By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Destination: The Big House.
In Oklahoma, the small schools get their own stage a week earlier than the big boys. "The Big House" is otherwise known as State Fair Arena, a traditional backdrop to some of the greatest high school basketball games ever seen in Oklahoma. If walls could talk, it would have some great stories.
The boys and girls Class A and B state tournament is set to take place in Oklahoma City Feb. 28, 29, and March 1.
First, the small schools will have to cap off their grueling postseason schedule this weekend with Area play.
In Class A, Okeene and Cashion will attempt to repeat as champions. Both squads have their backs against the wall with Thursday games at the Area Tournament. Okeene will play on Thursday against Verden (22-3) in Elk City. Should the Whippets prevail against Verden, Okeene would then have to face the winner of Ringwood (17-5) and Hollis before sniffing the final against the loser of Thomas (22-1) and Laverne (23-1). It will be a tough road for Okeene.
Cashion (18-7) will attempt to carry its hero from a year ago, junior guard Bailey Welch. Welch hit a buzzer-beater in the final victory over Howe last season. Like Okeene, the Lady Cats will need to play three straight days of championship-winning basketball in order to make it back to defend its crown. Cashion must get through unbeaten Fort Cobb-Broxton and 20-4 Amber-Pocasset.
In Class B, the Stringtown (21-5) boys lost tons of firepower from last year’s title winning team. However, Washington State signee James Watson, all 6-9 of him, and junior guard Tyrus McGee are one of the best one-two combinations at any level. Watson is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, while McGee checks in with a 16-point average.
Lomega (23-2) will face Varnum (22-2) in Class B girls Area III at St. Gregory’s for a trip to the state tournament in an attempt to repeat.
Class A
Area I Boys at Elk City
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Ringwood vs. Hollis
Game 2- Verden vs. Okeene
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Ringwood/Hollis winner vs. Verden/Okeene winner
Game 4- Thomas vs. Laverne (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser (winner advances to State)
Area I Girls at Elk City
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Beaver vs. Merritt
Game 2- Verden vs. Okeene
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Beaver/Merritt winner vs. Verden/Okeene winner
Game 4- Thomas vs. Okarche (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area II Boys at McLoud
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Fort Cobb-Broxton vs. Pioneer
Game 2- Wayne vs. Velma-Alma
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Fort Cobb-Broxton/Pioneer winner vs. Wayne/Velma-Alma winner
Game 4- Frontier vs. Agra (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area II Girls at McLoud
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Frontier vs. Agra
Game 2- Wayne vs. Cashion
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Frontier/Agra winner vs. Wayne/Cashion winner
Game 4- Fort Cobb-Broxton vs. Amber-Pocasset (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area III Boys at Cushing
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Barnsdall vs. Oaks
Game 2- Garber vs. Ripley
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Barnsdall/Oaks winner vs. Garber/Ripley winner
Game 4- Preston vs. Morrison (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area III Girls at Cushing
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Garber vs. Ripley
Game 2- Barnsdall vs. Depew
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Garber/Ripley winner vs. Barnsdall/Depew winner
Game 4- Preston vs. Copan (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area IV Boys at McAlester Expo Center
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Indianola vs. Boswell
Game 2- Stonewall vs. Howe
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Indianola/Boswell winner vs. Stonewall/Howe winner
Game 4- Crowder vs. Rattan (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area IV Girls at McAlester Expo Center
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Crowder vs. Smithville
Game 2- Stonewall vs. Caddo
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Crowder/Smithville winner vs. Stonewall/Caddo winner
Game 4- Howe vs. Keota (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Class B
Area I Boys at Woodward
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Forgan vs. Deer Creek-Lamont
Game 2- Seiling vs. Medford
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Forgan/DC-Lamont winner vs. Seiling/Medford winner
Game 4- Fargo vs. Calumet (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area I Girls at Woodward
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Forgan vs. Calmet
Game 2- Buffalo vs. Vici
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Forgan/Calmet winner vs. Buffalo/Vici winner
Game 4- Seiling vs. Cimarron (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser (winner advances to State)
Area II Boys at WOSC (Altus)
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Hammon vs. Grandfield
Game 2- Arnett vs. Corn Bible
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Hammon/Grandfield winner vs. Arnett/Corn Bible winner
Game 4- Chattanooga vs. Gracemont (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area II Girls at WOSC (Altus)
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Chattanooga vs. Lookeba-Sickles
Game 2- Hammon vs. Leedey
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Chattanooga/Lookeba-Sickles winner vs. Hammon/Leedey winner
Game 4- Sentinel vs. Cyril (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area III Boys at St. Gregory’s (Shawnee)
Feb. 21:
Game 1- New Lima vs. Tupelo
Game 2- Mulhall-Orlando vs. Earlsboro
Feb. 22:
Game 3- New Lima/Tupelo winner vs. Mulhall-Orlando/Earlsboro winner
Game 4- Coyle vs. Roff (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area III Girls at St. Gregory’s (Shawnee)
Feb. 21:
Game 1- New Lima vs. Sasakwa
Game 2- Dover vs. Boynton-Moton
Feb. 22:
Game 3- New Lima/Sasakwa winner vs. Dover/Boynton-Moton winner
Game 4- Lomega vs. Varnum (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area IV Boys at Talihina
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Mill Creek vs. Eagletown
Game 2- Turner vs. Mason
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Mill Creek/Eagletown winner vs. Turner/Mason winner
Game 4- Stringtown vs. Red Oak (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
Area IV Girls at Talihina
Feb. 21:
Game 1- Coleman vs. Red Oak
Game 2- Stringtown vs. Eagletown
Feb. 22:
Game 3- Coleman/Red Oak winner vs. Stringtown/Eagletown winner
Game 4- Kiowa vs. Mason (winner advances to State)
Feb. 23:
Game 5- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 loser (winner advances to State)
