By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
And down the stretch they come.
As the calendar flips to February, you can smell March Madness in the air. In Class 6A, there are two resounding favorites to claim the gold ball in 2008. On the boys’ side, Xavier Henry and Putnam City have been in a class by themselves this season. For the ladies, Alyssia Brewer and Sapulpa have had some victories get out of hand recently.
Pencil both Putnam City and Sapulpa in as the top contenders this March as the state tournament invades Oklahoma City’s Ford Center on March 6-8. The girls’ race is a little cloudier, with Tulsa Union and Midwest City still unbeaten.
Here is a breakdown of the major players in the Class 6A race. In the coming weeks, races from other classes will be broken down as we head towards March Madness.
Class 6A Boys
The Contender
Putnam City: Pretty much, barring injury, it’s a one-horse race. Almost a year has passed since Putnam City’s remarkable pre-State exit. We all know about Xavier Henry, but the likes of Garen Wright and Brandon Jackson can play, too. If this team remains focused, which coach A.D. Burtschi will ensure it is, there is not anybody in Oklahoma that can compete with the Pirates.
Playing For Second
Jenks: Jenks has the size to give Putnam City problems. Vince Boncaldo is 6-foot-7, while Bryson Pope checks in at 6-6. Pope, a junior guard already committed to Tulsa, is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Trojans.
Tulsa Memorial: The Chargers have snuck up on almost everybody. Memorial has rolled to seven straight wins and it appears to be peaking at the right time.
Putnam City North: A little on the small side, but the Panthers are quick. Dennon Mitchell and Brentrell Friday are explosive offensive players. A tough out down the stretch due to its guards.
Midwest City: Athletically, they could have the best shot at knocking off Putnam City. Chuck Sanders, a 6-6 senior, has shown beast-like qualities at times. Jarrod McDaniel is the floor general. Will need a third option to step up if the Bombers are to repeat.
Watch Out For
Bartlesville: Yet another season where the Bruins are piling up wins over teams not many know a lot about.
Lawton: A lot of questions surrounding the Wolverines. Not a lot of talk about Lawton in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, which means Lawton could sneak up on people.
Class 6A Girls
The Contender
Sapulpa: It’s not just Alyssia Brewer that makes the Chieftains so special. Taylor Berman is averaging 11.2 points per game, while Melinda Mercado averages nearly eight points per game and pulls down 8.3 rebounds per game. For the record, Brewer is averaging 22.3 points and 14.9 rebounds per contest.
Could Have a Say
Tulsa Union: Lindsay Palmer, headed to Baylor, consistently puts up over 20 per game for the Redskins.
Midwest City: Sophomore Richa Jackson averages 21 points and eight rebounds per game for the Bombers. Junior Diamond Ashmore compliments Jackson with her 10 points per contest.
Watch Out For
Norman: Ashley Bruner and Lacy Ramon are a dangerous combination for the Lady Tigers. Both are state tournament battle tested, with Ramon helping Mustang before her transfer to Norman.
Mustang: If/when Jordan Pyle returns, Mustang is a completely different team. Pyle has had her senior season decimated by injury. Mustang lost in the state final last season to Sapulpa.
Del City: Toni Young emerged when Porschea Jeffries went down with a knee injury. Jeffries joins twin sister Desiree to make a feared three player option for the Eagles.
Boys Player of the Week: Daniel Orton- Bishop McGuinness
Orton, chiefly known for his dominating efforts on the defensive end of the floor, stepped up his offensive game for two huge victories for the third-ranked Fighting Irish. Orton, a 6-10 junior center who is rumored to have narrowed his college choices down to Ohio State and Florida, scored 33 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and rejected eight shots in a 61-53 victory over Putnam City North. Orton scored 31 points and ripped down 15 boards in a 68-63 victory over Tulsa Bishop Kelley as an encore.
Girls Player of the Week: Brittany Demery- Millwood
Demery, a Texas-Pan American signee, scored 24 points as Millwood blasted U.S. Grant, 64-18. Demery scored 17 points in an 85-25 victory over Oklahoma Centennial after her 24-point showing.
Boys All Class Top 10 (Previous)
1. Putnam City, 18-1 (1)
- Defeated Edmond Santa Fe, 65-47. Junior Xavier Henry scored 14 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to lead the Pirates.
2. Tulsa East Central, 14-2 (2) *Class 5A
- Defeated Tulsa Rogers, 62-39. Ken Holdman scored 18 points, had seven assists, and seven steals to lead the Cardinals, who led 35-15 at halftime.
- Defeated Tulsa McLain, 68-60.
3. Bishop McGuinness, 16-4 (4) *Class 4A
- Defeated Putnam City North, 61-53. 6-10 junior Daniel Orton went off for a career-high 33 points in the victory. Orton also added 13 rebounds and eight blocks against the Class 6A contender.
- Defeated Tulsa Bishop Kelley, 68-63. Orton continued his offensive explosion, scoring 31 points in the victory over their rivals. Orton added 15 rebounds and four blocks for the Fighting Irish.
4. OKC Capitol Hill, 17-1 (5) *Class 5A
- Defeated OKC John Marshall, 53-52. Edward Williams tallied 17 points to lead the Redskins over the pesky Class 3A contender.
- Defeated Lawton Eisenhower, 52-49. Craig Woodside scored 14 points to lead the Redskins in the tough road victory.
5. Jenks, 15-3 (6)
- Defeated Del City, 63-44. Jenks exploded out to a 20-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Bryson Pope scored 24 points to lead Jenks.
- Defeated Broken Arrow, 48-47. Pope scored 15 points to lead the Trojans to the victory.
6.. Tulsa Memorial, 14-4 (NR)
- Defeated Tulsa Washington, 70-65. Blaise Voskuhl-Staab scored 23 points as the Chargers upset the Hornets.
- Defeated Tulsa McLain, 67-50. DeAndre Williams scored 13 points to lead the balanced Memorial attack.
7. Putnam City North, 13-4 (7)
- Lost to Bishop McGuinness, 61-53. Dennon Mitchell’s 18 points were not enough in the difficult road test against the Class 4A Fighting Irish
- Defeated Putnam City West, 84-66. Mitchell scored 28 points for the Panthers in the rout.
8. Tulsa Bishop Kelley, 13-2 (8) *Class 5A
- Lost to Bishop McGuinness, 68-63. Chris O’Brien scored 21 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, for the Comets in the loss.
9. Tulsa Washington, 12-2 (3) *Class 5A
- Lost to Tulsa Memorial, 70-65. Tharone Chilton’s 19 points were not enough to overcome the upstart Chargers.
- Defeated Tulsa Central, 79-45. Brian Harris scored 27 points to lead the Hornets, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
10. Midwest City, 14-4 (NR)
- Defeated Del City, 65-51. Jarrod McDaniel, usually known for his point guard prowess, dropped 20 points in the victory. McDaniel canned five three-point buckets for the Bombers.
Dropped Out:
Harrah, 16-1 (9) *Class 5A
- Lost to Shawnee, 65-52; defeated Chickasha, 59-24.
Guthrie, 14-2 (10) *Class 5A
- Defeated Piedmont, 68-57; defeated Western Heights, 61-44; lost to Deer Creek, 74-59.
Top 10 by Class (records as of February 3)
Class 6A Boys
1. Putnam City, 18-1 (1)
2. Jenks, 15-3 (2)
3. Tulsa Memorial, 14-4 (7)
4. Putnam City North, 13-4 (3)
5. Midwest City, 14-4 (4)
6. Broken Arrow, 12-6 (8)
7. Bartlesville, 12-3 (10)
8. Edmond Santa Fe, 10-7 (6)
9. Lawton, 15-4 (NR)
10. Tulsa Union, 12-6 (5)
Dropped Out: Westmoore, 13-7 (9)
Class 5A Boys
1. Tulsa East Central, 14-2 (1)
2. OKC Capitol Hill, 17-1 (3)
3. Tulsa Bishop Kelley, 15-2 (4)
4. Tulsa Washington, 12-2 (2)
5. Harrah, 17-1 (5)
6. Guthrie, 14-2 (6)
7. Tulsa Edison, 12-5 (7)
8. Ada, 14-2 (8)
9. El Reno, 13-4 (NR)
10. Carl Albert, 12-6 (9)
Dropped Out: Lawton MacArthur, 11-6 (10)
Class 4A Boys
1. Bishop McGuinness, 16-4 (1)
2. Vinita, 19-0 (2)
3. OKC Douglass, 12-4 (4)
4. OKC Star Spencer, 15-3 (3)
5. Cascia Hall, 13-5 (6)
6. Victory Christian, 13-6 (9)
7. OKC Southeast, 8-7 (5)
8. Woodward, 15-4 (10)
9. Broken Bow, 13-6 (NR)
10. Fort Gibson, 12-5 (8)
Dropped Out: Tulsa McLain, 10-9 (7)
Girls All Class Top 10 (records as of February 3)
1. Sapulpa, 18-1 (1)
- Defeated Stillwater, 64-23. Tennessee-bound Alyssia Brewer scored 18 points and added 12 rebounds to lead Sapulpa. Melinda Mercado had 11 rebounds and five steals to pace Sapulpa.
- Defeated Ponca City, 74-18. The Lady Chieftains led 44-8 at intermission. Taylor Berman scored 18 points, while Brewer added 17 to pace Sapulpa.
2. Sequoyah-Tahlequah, 16-2 (2) *Class 3A
- Defeated Tulsa NOAH, 88-22. Sophomore Nikki Lewis scored 15 points, dished out seven assists, and added six steals for Sequoyah.
- Defeated Victory Christian, 68-19. Angel Goodrich scored 16 points to lead the Lady Indians in the rout.
3. Tulsa Union, 18-0 (3)
- Defeated Broken Arrow, 56-27.
- Defeated Muskogee, 65-41. Lindsay Palmer hit four three-pointers and led the Redskins with 21 points. Abril Marshall added 20 points to pace Union.
- Defeated Lawton, 57-47.
4. Midwest City, 19-0 (4)
- Defeated Del City, 55-47. Sophomore Richa Jackson scored 22 points to lead the Bombers in the rivalry game victory.
5. Del City, 14-3 (5)
- Defeated Jenks, 49-38. Toni Young and Desiree Jeffries scored 12 points apiece in the empathic victory.
- Lost to Midwest City, 55-47. Young scored 17 points in a losing effort for the Eagles.
6. Millwood, 18-1 (6) *Class 3A
- Defeated U.S. Grant, 64-18. Brittany Demery scored 24 points in the rout.
- Defeated Oklahoma Centennial, 85-25. Demery scored 17 points to lead the Falcons.
7. Norman, 12-5 (8)
- Defeated Norman North, 47-21. Lacy Ramon scored 11 points to lead the balanced attack for the Lady Tigers.
8. Tulsa Washington, 15-3 (9) *Class 5A
- Defeated Tulsa Memorial, 53-39. Christiana Shorter scored 17 points to lead Booker T. Washington to the victory.
- Defeated Tulsa Central, 87-37. Talaye Mayberry scored 20 points to lead the Hornets in the rout. Mayberry added five assists and five steals for Washington.
9. Washington, 15-2 (10)*Class 3A
- Defeated Blanchard, 47-39. Ashton Pittman scored 17 points to lead the Warriors in the hard-fought victory.
- Defeated Marlow, 67-43. Krista Beaty scored 21 points to lead Washington in the victory.
10. Owasso, 16-2 (NR)
- Defeated Ponca City, 58-39.
Dropped Out:
Carl Albert, 16-2 (7) *Class 5A
- Defeated Harrah, 45-42; defeated Chickasha, 50-35; lost to Choctaw, 47-39.
Top 10 by Class (records as of February 3)
Class 6A Girls
1. Sapulpa, 18-1 (1)
2. Tulsa Union, 18-0 (2)
3. Midwest City, 19-0 (3)
4. Del City, 14-3 (4)
5. Norman, 12-5 (6)
6. Owasso, 16-2 (7)
7. Putnam City, 15-4 (8)
8. Claremore, 15-1 (9)
9. Mustang, 12-6 (5)
10. Tulsa Memorial, 14-4 (10)
Dropped Out: None
Class 5A Girls
1) Tulsa Washington, 15-3 (2)
2) Carl Albert, 16-2 (1)
3) Coweta, 13-4 (3)
4) Harrah, 13-5 (5)
5) McAlester, 13-5 (4)
6) Tulsa Edison, 10-6 (6)
7) Tulsa East Central, 10-5 (7)
8) Durant, 12-6 (8)
9) El Reno, 13-4 (9)
10) Bixby, 8-8 (10)
Dropped Out: None
Class 4A Girls
1) Fort Gibson, 16-1 (1)
2) Cache, 19-1 (2)
3) OKC Star Spencer, 17-0 (3)
4) Bethany, 18-1 (4)
5) Perkins-Tryon, 19-0 (5)
6) Elgin, 16-3 (6)
7) Idabel, 17-2 (7)
8) Vinita, 19-0 (8)
9) Bishop McGuinness, 13-7 (9)
10) Anadarko, 14-5 (NR)
Dropped Out: Clinton, 11-5 (10)
