How about one last Power Poll…
A reader asked me what the boys basketball Power Poll for the big schools (Class 6A-4A) would look like now, and it sounded like a fun idea, so here goes. But first some ground rules: All games are created equal. No bonus points for winning a state title. This is about which teams have the best talent and were playing the best at season’s end (not just the last weekend).
During the season, the Power Poll was about ranking the best teams, not about predicting the state champions. This poll is about ranking the best teams, not rewarding the state champions. They got a gold ball and they get to spend the next 12 months being called state champs. If that’s not reward enough, I’m afraid can’t help you here.
Let’s get to it:
1. Douglass, 4A: The Trojans are 30-0 and might be on their way to 60-0. They might not have gone undefeated against a schedule like Putnam City or Edmond Memorial played, but they’re good. Really good. And they’ll only get better. With all the tools they have, there’s no ceiling for this team next year.
2. Putnam City, 6A: In mid-February, the Pirates finally found themselves and started playing together, which made all the difference. They won their last 10 games, defeating the two teams that accounted for all four of their losses.
3. Midwest City, 6A: Nobody was playing better than the Bombers during the playoffs, but shots didn’t fall in the title game. The defense they play is as tough as anyone, and they have a good group of returning players for next season, including the Colbert twins.
4. Putnam City West, 6A: Over the course of a full season, I think PC West is a better team than Midwest City, because Tyler Neal and Amric Fields are good enough to have an off night and still beat most teams. That said, the Pats weren’t the same team after Neal’s second ankle injury. His outside shot never returned to form and things seemed out of sync for the whole team. And a head-to-head matchup with MWC is a disaster, because it the Bombers are too strong and athletic at guard, particularly with their trapping and defensive pressure.
5. Edmond Santa Fe, 6A: The Wolves might have peaked too early, or maybe they were a victim of their schedule, playing all their tough opponents at home first, then going on the road for those games late in the season. Their guard play was solid and they were good enough inside to mask the fact that they didn’t have a lot of size.
6. Tulsa Memorial, 5A: Like I said, all games created equal. The Chargers, with their athletic guards and 6-foot-9 Cameron Downing in the middle, were the best team in 5A, despite the finals loss to Tulsa Washington. They beat the Hornets three times before that, and beating someone four times in a season is darn tough, a fact PC West will agree with.
7. Edmond Memorial, 6A: This team lingered in the back half of the top 10 most of the season after a strong start, and they got the job done on the east side, reaching the state tournament, nearly knocking off the eventual runner-up, Midwest City, in the first round. The Bulldogs never really had those eye-catching wins, but they didn’t draw attention with bad losses either. They were just solid all year, and they only started one senior, so they’ll be back next year.
8. Tulsa East Central, 5A: What, another team that lost to Tulsa Washington ranked ahead of the Hornets? Yes, Washington had four losses in the final month of the season. Sure, they avenged two of those in the semifinals and finals, but over the course of the season, East Central was a better team. Damion Hooks was very impressive at state, despite the Cards losing in the semifinals.
Rounding out the top 15: Tusla Washington (5A), McGuinness (4A), Woodward (4A), Muskogee (6A), Norman North (6A), Star Spencer (4A), Western Heights (5A).
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
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Comments
Joe, I gave Mustang as much credit as anyone for their turnaround after the 2-7 start. The Broncos were a much better team in February than December, which is what you want. But it’s easy to make an argument for them in the power poll if you only look at their big victories. They were still 6-7 in their last 13, including multiple double-digit losses (one by 26 points to PC North), and a loss to Westmoore, which only won three games all season.
The coaches voted Mustang No. 14 in the final poll on March 2, a great sign of respect for their ability considering their sub-.500 record. But their body of work wasn’t enough to warrant a top-15 spot in the state among 4A-6A teams.
– Scott
Mustang can’t get a mention for the top 15? They beat Star Spencer and Western Heights, who are both in the top 15. That’s not to mention beating PC West, and took Sante Fe to the wire in the game to go to state.