Looking back at the Titan Classic
After a wild championship Saturday, here’s a look back at some of what stood out from the weekend at the Carl Albert Titan Classic.
- Douglass is good. Really good. The Trojans’ three starting guards are playing through different injuries right now, and the first guard off the bench was out because of injury. They went to their fifth and sixth guard, or as coach Terry Long put it, “guys who are usually on the scout team,” to beat two of the better Class 5A teams in Carl Albert and Guthrie.
- Guthrie and Carl Albert seem to both be hitting their stride right now. Both teams beat a good Midwest City squad, and both looked strong throughout the weekend. The two teams are going through different developmental processes, though. Carl Albert is just starting to mesh with three starters who joined the team late after football. Guthrie is gaining momentum as its young/inexperienced guards gain playing time. Both were state tournament teams last year, and look like it again.
- It was a rough weekend for Midwest City, with the loss to Guthrie on Friday, then to their neighborhood rival, Carl Albert, on Saturday. Xavier McClish had the best game I’ve seen from him this season with 28 points against CA, and the Bombers’ defensive pressure is among the best in the state. But they’re still vulnerable to a good big man. Larry Cunningham had 21 against them Saturday.
- Millwood just keeps getting better. I wasn’t all that impressed with them when I saw them at Deer Creek earlier in the season, but they’re a different team now, with multiple players that can have a major impact on a game.
- Del City has talent. The seventh-place finish doesn’t necessarily speak to what kind of team they have. They’re also battling some injuries right now.
- On the girls side, Midwest City continues to impress. They got to the finals essentially with almost no contribution from Richa Jackson. Tarrington Oakes and Kaylon Williams both stepped up big, and sophomore Ashley Clark has been solid much of the year.
- The CA girls have all the pieces to go the distance. The big loss to MWC shouldn’t change their expectations.
- Putnam City’s girls have a lot of tools. This was a loaded tournament, so finishing third is nothing to be ashamed of. They have winnable games against PC West and Yukon before a big battle with Edmond North on Feb. 5.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
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Douglass may be the best team in the state regardless of class. They have all that you need: guards, forwards, disclplne, athleticism, and coaching.
Just think no seniors on the team, a freshmen phenom in Steven Clark, and big men down low. Not too bad for a team that replaces four seniors last year who averaged double figures scoring each.
Good luck to the rest of Class 4A.
Chris