All-Centennial Conference boys basketball postseason honors
Here is the All-Centennial Conference team as selected by the coaches from the conference members, Lawton, Lawton Eisenhower, Enid, Stillwater and Ponca City.
Player of the Year – Jordan Pound, Stillwater
Coach Of the Year – Michael Davis, Stillwater
All-Conference Team
Alex Budke, Stillwater
Austin Brinker, Stillwater
Zack Brown, Lawton Eisenhower
Dominique Perkins, Lawton Eisenhower
Mitchell Foote, Enid
Alex Patterson, Enid
Brent Wilson, Ponca City
Cole Hibler, Ponca City
Kendall Suttles, Lawton
Richard Sheperd, Lawton
Honorable Mention All–Conference
Josh Pierre, Stillwater
Connor Lamb, Stillwater
Delvonte Pierre, Lawton
Jalon Jackson, Enid
Brandon Wilcoxson, Ponca City
Sherief Stafford, Lawton Eisenhower
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
OCA Girls All-State basketball rosters
OCA Girls All-State basketball
Here are the rosters for the Oklahoma Coaches Association girls basketball game. The games are July 27 at Oral Roberts’ Mabee Center.
Large West
Elizabeth Donohoe, Edmond North; Mariah Turner, Norman North; Honor Duvall, Cache; Kimmi Sawatzky, Weatherford; Dilan Webster, Western Heights; Caroline Cameron, Bishop McGuinness; Kaylon Williams, Midwest City; Kamra King, Norman; Marisha Wallace, Midwest City; Bretlin Sanders, Cache.
Coaches: Danny Garza, Lawton MacArthur; Kevin Korstjens, Edmond North.
Large East
Jordan Schultz, Claremore; Lauren Rogers, Mannford; Erin Walling, Ada; Nichole Tate, Sand Springs; Savannah Carter, Tulsa Memorial; Kaylee Allen, Shawnee; Nana Wallace, Fort Gibson; Miranda Sisney, Sand Springs; Emma Gade, Stillwater; Fontana Tate, Muldrow.
Coaches: Russell Morgan, Sequoyah-Claremore; Ken Victory, Mannford.
Small West
Chelsea Bates, Thomas; Kayla Pahcoddy, Apache; Kadan Brady, Healdton; Mariah Miles, Calumet; Emily Dick, Corn Bible; Shelby Jo Layn, Kingfisher; Megan Schaefer, Okarche; Logan McKee, Cordell; Shelbie Laughlin, Cyril; Skyler Newberry, Marlow.
Coaches: Tom Webb, Coyle; Toby Todd, Sulphur
Small East
Sami Martin, Bethel; Dakota Garrett, Ketchum; Megan Schieber, Newkirk; Cheyenne Booth, Red Oak; Carissa Palmer, Sasakwa; Brittney Treas, Tishomingo; Nikki Nail, Konawa; Leiloni Smith, Vian; Makenzie Brown, Savanna; Kendra Steward, Dale.
Coaches: Rick Ott, Inola; Casey Butcher, Red Oak.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Former Southeast star Ben Smith in NIT finals tonight
Ben Smith was an All-State player at Southeast in 2008.
Southeast boys basketball coach Walt Brewer will make sure all of his players are watching the NIT championship game tonight to see former Spartan Ben Smith in action for Wichita State.
The Shockers will take on Alabama at 6 p.m. tonight on ESPN (Cox 29).
Smith graduated from Southeast in 2008, where he was an All-State selection before heading to Northern Oklahoma College. Wichita State signed him after two seasons at the Enid junior-college.
The 6-foot-5 swingman left NOC as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and he has made a quick impact at Wichita State, which played Alabama in the NIT finals Thursday night.
Smith was named the team captain of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team — essentially the sixth man award — after averaging nearly nine points per game in conference play. He shot 39.1 percent (34-of-87) from 3-point range for the season.
“(Smith) said New York is crazy, but he was having fun,” Brewer said. “It’s been great watching him. I love watching our former players at the next level.
“When our players go on to have success, I use them to motivate our current guys to let them see what can be accomplished if you keep working.”
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
High school baseball at the Brick expanding
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
The last two years, the Mayor’s Cup between the three Edmond and three Moore high schools has been a regular event at the ballpark now known as RedHawks Field at Bricktown.
This season the schedule of games at the park expands with 17 high school and one college game scheduled for the park during April.
The 2011 Mayor’s Cup will be played Saturday with Edmond North and Moore at 11 a.m., Edmond Santa Fe and Westmoore at 2:30 and Edmond Memorial and Southmoore at 6 p.m. (Boneman’s note: I will be at The Brick for the Saturday games).
Crowder and Stuart will play at 7 p.m. Friday to start the series.
World Baseball Outreach will hold a baseball equipment drive during the Mayor’s Cup. Fans are asked to bring new or gently used baseball and softball equipment to help the organization provide equipment to at-risk youth in the state.
Other than the Mayor’s Cup, the other games in the series are free to the public.
Schedule (gates open an hour before game time):
Friday: Crowder vs. Stuart, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Edmond North vs. Moore, 11 a.m.; Edmond Santa Fe vs. Westmoore, 2:30 p.m.; Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: UCO vs. USAO, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Amber-Pocasset vs. Cashion, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 7: Yukon vs. El Reno, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 8: Sterling vs. Elgin, 4 p.m.; Purcell vs. Sayre, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 9: Kansas vs. Westville, 5 p.m.
April 23: Stroud vs. Wellston, 2 p.m.; Cushing vs. Lone Grove, 5 p.m.
April 26: Carnegie vs. Clinton, 4 p.m.; Holdenville vs. Konawa, 7 p.m.
April 27: Carl Albert vs. Shawnee, 7 p.m.
April 28: Jenks vs. Choctaw, 7 p.m.
April 30: Midwest City vs. Muskogee, 2 p.m.; Comanche vs. Velma-Alma, 5 p.m.
Putnam North’s Chris Haworth ousted in USTA event
Still waiting to hear back from Putnam North’s Chris Haworth so I can’t really comment on the third set. After winning the first set, Haworth lost the next two in losing to Nikoloz Basilashvili of the country of Georgia.
The two met in the first round of the USTA/Jackie Cooper BMW Oklahoma Open at the OKC Tennis Center on Wednesday afternoon. Score was 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
I was able to see the first two sets, but I was unable to stay for the third but heard Haworth loss. When covering the tennis state tournament, I have to wander from court to court and keep up with many different storylines and schools.
Wednesday was nice because I just stayed with Haworth the entire way. After the first serve of the match by Nikoloz, I thought Haworth was in trouble. But Haworth was able to read Nikoloz’ serve well en route to a 6-2 victory in the first set.
Up 2-1 in the first set, Haworth saved two break points to take the 3-1 lead. Trying to serve out the set, Haworth was unflappable and showed no nerves.
In the second set, Nikoloz got off to a big lead only for Haworth to battle back. Knotted at two games apiece, Nikoloz won the the fifth game that saw six deuces. Nikoloz eventually built up a 5-2 lead before Haworth mounted his charge.
Serving at 4-5, Haworth saved one set point, held and broke Nikoloz for a 6-5 lead. Up 30-15 in the ensuing game was big call. I thought (and Chris thought) Nikoloz’ shot was wide. It was called in and the match went from double match point to 30-30.
Nikoloz brought his ‘A’ game in the latter part of the second half and definitely in the tiebreak, which he won 7-4. He started to use the drop shot very effectively and started to slam home some clean winners.
I watched Haworth win the first game of the third set before I had to leave. Great effort by Haworth, who received a wild card entry from tournament organizers.
Haworth, of course, is the two-time defending champion at No. 1 singles for the Panthers and has signed with Oklahoma State.
Like I said, haven’t been able to get in touch with Haworth yet. But when I do, I will update.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Irish hire Justin Jones as football coach
Former Bishop McGuinness football coach Kenny Young has set the bar pretty high for Irish success, but Justin Jones is ready for the challenge.
The former Woodward coach was named the head coach of the Irish on Wednesday.
“This is one of the most elite schools in Oklahoma,” Jones said. “I’ve competed against them for the last three years and know what this program is about. It was tough to tell those kids (at Woodward), but I’m anxious to get started with McGuinness.”
Jones has coached the Boomers the last three seasons and Woodward was in the same district as McGuinness all three years.
McGuinness athletic director Gary Savely said there were around 55 applicants for the job.
“We love his enthusiasm and his leadership and feel he is going to fit in great with the program,” Savely said.
Young resigned last month after 10 years as the coach. He led the team to two state championships.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Heritage Hall’s Barry J. Sanders No. 10 on Lemming’s list
Back again for another edition of some news and notes on some of the top high school recruits for the 2012 or 2013 class.
Heritage Hall junior running back Barry J. Sanders isn’t any closer to making a commitment, but he did earn another honor.
Sanders was named the 10th best recruit for the class of 2012 by Tom Lemming as Lemming released his top 100 recruits Tuesday.
Lemming has spent more than 30 years evaluating recruits. Sanders was the only player from Oklahoma in the top 100. Dorial Beckham-Green, the Springfield, Mo., wide receiver, was ranked the top prospect.
I’ve admit that I’m bias toward the Oklahoma kids, but I was amazed that Alex Ross of Jenks, Cayman Bundage of Douglass, Sterling Shepard of Heritage Hall and Donovan Roberts of Norman didn’t sniff the list. Feel people are sleeping on this class still.
- Edmond Santa Fe junior Ty Hensley said he wants to keep his options open for football. Meanwhile, the baseball honors continue to roll in for the star pitcher.
Hensley has been invited to participate in the Under Armour All-America baseball game Aug. 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Hensley is one of 36 players invited and is the lone Oklahoman on the roster. The game will be televised live on MLB Network (Cox 264). The players participating were chosen by a committee of Baseball Factory scouts.
The game will punctuate a four-day event for the players that will include a formal workout for MLB scouts, a home run derby and a meet-and-greet with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
- Sand Springs quarterback Darrack Harger was among one of the top performers at the Under Armour combine in Dallas last weekend.
Harger, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, has added 15 pounds since the end of last season and was said to be the best quarterback in the bunch by Rivals.com
Harger doesn’t have any official offers but is receiving interest from several Big 12 schools, including Oklahoma State.
Top QB prospect is going to be a battle. The four early favorites: Harger, Kason Key of Owasso, Ramsey Hamilton of Beggs and Corben Jones of Yukon. It feels like every week that is something different to report on at least one of them.
- A name to watch is definitely Stillwater wide receiver Jesse Vester. He’s been just as busy as anybody else, attending Tulsa, OSU and KU Junior Days. His April is going to be pretty busy, too. And with new coach Tucker Barnard officially in Stillwater and QB Jerame Littell, Pioneers will definitely have a different look.
- Southmoore has produced one top talent after another in the last couple of years and don’t look for that to stop in this upcoming season. Running back Andrew Long is definitely the gem of the SaberCats, but linebacker Jackson Stallings is starting to come on the radar. Neither have any official offers, but coach Chris Jensen has done a great job of getting his kids noticed.
- Any news or notes you wanna contribute? Drop me a line, appreciate it.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
OCA Boys Basketball All-Region teams
In addition to its All-State boys basketball teams, the Oklahoma Coaches Association also released its All-Region boys teams. Here they are:
All-Region teams
Large West
Region 1
Seth Heckart, Woodward; Devante Moore, El Reno; David Glidden, Mustang; Keith Vick, Piedmont; Ben Berry, Mustang; Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie; Luke Stark, Weatherford; Trey Fankhouser, Guymon.
Region 4
Will Davis, Elk City; Richard Sheppard, Lawton; Zach Brown, Lawton Eisenhower; Kendall Suttles, Lawton; Tanner Thompson, Cache; Dominique Perkins, Lawton Eisenhower; Tavis Spencer, Lawton; Mylan Ward, Altus.
Region 5
Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek; Trey Cohee, Ardmore; Patrick Schaefer, Norman North; Chase Rodgers, Chickasha; Tilford Thornton, Southmoore; Hayden Musgrove, Lone Grove; Brandon Lucas, Southmoore; Josh Pershica, Bridge Creek; Bo Reyes, Blanchard.
Region 8
Obi Emegano, Edmond Memorial; DeVonte Smith, Douglass; Josh Richardson, Edmond Santa Fe; Cortrez Colbert, Midwest City; Dorrian Williams, Douglass; Dominique Raney, Putnam City; Cortrael Colbert, Midwest City; Marquis Buxton-Hill, Douglass; Ron’Quis Lewis, Putnam City; Trai Jordan, Southeast; Armon Provo, Putnam City North; Ethan Welton, Harrah.
Small West
Region 1 and 8
Tyrone Jones, Centennial; Jesse Brewer, Watonga; Delford Robinson, Millwood; Marcus Johnson, Centennial; T.J. Holland, Oklahoma Christian; Korihan Jackson, Northeast; A.J. Reyes, Thomas; Tyler Miller, Okarche; Trey Taylor, Medford; Brandon Gregory, Vici; Derek Patterson, Kingfisher; Josh Lamer, Lomega; Eric Peabody, Northeast; Derrick Miles, Okeene; Samuel Becker, Beaver; Jason Miller, Thomas.
Region 4
Nathan Beene, Fort Cobb-Broxton; Cody Dooley, Hydro-Eakly; Jacob Wing, Merritt; Levi Richardson, Mangum; Tanner Walker, Sterling; Dylan King, Hydro-Eakly; Spencer Huiatt, Corn Bible; Bryan Holt, Sentinel; Kale Thompson, Duke; Zachary Mogg, Lookeba-Sickles; Pete Drouhard, Cheyenne-Reydon; Marcus Brummell, Binger-Oney; Ryan Lenaburg, Sentinel; Alex Wolfe, Lookeba-Sickles; Zakary Bates, Fort Cobb-Broxton; Kevin Rice, Duke.
Region 5
Dalen Qualls, Stratford; Tanner Bell, Purcell; Jabez Montaie, Healdton; Blake Gifford, Lexington; Tanner Mason, Lindsay; Zach Hibbard, Lindsay; Kyle Forehand, Lexington; Kale Lampkin, Davis; Dillon Morgan, Velma-Alma; Brennan Zurline, Lindsay.
Large East
Region 2
Jordan Pound, Stillwater; Alex Budke, Stillwater; Brandon Wrobbel, Cleveland; Troy Hail, Ponca City.
Region 3
Dakota Caudill, Claremore; Devante Wilson, Muskogee; Jeremiah Ross, Locust Grove; Stephen Keese, Fort Gibson; Alex Miller, Claremore; Zach White, Stilwell; Adrion Webber, Muskogee; Brad Janzen, Claremore; Hunger Stevens, Stilwell; Malcolm Warrior, Checotah; Braeden Beer, Catoosa; Jake Taylor, Oologah.
Region 6
Kevin Hill, Tecumseh; Nick Anderson, Ada; Dewey Whitaker, Idabel; Terrance McDonald, Shawnee; Francisco Hukill, Tecumseh; Spencer Bond, Madill.
Region 7
Andrew Wilson, Tulsa East Central; Korey Billbury, Tulsa Washington; Jacob Parker, Bixby; Nick Tate, Sand Springs; Ryan Devers, Tulsa Central; Stephen Weaver, Tulsa Union; Dah’Quan Royal, Tulsa Memorial; C.J. Wells, Tulsa Memorial; Tate Beer, Jenks; Drew Craig, Tulsa Edison; Derrick Jefferson, Tulsa Edison.
Small East
Region 2
Chris Boyd, Okemah; Josh Reese, Tonkawa; Kalian Watkins, Preston; Desmond McCosar, Pawnee; Kyle Hart, Graham; Tevin Talton, Preston; Abraham Esters, Paden; Ethan Oldham, Prague; Jonathan Mefford, Kiefer; Willie Huffman, Preston; Taylor Ballard, Ripley; Brady Brownell, Agra; Cody Laxton, Agra; Andrew Steffenson, Wellston.
Region 3 and 7
Jake Culver, Verdigris; Dillon Manchell, Salina; Jesse Drosche, Fairland; Aaron Morgan, Eufaula; Austin Monroe, Verdigris; Terran Pettit, Sequoyah-Tahlequah; Ross Robbins, Keys; Chandler Smith, Westville; Josh Anderson, Chouteau Mazie.
Region 6
Taggart Lockhart, Talihina; Dwight Camp, Red Oak; Jordan Eagle Road, Talihina; Reed Johnson, Latta; Landon Walker, Savanna; Caleb Deer, Holdenville; Bradley Stowe, Coalgate; Colten Chapman, Stuart; Koda Glover, Heavener; Alonzo Releford, Spiro; Devin Terry, Konawa; Denzel Hughes, Holdenville; Colby Nichols, Smithville; Brendon Barr, Roff; Ben Larner, Moss; Chris Capsey, Talihina.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Obi Emegano, DeVonte Smith, Ryan Spangler highlight OCA All-State selections
Several players from state finalist basketball teams were honored Tuesday with their selection to the Oklahoma Coaches Association boys basketball All-State team.
The Large West squad includes Edmond Memorial’s Obi Emegano and Douglass’ DeVonte Smith, who each won a state championship.
Bridge Creek’s Ryan Spangler, El Reno’s Devante Moore and Midwest City’s Cortrez Colbert — all members of runner-up teams — were also selected to the Large West.
Centennial’s Tyrone Jones, Millwood’s Delford Robinson and Stratford’s Dalen Qualls highlight the Small West team.
The boys All-State games will be played July 28 at Oral Roberts.
OCA boys basketball All-State rosters
Large West
Obi Emegano, Edmond Memorial; Josh Richardson, Edmond Santa Fe; Trey Cohee, Ardmore; Devante Moore, El Reno, Will Davis, Elk City, DeVonte Smith, Douglass; Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek; Seth Heckart, Woodward; Cortrez Colbert, Midwest City, David Glidden, Mustang.
Coaches: Shane Cowherd, Edmond Memorial; Gary Chaffin, Lone Grove.
Large East
Dakota Caudill, Claremore; Jordan Pound, Stillwater; Kevin Hill, Tecumseh; Andrew Wilson, Tulsa East Central; Korey Billbury, Tulsa Washington; Jeremiah Ross, Locust Grove; Devante Wilson, Muskogee; Jacob Parker, Bixby; Ryan Devers, Tulsa Central; Stephen Keese, Fort Gibson.
Coaches: Matt Thornton, Tecumseh; Gregg Hardin, Bristow.
Small West
Dalen Qualls, Stratford; Tyrone Jones, Centennial; Nathan Beene, Fort Cobb-Broxton; Spencer Huiatt, Corn Bible; Cody Dooley, Hydro-Eakly; Jesse Brewer, Watonga; Delford Robinson, Millwood; Jacob Wing, Merritt; Tanner Bell, Purcell; Levi Richardson, Mangum.
Coaches: Mark Qualls, Stratford; Jeff Carlisle, Mangum.
Small East
Jake Culver, Verdigris; Chris Boyd, Okemah; Taggart Lockhart, Talihina; Dwight Camp, Red Oak; Colton Chapman, Stuart; Jordan Eagle Road, Talihina; Josh Reese, Tonkawa; Dillon Manchell, Salina; Kalian Watkins, Preston; Reed Johnson, Latta.
Coaches: Jeff Weedn, Okemah; Troy Miller, Holdenville.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
NewsOK.com Players of the Year update
Will Josh Richardson overtake Ryan Spangler for NewsOK.com Boys Player of the Year?
Voting ends Friday at 11:59 p.m. for the NewsOK.com Boys and Girls Basketball Player of the Year. So if you haven’t voted for your candidate enough, well, you got four more days to get to it.
As of 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, here are the numbers:
Girls
Sharane Campbell, Star Spencer – 583 votes, 30.9 percent
Ashley Clark, Midwest City – 458 votes, 24.3 percent
Elizabeth Donohoe, Edmond North – 260 votes, 13.8 percent
Courtney Walker, Edmond Santa Fe – 532 votes, 28.3 percent
Marisha Wallace, Midwest City – 49 votes, 2.6 percent
Boys
Stephen Clark, Douglass – 452 votes, 9.9 percent
Obi Emegano, Edmond Memorial – 117 votes, 2.5 percent
Dominique Raney, Putnam City – 716 votes, 15.6 percent
Josh Richardson, Edmond Santa Fe – 1,596 votes, 34.8 percent
Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek – 1,708 votes, 37.2 percent
Thanks for the more than 6,000 combined votes in the boys and girls polls. Once again, the voting closes Friday so you still have a chance.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
