioneer (23-3) vs. Frontier (17-9), 7 p.m.
Game 4: Achille (27-0) vs. Beaver (23-4), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals at State Fair Arena
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m.
Championship at State Fair Arena
Saturday, 3:15 p.m.
Preview
Defending Champion: Frontier - Holds three straight gold balls, and six since 1996. At just 17-9 this season, getting a fourth will be extremely difficult. Out of their nine losses, however, two apiece are to 3A contender Sequoyah-Tahlequah and 2A threat Pawnee. Lost to Okarche in the Area Tournament before rallying to defeat Kiefer to earn their ticket to State.
Players to Watch: J.R Moody (6-3, senior), Achille; Tyler Karr (6-4, senior), Okarche; Jake Thomas (6-2, senior), Howe; James Bible (6-2, senior), Frontier; Zach London (6-4, sr.), Okeene; Adam Beck (6-2, junior), Frontier; Josh Malone (6-2, senior), Beaver; Jonathan Ackley (6-6, senior), Cyril; Seth Stambaugh (6-3, senior), Pioneer; Brady Wardlaw (5-11, senior), Okeene.
Repeat Qualifiers: Okarche (lost 65-56 to Roff in quarterfinals), Beaver (lost 47-45 to Okeene in quarterfinals, Okeene (lost 56-48 to Roff in semifinals), Frontier (defeated Roff 55-48 in state final), Pioneer (lost 85-77 to Frontier in quarterfinals).
Favorite: Okeene - Despite a slight hiccup in the playoffs with a loss to 2006 qualifier Thomas, the Whippets avenged the loss with a 48-44 victory over Thomas in the Area Final. Okeene also won the gold ball on the gridiron last season, which translates into success on the hardwood. Zach London, a 6-4 senior, leads a very talented and athletic group.
Darkhorse: Frontier - You can never underestimate the heart of a champion. Although James Bible and Adam Beck were the only players to score in the title game last year, that experience will be crucial for the Mustangs.
Girls
Quarterfinals at Carl Albert
Game 1: Fort Cobb-Broxton (23-4) vs. Sentinel (27-2), 2 p.m.
Game 2: Cashion (19-3) vs. Keota (25-2), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: Howe (25-1) vs. Seiling (26-2), 7 p.m.
Game 4: Garber (20-5) vs. Okarche (21-4), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals at State Fair Arena
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Noon
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 p.m.
Championship at State Fair Arena
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Defending Champion: Depew - Unfortunately for the Lady Hornets, their dream of defending their title was halted in the regional with a loss to Ripley.
Players to Watch: Alyssa Fuxa (6-0, junior), Garber; Carly Schnaithman (5-7, junior), Garber; Sara Maxwell (6-1, senior), Keota; Bailey Welch (5-6, sophomore), Cashion; Katie Beebe (5-7, sophomore), Okarche; Autumn Klugh (5-7, junior) Fort Cobb-Broxton; Tamara Brown (5-7, junior), Sentinel; Katie BenAmor (5-10, sophomore), Howe; Kendra Davis (5-9, sophomore), Seiling; Lindsay McCown (6-0, sophomore), Howe.
Repeat Qualifiers: Cashion (lost 60-52 to Frontier in quarterfinals); Garber (lost 70-59 to Depew in quarterfinals).
Favorite: Howe - Out of all eight qualifiers, Howe was the last to win a gold ball when they performed the feat in 2004. If Howe were to win again in 2007, it would mean doom for Class A. Team leaders Katie BenAmor and Lindsay McCown are both sophomores, along with other key players for the Lady Lions.
Darkhorse: Keota - When you have a 6-1 center as Keota has in Sara Maxwell, it can take you places.
Class B
Boys
Quarterfinals at Midwest City
Game 1: Glencoe (26-2) vs. Varnum (25-3), 2 p.m.
Game 2: Earlsboro (26-1) vs. Hammon (23-5), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: Gracemont (24-3) vs. Fargo (27-2), 7 p.m.
Game 4: Stringtown (24-4) vs. Boynton-Moton (21-6), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals at State Fair Arena
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 10:30 a.m.
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 9 p.m.
Championship at State Fair Arena
Saturday, 8:45 p.m.
Defending Champions: Glencoe - The Panthers make the trek to Oklahoma City to defend their first-ever state championship. Three starters return from a year ago, including 6-6 senior Brennon Dearlinger and 6-3 senior Trevor Weaver. Defense is key for the Panthers, as they allow just 35.8 points per game on the season.
Players to Watch: Brennon Dearlinger (6-6, senior), Glencoe; Damon Atkinson (6-7, senior), Varnum; Jo John Smith (5-11, senior), Earlsboro; Delaney Pennock (5-11, senior), Varnum; C.J. Washington (6-7, senior), Stringtown; Orlando Brown (6-2, senior), Stringtown; Keith Phillips (5-11, senior), Hammon; Steven Stands (6-4, senior), Gracemont; Trevor Long (5-11, sophomore), Fargo; Trey Long (5-9, junior), Fargo; Jerry Woods (6-1, senior).
Repeat Qualifiers: Stringtown (lost 75-58 to Fort Cobb-Broxton in semifinals), Earlsboro (lost 65-58 to Stringtown in quarterfinals), Glencoe (defeated Fort Cobb-Broxton 39-24 in state final).
Favorite: Stringtown - How often can you say a Class B team lost to schools such as Jenks, Tulsa East Central, Tulsa Edison, and Dallas Skyline? Those are the four losses on the season for the Tigers. Stringtown owns a victory over Verdigris and Rotnei Clarke this season. If you take out the four losses, Stringtown has defeated their opponents by an average of 76-42 this season. The Tigers have 6-7 senior C.J. Washington, 6-8 junior James Watson, and 6-2 senior Orlando Brown. Get the picture?
Darkhorse: Earlsboro - Wildcats feature can't miss talent Jo John Smith, who nearly averages a triple-double a game. Only loss of the season was to state qualifier Varnum.
Girls
Quarterfinals at State Fair Arena
Game 1: Chattanooga (24-2) vs. Shattuck (22-5), 2 p.m.
Game 2: Lomega (23-5) vs. Pittsburg (21-6), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: Cimarron (26-3) vs. Dover (24-6), 7 p.m.
Game 4: Kiowa (27-1) vs. Arnett (20-7), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals at State Fair Arena
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 9 a.m.
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m.
Championship at State Fair
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Hammon - Aseason after going unbeaten and winning their first-ever title, the Lady Warriors were dethroned by Arnett in the Area final. Hammon lost in the first round of Regionals to Arnett before winning four straight to make the Area final.
Players to Watch: Krista Bullis (5-7, senior), Dover; Katy Clift (5-7, junior), Kiowa; Andrea Smith (5-11, junior), Kiowa; Bethany McBride (5-11, senior), Chattanooga; Hillary Winter (5-10, sophomore), Lomega; Chelsea Word (5-10, senior), Arnett; Kelsey Albright (5-8, senior), Shattuck; Andrea Richardson (5-8, senior), Pittsburg; Ashlynn Frey (5-11, senior).
Repeat Qualifiers: Dover (lost 39-28 to Hammon in state final), Pittsburg (lost 53-42 to Arapaho in quarterfinals), Kiowa (lost 57-49 to Hammon in semifinal).
Favorite: Kiowa - The Cowgirls are making their tenth appearance in the state tournament, but have never won a title. Led by Katy Clift, Kiowa have the firepower to win the gold ball for the first time.
Darkhorse: Dover - Last season, the Longhorns lost in the state final to Hammon. Led by Krista Bullis, a senior averaging 17.5 points per game, Dover are for real. Lost to Boynton-Moton early in Regionals 68-59 before winning five straight to qualify for state, including an 83-47 revenge victory over Boynton-Moton in the Area final.
