By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The recent ice storm that pelted a majority of the Sooner State has made travel virtually impossible and has halted the prep hoops scene.
As much as two inches of ice fell in Oklahoma and approximately 90,000 people were still out of power as of Tuesday.
To add to the scheduling quagmire that has been created for schools across the state, forecasters are predicting a major snowstorm for the upcoming weekend. Classes in Oklahoma City and Tulsa have been canceled all week.
As of Tuesday, the eagerly anticipated clash between Jenks and Tulsa Union has been postponed until Saturday from its originally scheduled date of Jan. 12. Jenks and Union occupy the top two spots in the MaxPreps Oklahoma boys rankings.
Another big-time clash was set for Tuesday when Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City) was set to visit Blake Griffin and Oklahoma Christian School. Earlier in the season at the McGuinness Festival, a packed house witnessed McGuinness outlast OCS, 52-41. As of Tuesday, no date has been set for the rematch.
McGuinness is an example of what a headache weather rescheduling can be. The first round of the Love's McGuinness Classic was played on Thursday, but the second round and finals have been halted due to the ice. McGuinness were already scheduled to make-up two games this week due to the snowstorm that hit Oklahoma in December.
The Martin Luther King Classic has been canceled altogether. Millwood (OKC) was due to host the event which included Dallas Carter (Tex.), Wichita Falls Hirschi (Tex.), and Tulsa Central.
Griffin, Qualls Going Off
Blake Griffin, an Oklahoma signee, continues to fill the stat sheet for Oklahoma Christian School. Griffin is averaging 24.2 points and 13.9 rebounds while shooting 69 percent from the field. Griffin has four triple-doubles this season and earlier had back to back games of 30 points and 20 rebounds.
Sophomores Xavier Henry (Putnam City), Daniel Orton (McGuinness), and Kyle Hardwick (Norman) have grabbed the headlines on the national recruiting scene, but don't be surprised if Tahlequah's Matt Qualls joins the elite before you know it.
Qualls, who stands at 6-7, exploded onto the scene last season as a freshman by averaging 18 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks a game for Class 6A Tahlequah. This season, Qualls has increased his production offensively by averaging 21.7 points per game while averaging just over 12 rebounds.
Speaking of Henry, the 6-6 guard is averaging 22.3 points per game and seven rebounds for Putnam City, who are the defending champions in Class 6A. Orton is still improving his game offensively playing second fiddle to Michael Sosanya, while Hardwick has not played this season due to a knee injury.
Another Freshman Making Waves on Girls Scene
4-foot-11 Megan Henson of Yukon is making a huge splash as a freshman by averaging 20.8 points per game, but another freshman is off to an impressive start in her prep career.
Midwest City's Richa Jackson is averaging 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and over three steals per game for the Bombers, who currently stand at 8-2 on the season and are ranked ninth according to the MaxPreps girls rankings.
Tecumseh's Mandy Makeever, Stillwell's Bayleigh Miller, and Stroud's Megan Jones are other notable freshman all averaging more than 14 points per contest.
Scott Hansen: shansen17@cox.net
