Scott Raper gets all dressed up for Centennial’s championship celebration
Centennial boys basketball coach Scott Raper danced with the school mascot, among other things, during the team's Class 3A boys basketball state championship celebration on Friday.
To celebrate their repeat as Class 3A boys basketball champions, the Centennial players didn’t want to simply repeat the embarrassment of coach Scott Raper that they enjoyed last year.
They wanted to surpass it.
So rather than shaving their coach’s head, like they did to celebrate last year’s state title, they made him wear a dress — while they shaved his head.
“This is what the kids asked for,” said Raper, who has been Centennial’s head coach since the school opened in 2007. “They did what we asked for, so I wanted to do this for them.”
The Bison were highly ranked all season, but lost during the regional playoffs, which sparked their title run. Raper said it was important for the team to forget about what it accomplished last season and focus on the task ahead.
“We wore our championship rings for about the first four games of the season,” Raper said. “And then I said, ‘That’s it. I don’t want to see another ring. Last year is over with.’”
If the Bison pull off the three-peat next season, what will Raper have to do then?
“I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me,” Raper said with a grin, adding that he would donate $250 to the school’s food bank if the team wins a third title.
NOTE: Video of the event will be posted the blog soon as well.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Centennial picks Don Willis as next football coach
Former Millwood football coach Don Willis has been selected as Centennial's next head coach.
Don Willis is returning to Oklahoma City after eight years in Texas.
The former Millwood coach has been chosen as Centennial’s new head coach. He was at Millwood for 22 years, including nine as the head coach, leading the Falcons to three consecutive Class 2A titles from 2000-02.
He won at least seven games in each of his nine seasons, compiling a 91-27 record overall. He left in 2004 to take a job in Texas.
Willis replaces Mark Ryan, who moved on after a difficult battle with health issues last season.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
District 3A-3 postseason honors
Here are the coaches’ postseason awards for District 3A-3:
Coach of the Year: Andy Bogert, Heritage Hall
MVP: Sterling Shephard, Heritage Hall
Offensive Player of the Year: Barry J. Sanders, Heritage Hall
Defensive Player of the Year: Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall
Back of the Year: Brett Gilstrap, Bethany
Co-Quarterback of the Year: Ryley Clayborn, Bethany
Co-Quarterback of the Year: Quinn Shanbour, Heritage Hall
Offensive Lineman: Hunter Endres, Kingfisher
Receiver of the Year: Cale Courtney, Heritage Hall
Defensive End of the Year: Quintaz Struble, Heritage Hall
Defensive Tackle of the Year: Willy Hanvold, Kingfisher
Outside Linebacker of the Year: Ross Clifton, Heritage Hall
Inside Linebacker of the Year: Colton Cheap, Kingfisher
Defensive Back of the Year: Grayson Haws, Bethany
Co-Kicker of the Year: Cole Rinke, Bethany
Co-Kicker of the Year: Ryan Ross, Newcastle
Special Teams Player of the Year: Gage Diffee, Bethany
Special Recognition: Mark Ryan, Centennial head coach
Injured Athlete Recognition: Brent Gaddis, Heritage Hall
Injured Athlete Recognition: Garrett McGrady, Bethany
All-City Athletic Conference postseaon honors
All-City Athletic Conference 2011 Football Team
Coach of the Year: Tony Henry, Millwood
Coach’s Special Recognition: Mark Ryan, Centennial
Player of the Year: Cayman Bundage, Douglass
Defensive Player of the Year: Jas’Sen Stoner, Douglass
Offensive Player of the Year: Dametric Sanders, Millwood
Co-Special Teams Players of the Year: Quincy Rideau, Star Spencer; Juan Campos, Northwest Classen
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Bobby Wilkes, Millwood
Co-Linebackers of the Year: Marc Robinson, Millwood; Gumaro Murphy, Southeast
Defensive Back of the Year: O’Sha Clark, Douglass
Co-Offensive Linemen of the Year: Devin Dobbins, Millwood; Dale Burch, Star Spencer
Offensive Back of the Year: Luis Leyva, Capitol Hill
Receiver of the Year: Kameron Bryant, John Marshall
First Team Defense
Defensive Line: Christian Nicholson, U.S. Grant; Kevin Williams, John Marshall; Codie Nolan, Northwest Classen; Genaro Monter, Southeast; Justin Woody, Northeast
Linebackers: Derrick Ward, Star Spencer; Andrew Bailey, Douglass; Malcolm Scales, Millwood; Francis Taylor, Capitol Hill
Defensive Backs: TyLiq Braziell, Southeast; Brandon Morse, Capitol Hill; Derrick Young, U.S. Grant; Chris Compton, Douglass
Punter: Carlos Morales, U.S. Grant
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Christian Gorham, Northwest Classen; Michael Thomas, Northeast
Running Backs: Cory Hooks, U.S. Grant
Receivers: Trevon Willis, Northeast; Marvin Kerbo, Northwest Classen; Deonte Childs, Douglass
Offensive Line: Diamonte McClellan, Douglass; Charles Hayes, Star Spencer; Jacob Tavarez, U.S. Grant; Harvey Hightower, Millwood; Michael Holder, Southeast; David Johnson, John Marshall
Place Kicker: Antonio Cueto, Southeast
Honorable Mention
Capitol Hill: Maleke Dixon, Jerrad Fomin
Douglass: Davon Barber
Millwood: Marquise Kemp
Northeast: Savon Peevy, Demarkus Long
Northwest Classen: Marcus Ervin
Southeast: Nolan Payne, Michael McAnelly, Dominique Schweitzer, Nicholas Chamberlain
Star Spencer: Quintrae Kendrick
U.S. Grant: Eric Benevue, Javier Tarrazas
All-City Preview basketball tournaments begin Tuesday
Douglass junior Stephen Clark and the two-time defending Class 4A state champion Trojans will be in action at the All-City Preview tournament, which begins on Tuesday night.
The All-City Preview, the preseason basketball tournament featuring the Oklahoma City Public Schools and Millwood, begins Tuesday evening at Northwest Classen and Capitol Hill. The tournaments will be concluded on Thursday with championship and third-place games, as well as loser’s bracket competition.
Each site will host seven games on Tuesday, between both boys and girls teams. All 11 schools from the All-City Athletic Conference will participate, including a pair defending champions, the Douglass and Centennial boys teams.
Here is the schedule for Tuesday’s games:
Girls
At Capitol Hill
5 p.m.: Star Spencer vs. Centennial
6 p.m.: Classen SAS vs. Capitol Hill
7 p.m.: Northeast vs. Star/Centennial winner
8 p.m.: Douglass vs. Classen/Capitol Hill winner
At Northwest Classen
5:30 p.m.: US Grant vs. John Marshall
6:30 p.m.: Northwest Classen vs. Southeast
7:30 p.m.: Millwood vs. US Grant/John Marshall winner
Boys
At Northwest Classen
5 p.m.: Southeast vs. US Grant
6 p.m.: Millwood vs. John Marshall
7 p.m.: Northwest Classen vs. Southeast/US Grant winner
8 p.m.: Centennial vs. Millwood/John Marshall winner
At Capitol Hill
5:30 p.m.: Star Spencer vs. Classen SAS
6:30 p.m.: Capitol Hill vs. Northeast
7:30 p.m.: Douglass vs. Star/Classen winner
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Game preview: Capitol Hill at Centennial
The last time I watched a Centennial High School team compete, it walked away with a gold ball as the Class 3A boys basketball state champions. That night in the Big House seems like a distant memory now, and stakes aren’t as high for the Centennial football team tonight. But this game is still very important to the Bison.
They open the football season against Capitol Hill at Star Spencer (Centennial’s home stadium) tonight at 7, and they do so without their head coach, Mark Ryan. He continues to battle an illness that has kept him away from his team for the last month. The Bison will take the field under acting head coach Michael Baldwin and a group of assistants — mostly volunteers — in hopes of building on the athletic success the young school got to enjoy in basketball season.
What to watch for: Centennial
Some of the Bison’s top returners transferred out, so this team is putting a lot of youngsters into action. But they had a solid showing at the All-City Preview, getting to the consolation final. This is a team that just needs to keep moving forward right now.
There’s no timetable for coach Ryan to return, so Baldwin just has to keep them focused on the present. Judging by what I saw at practice, the Bison have a few guys with good size to play up front, and plenty of speed at the skill spots, which is worth a lot in a game like this.
What to watch for: Capitol Hill
The Redskins are under the guidance of first-year head coach Jason Webster, who was promoted from offensive coordinator. He’s a young guy who has been at a variety of places and has a clear passion for leading young people.
He has a mostly new staff, but they were able to keep a group of athletes committed to getting better over the summer. This game will be important for showing the direction of his new program.
The pick: Capitol Hill 20, Centennial 18. This kicks off six games in 10 days for me, and I don’t plan on seeing any blowouts.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Centennial forges ahead without coach Mark Ryan
Centennial High School faces many of the same challenges of other Oklahoma City schools, but those issues are on the backburner right now.
Head coach Mark Ryan has not been able to coach the team this month because of an illness, leaving assistant Michael Baldwin and a group of volunteer assistants to run practices.
“We’re not well-staffed, but we’ve had some coaches volunteer their services for the sake of the kids,” Baldwin said. “It doesn’t pay money, but they’re out here anyway, and we appreciate all the help we can get.”
Ryan had to step away the week before camp opened on Aug. 9, and there is no timetable for when he could return.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Wes Welker Foundation awards grants
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
The Wes Welker Foundation’s board of directors have approved $29,000 in grant money to four Oklahoma City-area schools, the organization announced Monday.
The grants were awarded to Star Spencer’s volleyball and athletic department, U.S. Grant’s football program, Putnam City West’s football and athletic department and Crooked Oak’s athletic department.
The foundation, founded by former Heritage Hall and current New England Patriots standout Wes Welker, was founded five years ago with the aim of helping underprivileged kids.
The foundation awards grants twice a year to schools and organizations in the Oklahoma City area. It also provides free sports camps for at-risk youth and a coach and leadership development program.
The foundation has given more than $192,000 in grant money in the past four years.
U.S. Grant is a two-time recipient.
Other organizations that have received the grants in the past have included Life Change Academy, Astec Charter School, Douglass High School, Memorial Park Boys and Girls Club and Western Village Academy.
Boys basketball All-City Athletic Conference awards
All-City Athletic Conference Selections
Co-Coaches of the Year: Terry Long(Douglass)and Scott Raper(Centennial)
Co-Players of the Year: Devonte Smith(Douglass) and Tyrone Jones(Centennial)
Newcomer of the Year: Caleb Cryton( Northeast)
First Team:
Dorrian Williams – Douglass, Stephen Clark- Douglass, Ramond Jenkins- Douglass, Romond Jenkins- Douglass, Tre Jordan- Southeast
Second Team:
Jamil Donovan- Northwest Classen, Marcus Johnson- Centennial, Marquis Buxton-Hill- Douglass, Nico Meadows- Capitol Hill, Dre’ Triplett- Millwood,
Third Team:
Korihon Jackson- Northeast, Dominique Manuel- Douglass, Craig Hackney- Centennial, DeSean Carolina- Centennial, DeMontrey Mitchell- John Marshall
Honorable Mention:
Capitol Hill- Josh Thompson, Aaron Brown, Darrin Tucker
Classen- Cameron McClure, Anthony Bolar
Douglass- Darris Mitchell, DeAngelo Clark
U.S. Grant- Anthony Hartfield, G’vonte Bonds
John Marshall- Talmadge Lawrence, Tyler Harrison
Centennial- Darius Lacey, Austin Garner
Northeast- Eric Peabody, Gabe Houston,
NW Classen- Paco Jones, Anthony Hardrick
Southeast- William Brewer, Travis Morris, Jay Gogue
Star Spencer- Gary Ford, Symon Smith
Centennial coach Scott Raper ready for his ‘haircut’
Last year, Scott Raper promised his Centennial boys basketball players that they could shave his head if they made it to the state tournament.
They fell short, but after qualifying for state this year, they asked if the offer still stood.
“I told them, ‘No, you’re a little better this year. You’ll have to win the whole thing,’” Raper said.
Well, that’s what the Bison did, winning the Class 3A title on March 12, and now it’s time for the celebratory head shave. It will take place at center court inside the Centennial gym as part of a state championship celebration Friday beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The team will present the gold ball trophy to the school and they will display the design of the players’ state championship rings.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
