Semifinal sites set
Here’s the semifinal times/dates:
Class 6A
Jenks vs. Southmoore, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Putnam City Stadium
Tulsa Union vs. Broken Arrow, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, University of Tulsa
Class 5A
El Reno vs. Carl Albert, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Putnam City Stadium
Bixby vs. Guthrie, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Stillwater High School
Class 4A
Weatherford vs. Douglass, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Yukon
Star Spencer vs. Sallisaw, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sapulpa
Class 3A
Seq. Claremore vs. Cascia Hall, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Collinsville
Berryhill vs. Dewey, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Skiatook
Class B
Garber vs. Laverne, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Woodward
Ryan vs. Canton, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Norman
Class C
DC-Lamont vs. Timberlake, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Enid
Seiling vs. Forgan, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Woodward
OKRankings.com Girls Basketball Poll
The OKRankings.com Preseason Girls Basketball Coaches’ poll has been released. These are the rankings that eventually go toward deciding playoff pairings. So here they are (first-place votes in parentheses):
Class 6A
1. Midwest City (18)
2. Tulsa Union (1)
3. Norman
4. Edmond North
5. Edmond Memorial
6. Edmond Santa Fe
7. Lawton
8. Del City (2)
9. Norman North
10. Putnam City North
11. Jenks
12. Broken Arrow
13. Sapulpa
14. Owasso
15. Ponca City
16. Yukon
17. Enid
18. Southmoore
19. Bixby
20. Choctaw
OKRankings.com Boys Basketball poll
The OKRankings.com Preseason Boys Basketball Coaches’ poll has been released. These are the rankings that eventually go toward deciding playoff pairings. So here they are (first-place votes in parentheses):
Class 6A
1. Putnam City (8)
2. Putnam City West (7)
3. Muskogee (4)
4. Southmoore
5. Tulsa Union
6. Jenks
7. Edmond Santa Fe
8. Midwest City
9. Broken Arrow
10. Putnam City North
11. Owasso
12. Edmond Memorial
13. Lawton
14 Enid
15. Choctaw
15. Del City
17. Norman North
18. Edmond North
19. Lawton Eisenhower
20. Norman
Know of a player signing?
With signing day coming up Wednesday, The Oklahoman is once again compiling a list of players across the state who have signed to play college athletics at any level.
If you have a signing to report, e-mail it to Ryan Aber at raber@opubco.com ro post it on the comments section here (on the main high school blog at http://blog.newsok.com/highschoolsports )
Yukon at Choctaw preview capsule
Yukon (4-5, 3-3) at Choctaw (3-6, 3-3)
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Jensen Field, Choctaw
Playoff impact: For Yukon, win and you’re in. For Choctaw, win and you’re probably in, though the Yellowjackets will need some help from Owasso against Stillwater.
Why Choctaw could win: The Yellowjackets have lost three straight by an average margin of 39-5, so they’re desperate for something good to happen. They have talent on offense, led by quarterback Tanner Hessman, a big kid who can run and throw, though he has struggled to avoid the interception at times. He is the team’s leading rusher with 442 yards, just ahead of Corey Bennett with 375.
Why Yukon could win: Aside from the ultimate motivation of making the playoffs for the first time since 1998, Yukon has played just about everyone on their schedule close, and by comparative scores, Yukon should be the better team. The offense finds ways to produce points, and the defense remains reliable. Like Hessman, Yukon QB Corben Jones is also the team’s leading rusher, ahead of brother Terry Jones, so we should see plenty of QB run game tonight.
Key matchup: Choctaw run game vs. Yukon defensive front. The Millers tend to be pretty stout against the run — just ask Enid’s Jonathan Burton, who had nearly 1,000 yards through six games, but had 18 against Yukon. If the Millers control Choctaw’s run game and put the pressure on Hessman to throw a lot, it should work to their benefit.
The pick: Yukon 24, Choctaw 17. Welcome back to the postseason, Millers.
Q and A: Choctaw tight end Drew Parrish
Choctaw tight end Drew Parrish is having a nice season for his school with 10 catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end. Here’s a little more about the 6-foot-5, 260 pound Parrish.
If you could trade places with one college or pro athlete, who would it be?
I would trade places with Tony Gonzalez because he is my all-time favorite tight end.
What’s on your bucket list?
Play football collegiately, scuba dive, become an anesthesiologist, have a family, and go to Alaska.
What’s your most life changing event?
Breaking my ankle was pretty life changing. It made me realize how important sports are in my life.
What was your welcome to the varsity moment?
My welcome to varsity sports moment was my first game as a sophomore when i was asked to share time with the starting tight end. The adrenaline rush was amazing.
What’s your hidden talent?
I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue. And i have webbed toes.
What are the most impressive streaks in state HS sports?
With Shattuck about to break Morrison’s record of 90 consecutive wins, I’m wondering what are the other streaks in the state that are most impressive?
Here’s a few I’ve come up with. Let me know, either through a comment here or an e-mail (raber@opubco.com), if you have any others.
I’m sure there are plenty more I’ve missed but here are a few:
- Morrison and Shattuck’s 90-game winning streaks in football
- Tulsa Union’s and Jenks’ stranglehold on the 6A football title
-Asher and Owasso baseball dominance
-McGuinness girls cross country
-Bethel girls basketball state tournament streak
-Bartlesville boys swimming
-El Reno wrestling
-McGuinness girls tennis
-Cascia Hall boys tennis
Got a question for Ed Sheakley? Ask it here
I’m going to visit with Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association executive director Ed Sheakley early this week. Do you have a question for him? Leave it as a comment here or e-mail me at raber@opubco.com. I’ll pick a few to ask him and we’ll have his answers this week in The Oklahoman.
Putnam North at Choctaw preview capsule
Putnam City North (2-0) at Choctaw (0-2)
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Jensen Field, Choctaw
Why Putnam City North could win: The Panthers have shown that replacing almost all of their offensive and defensive lines wasn’t a major problem. They might not be as good as last year’s stout group, but they’re good enough. And the spread offense has been handled well by junior quarterback Jace James, who has managed it with consistency.
Why Choctaw could win: For one, the Panthers are battling injuries and will be without two of their top offensive players in running back Sam Wolfe (broken collarbone) and receiver Dillon Schooley (mono). And don’t underestimate Choctaw. The Yellowjackets are tough, and they’ve got some speed to go with it. Bill Bays’ squad is still looking for its first win of the year, but they’ve got a solid offense with a good run-pass combo with quarterback Tanner Hessman and a solid group of running backs.
Quote: “Choctaw’s really big and they run well. It’ll be a challenge for us, because they’re physical. The quarterback’s as good an athlete as there is around.” – PC North coach Bob Wilson
Key matchup: Choctaw run game vs. PC North run stoppers. Hessman needs the run game to be there to open up some room for the pass, particularly to senior tight end Drew Parrish, a 6-foot-4, 266-pounder who is a key in the passing game. If the Panthers can limit the zone-read and Choctaw’s other running plays, they’ll be able to keep the offense in check.
The pick: PC North 28-24. I like the way Jace James has taken control of the PC North offense and if there’s anything missing in the run game with the absence of Sam Wolfe, the receivers will pick up the slack.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Choctaw’s Josh Halbert commits to Shockers
Choctaw shortstop Josh Halbert recently committed to Wichita State. Halbert, who will be a senior next year, hit .349 with 2 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 17 RBIs last season in helping Choctaw to a 24-12 record.
Halbert has started for the Yellowjackets since he was a freshman and Choctaw coach Mark Craft says Halbert has an above average glove and arm.
Looking at Wichita State’s roster, it seems like half the team is made up of Oklahomans, from former Owasso standout Brian Flynn to Santa Fe’s Josh Rosecrans and Memorial’s Taylor Brown.
