By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
It is quite possible that the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and its population of 1.2 million could be the center of the basketball universe this weekend.
With the Big XII Men's Tournament at the Ford Center and the Big XII Women's Tournament across the street at the Cox Convention Center, that is enough basketball for one weekend.
To add to Oklahoma City's first-ever hosting of the Big XII tournaments, Classes 6A through 2A will be holding the state tournament this weekend, also in the Oklahoma City metro. For Classes 6A and 5A, the tournaments are making their return to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2003.
In a huge shocker, there is no spot in the Class 6A tournament for defending champion Putnam City and super-sophomore Xavier Henry. After Henry's 33 points weren't enough in a loss to Lawton Eisenhower in the Area Winner's Bracket final Friday, Putnam City North shocked their cross-town rival 88-83 Saturday.
It is quite possible the best two teams in Class 6A could meet in the 7:30 p.m. semifinal Friday, as Tulsa Union and Midwest City are in the same part of the bracket. Midwest City's only loss of the season came to Jenks Dec. 30. The Bombers have won 16-straight since.
Lawton Eisenhower might have something to say about Union and Midwest City being the best teams in the large-school bracket. Eisenhower lost to Putnam City twice early in the season before winning the third meeting, 70-68, Feb. 10. Since then, Eisenhower has one loss to cross-town rival Lawton.
With seven return qualifiers in the Class 6A Girls field, it could be one of the most entertaining. Norman and Owasso (the only team not involved in last season's tournament) have the most losses in the field with five.
The Class 5A boys bracket also appears to be intriguing on paper, with no truly dominant force. Carl Albert enters the tournament with just three losses on the season while Bixby is 21-4. After Carl Albert and Bixby, Capitol Hill and Tulsa East Central both have six losses.
Without further adieu, it's time to break down the top two classes.
6A BOYS
Quarterfinals
Thursday at Oklahoma City University
Tulsa Union (25-0) vs. Del City (14-11), 2 p.m.
Tulsa Washington (12-10) vs. Midwest City (24-1), 3:30 p.m.
Broken Arrow (19-5) vs. Lawton Eisenhower (22-2), 7 p.m.
Jenks (20-4) vs. Putnam City North (19-6), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
Union/Del City winner vs. Broken Arrow/Lawton Ike winner, 7:30 p.m.
Jenks/PC North winner vs. BTW/MWC winner, 9 p.m.
Final
Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
Championship, 8:45 p.m.
Preview
Defending Champion: Putnam City. As previously mentioned, Putnam City will be staying at home thanks to losses to Lawton Eisenhower and Putnam City North in the Area Tournament.
Players to Watch: Derrek Lewis (6-4, senior), Tulsa Union; Justin Glenn (6-8, senior), Tulsa Union; Tom Becker (6-4, junior), Tulsa Union; Jacob Campbell (6-1, senior), Del City; Sterling Jackson (5-11, senior), Del City; Jamere King (6-3, senior), Tulsa Washington; Xavier Alexander (6-7, senior), Midwest City; Aaron Clanton (6-3, senior), Midwest City; Jarrod McDaniel (5-8, junior), Midwest City.
Brody Clark (6-0, senior), Broken Arrow; Sahlih Butts (6-3, senior), Broken Arrow; Eddie Williams (6-0, senior), Lawton Eisenhower; Devon Bailey (6-3, senior), Lawton Eisenhower; Nick Sidorakis (6-4, senior), Jenks; Vince Boncaldo (6-7, junior), Jenks; Bryson Pope (6-5, sophomore), Jenks; Brentrell Friday (6-2, junior), PC North; Josh Gamblin (6-0, senior), PC North; Dennon Mitchell (6-2, junior), PC North.
Repeat Qualifiers: Tulsa Union (lost to Putnam City 58-42 in state final), Jenks (lost to Tulsa Union 50-42 in state semifinal), Putnam City North (lost to Jenks 57-53 in first round).
Favorite: Tulsa Union. Union has 6-8 Antonio Ross and 6-7 Justin Glenn inside, and guard Derrek Lewis and Tom Becker outside. Plus point guard T.J. Williams is very underrated. The main reason is their defense. Union has given up 60 points just one time this season. On the season, the Redskins give up just 39.9 points per game. There is a reason why they are undefeated.
Darkhorse: Putnam City North. The Panthers have experience playing in the state tournament and lost to Jenks by just four in the first round last season.
6A GIRLS
Quarterfinals
Thursday at Harrah
Owasso (21-5) vs. Mustang (23-1), 2 p.m.
Jenks (22-3) vs. Edmond Santa Fe (21-3), 3:30 p.m.
Sapulpa (23-1) vs. Norman (21-5), 7 p.m.
Tulsa Washington (20-3) vs. Del City (21-2), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
Owasso/Mustang winner vs. Jenks/Edmond Santa Fe winner, 1 p.m.
Sapulpa/Norman winner vs. BTW/Del City winner, 2:30 p.m.
Final
Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
Championship, 1:30 p.m.
Preview
Defending Champion: Mustang. The Lady Broncos won title number six last year after defeating Edmond Santa Fe in the finals, 48-37. Last season, Mustang defeated Jenks in the first round en route to the title. Jenks came into last season's state tournament unbeaten. Mustang rode the wave of the upset to hoist the gold ball.
Players to Watch: Jasmine Webb (5-11, senior), Owasso; Kylie Spugeon (5-11, senior), Owasso; Lacy Ramon (6-0, senior), Mustang; Jordan Pyle (6-1, junior), Mustang; Tia Magee (6-3, junior), Jenks; Angie Criner (5-7, senior), Jenks; Alex Richardson (6-3, senior), Edmond Santa Fe; Ciara Thomas (5-6, junior), Edmond Santa Fe.
Alyssia Brewer (6-3, junior), Sapulpa; Tatum Beer (5-9, senior), Sapulpa; Ashley Bruner (6-0, sophomore), Norman; Kara Vaughan (6-0, senior), Norman; Christiana Shorter (6-0, sophomore), Tulsa Washington; Ashley Love (5-10, senior), Tulsa Washington; Porschea Jeffries (5-10, junior); Tiffany Goldwire (5-11, junior); Del City.
Repeat Qualifiers: Mustang (defeated Edmond Santa Fe 48-37 in state final), Jenks (lost to Mustang 64-59 in first round), Edmond Santa Fe (lost to Mustang 48-37 in state final), Norman (lost to Edmond Santa Fe 40-33 in state semifinal), Tulsa Washington (lost to Edmond Santa Fe 65-46 in first round), Sapulpa (lost to Del City 41-40 in first round), Del City (lost to Mustang 54-50 in state semifinal).
Favorite: Mustang. Last season, Mustang lost to Jenks in the regular season before defeating the Lady Trojans in round one before rolling to the title. With the combination of Lacy Ramon and Jordan Pyle, the Lady Broncos will be a tough out once again.
Darkhorse: Could you call 21-3 Edmond Santa Fe a darkhorse? Last season, the Lady Wolves made it to the state final before losing to Mustang. With only one starter back, experience is scarce.
5A BOYS
Quarterfinals
Thursday at Norman High
Tulsa Edison (19-7) vs. Carl Albert (22-3), 2 p.m.
Bixby (21-4) vs. Guthrie (17-8), 3:30 p.m.
Tulsa East Central (19-6) vs. Shawnee (17-7), 7 p.m.
Tulsa Central (14-9) vs. OKC Capitol Hill (19-6), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday at Norman High
East Central/Shawnee winner vs. Central/OKC Capitol Hill winner, 7 p.m.
Bixby/Guthrie winner vs. Edison/Carl Albert winner, 8:30 p.m.
Final
Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
Championship, 3:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: Tulsa Central. The Braves pulled a mild upset in the final over OKC Southeast, who came into the final as holders of the previous two state titles.
Players to Watch: Will Creekmore (6-9, senior), Tulsa Edison; Mark Rutledge (6-4, junior), Tulsa Edison; Stephen Burge (5-5, senior), Carl Albert; Harold Wilson (6-1, senior), Carl Albert; Chris Harris (6-0, senior), Bixby; Ronnie Neal (5-11, senior), Bixby; Donte Foster (6-2, sophomore), Guthrie; Kent McDonald (6-3, junior), Guthrie.
Ken Holdman (6-0, junior), Tulsa East Central; Sidney Hadnott (6-4, junior), Tulsa East Central; Gunnar Wright (6-4, senior), Shawnee; Eric Brown (6-3, senior), Shawnee; D.J. Birmingham (5-9, senior), Tulsa Central; Wayne Jackson (6-6, senior), Tulsa Central; Julian Robinson (6-8, senior), Capitol Hill; Matt Evans (5-11, senior), Capitol Hill.
Repeat Qualifiers: Guthrie (lost to Tulsa Central 56-50 in overtime in first round); Capitol Hill (lost 49-38 to OKC Southeast in semifinals); Tulsa Central (defeated OKC Southeast 62-55 in overtime in state final).
Favorite: Capitol Hill. The Redskins might have won the title last season had it not been for a key injury. Capitol Hill comes out of the rugged All-City Conference in Oklahoma City, and are battle-tested for a run at the schools' first gold ball since 1973. Julian Robinson is one of the most talented players in the tournament.
Darkhorse: Guthrie. Depends on which Bluejays team shows up. Guthrie is very athletic and has a good shooter in Brody Jarnagin, who can get hot with little or no warning. Kent McDonald off the bench may hold the key to the Guthrie squad.
5A GIRLS
Quarterfinals
Thursday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
Tulsa East Central (18-7) vs. El Reno (17-9), 2 p.m.
Harrah (22-3) vs. Coweta (15-9), 3:30 p.m.
Bixby (18-8) vs. Carl Albert (20-4), 7 p.m.
Claremore (19-6) vs. Noble (12-12), 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday at Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
East Central/El Reno winner vs. Harrah/Coweta winner, 11:30 a.m.
Claremore/Noble winner vs. Bixby/Carl Albert winner, 6 p.m.
Final
Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center
Championship, 7 p.m.
Defending Champion: Tulsa East Central. Won first state title since 1935 with a 66-55 victory over Tulsa Edison in the state final.
Players to Watch: Nolisha Markham (6-0, senior), Tulsa East Central; Tavionna Davis (5-7, senior), Tulsa East Central; Britney Nuzum (5-5, sophomore), El Reno; Anna Brzozowski (6-2, senior), Harrah; Courtney Allen (5-7, junior), Harrah; Jenni Bryan (5-9, freshman), Coweta; Amy Sommer (5-6, sophomore), Coweta.
Virginia DeWare (6-2, junior), Bixby; Meagan Selvidge (5-10, junior), Bixby; Jourdan Clark (5-5, sophomore), Carl Albert; Kylie Mayes (5-11, freshman), Carl Albert; Audra Skimbo (5-11, junior), Claremore; Logan Froese (6-0, sophomore), Claremore; Kelsea Rey (6-0, senior), Noble; Kelsey Solomon (5-5, junior), Noble.
Repeat Qualifiers: Tulsa East Central (defeated Tulsa Edison 66-55 in state final); Harrah (lost to Tulsa Edison 51-40 in first round), Bixby (lost 64-42 to Carl Albert in first round), Carl Albert (lost to Tulsa Edison 67-55 in semifinals), Claremore (lost to Tulsa East Central 60-48 in semifinals).
Favorite: Carl Albert. They may be young, but 5-11 freshman Desiree Bradley likes to shoot the three. That coupled with emerging inside talent Kylie Mayes and guard Jourdan Clark, the Lady Titans are the team to beat.
Darkhorse: Bixby. 6-2 junior Virginia DeWare has produced solid numbers this season for the Lady Spartans. If she gets on a roll, watch out.