Private schools: Reaction to proposal…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Had a chance to talk with some private school athletic directors and their thoughts about what happened at the OSSAA board meeting Wednesday.
Bishop McGuinness AD Gary Savely and Heritage Hall’s Rod Warner declined to comment since they’re on the committee, but I got in touch with Mt. St. Mary’s Lenny Hatchett and Christian Heritage Academy’s John Merrell.
One of the six proposals was an enrollment multiplier where certain schools would have to multiply their enrollment by 15 or 30 percent.
Lenny Hatchett
Every school is different. Something like this would really hurt the Mount. We only have like 300 kids, so this would be a big increase. It’s not like we have 800, 900 kids.
Every administration is trying to do what’s best for them and that makes sense. It’s not a perfect answer to everything. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
John Merrell
We just want to be a good member of the Association. This has been a great experience for us ever since joining. We wanted to get in for years, and we’re just happy to be a part of this.
It’s created a lot of excitement with the student body, going to state tournaments and having success. We’re embracing everything. Whatever decision is made, we’ll happily abide by it.”
In the multiplier proposal, MSM would move up to 4A from 3A while CHA would move to 3A from 2A.
For a full list of the schools affected by the multiplier and how the enrollment numbers would change, Ryan Aber wrote a detailed piece in Thursday’s paper.
CHA’s Cleveland off to hot start
Christian Heritage senior catcher Caden Cleveland is off to a hot start for the Crusaders after two tournaments.
Cleveland hit .667 during recent tournaments in Altus and Prestonwood, Texas. At the Altus tournament, he had nine RBIs and a home run.
Cleveland, the grandson of former Major Leaguer Don Demeter, has signed with Morehead State.
CHA is 5-4 after the tournaments and will play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Class 6A Del City.
Edmond/Private schools POW: Gunnar Nixon, Santa Fe…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It seems like every sports season there is a name or two that might always be in the running for player of the week. You could have made a real argument for Xavier Smith of Edmond North and Kameron Doolittle of Edmond Memorial in football.
The same could have been said about Santa Fe’s Courtney Walker and North’s Elizabeth Donohoe in girls basketball.
Definitely have candidates in the spring, especially in track. I have a feeling I’ll be typing Isaiah Duke of Memorial and Gunnar Nixon of the Wolves over and over and over.
When I typed last week’s winners, I had no idea about what Nixon had done at the Nike Indoor event in Boston. So it’s a week late, but he still deserves the honor. And since there was such little action because of spring break, it’s a combined award for the Edmond and Private Schools Player of the Week.
Nixon was phenomenal at the Indoor meet in Boston last week, setting a junior meet record in the Pentathlon.
Nixon scored 4,141 points in the event, helped by a high jump of 7-feet, 0.5 inches — the best by a prep athlete indoors this year.
In addition to his high jump, Nixon won the 1,000-meter run, finished second in the 60 hurdles and fourth in both the long jump and the shot.
Going to be fun to ‘track’ (get it? I’m hilarious) all the success of the spring athletes here in the next couple of months. Excited for the seasons to really get going (despite the snow). I’ma try to make it out to as many events as I possibly can.
But I’m throwing it out to you guys as well. Spring is so busy that it’s tough to make sure everyone gets included that deserves a mention. So if you have suggestions, send ‘em this way whenever you can.
Other contenders
Michael Fulmer, Deer Creek, Baseball: The Antlers and Wolves headed out to Alabama last week, and Deer Creek went a perfect 4-0 on the trip. Fulmer was sensational on the mound in one of the big wins.
Jordan Lopez, Santa Fe, Baseball: Cody Rosecrans should probably get this nom, too, but Lopez had a great ‘Bama trip as well, proving to be the most consistent hitter and scored a bunch of runs.
Tyler Smith, Mt. St. Mary’s, Baseball: Another diamond hero as Smith was fantastic in a 9-1 win against Oklahoma Christian on Friday. Smith struck out 11 in a complete game victory.
Private schools girls: On a mission…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The ending of the season in the private school realm was a little disappointing for the girls. And with stars like CHA’s Meagan Henson and Mt. St. Mary’s Liana Garcia (among others) leaving, it will be interesting to see what happens. OCS’ Dani Childress should really become a name to remember next year.
One of the bigger moments of the season will happen in July with the ADM. Heritage Hall would really benefit from moving down to 3A while the Irish might benefit to a move up to 5A.
Bishop McGuinness
This year’s disappointment should be a driving force all summer, fall and winter for Jennifer Frakes’ squad. It’s sad that girls like Cara Pugh and Lissy Fuller won’t get the opportunity to play for a state championship, but look at the talent that is coming back.
It’s going to start with a healthy Caroline Cameron. She was having a fantastic start to the season before tearing her ACL against Edmond North. In the post, Alexa Lienhard and Elyse Hight are going to give opponents’ fits just like they did this season.
The only question will be is how long will the mental hangover last? I wasn’t at Midwest City when the Irish were taken out by Clinton, but I’m sure it still stings right now.
Heritage Hall
The Chargers lose one of the best pure scorers I saw this season in Murphy Burns, but D Brown does return. Brown had to carry a lot of the load this season when the team was faced with pressure defenses.
However, Carter Cloud will be a year older and ready to do more and look for BreAuna Gaddis to absolutely explode next season for Leslie Warner’s club.
Private schools POW: Matt Christiansen, Irish…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
All year long sophomore Matt Christiansen was making strides for the Bishop McGuinness basketball team. An injury at a tournament in New Mexico was going to slow him down, I thought.
Once fully healthy again, Christiansen started to become that force again. And at the state tournament, he and fellow sophomore Joe Edmonds showed why the Irish will once again be knocking on the door.
McGuinness lost to Douglass in the Class 4A finals but just about any team in the state would have lost to that Douglass. Heck, maybe EVERY team in the state would have lost to that Douglass team.
Christiansen has really developed a solid low post game and is a beast on the glass. Going to be interesting how comfortable he feels as he becomes even more of option 1A or 1B with Edmonds.
Despite the setback, Christiansen’s performance easily gives him the Private Schools Player of the Week. Wonder if he is going to get any taller?
Other team contenders
Mt. St. Mary’s boys basketball team: Had an unexpected loss to Hugo in the quarterfinals, but Hugo ended up reaching the finals so that was more a case of not realizing how good that team was. Losing some tremendous seniors on this team that did represented the school well. Injuries hurt as well as we never got to see what they truly could have done, but Lenny Hatchett will have this team back in the conversation next year.
CHA girls basketball team: Heartbreak Hotel on Day 1 had a room for the Crusaders as Washington beat CHA with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. CHA had a tremendous season, going undefeated heading into the playoffs. Going to be tough to replace Meagan Henson, the CHA star headed to Texas Christian. But this is the type of season you can build on and start to develop your own tradition – just like a school with the reputation of Washington. Gonna take a while to get that experience.
With the winter season officially in the books, time to turn to the spring season.
Edmond/Private schools: Thursday predictions…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The Memorial girls were smiling after area. Will they still be after Thursday's showdown with Norman. Photo courtesy of Jana Hill.
Class 6A Boys
Edmond Memorial vs. Midwest City
Prediction: MWC. The Bombers are the scariest team playing right now. Tough draw to get MWC in the quarterfinals. One thing working in Memorial’s favor is having played the Bombers twice already. Always tough to beat a team three times in one season.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman North
Prediction: Santa Fe. It’s a great story what the Timberwolves have done, but this is the year for Santa Fe if ever there has been a year. Too much toughness and a game-changer like Josh Richardson keeps the Wolves bid for a title alive.
Class 6A Girls
Edmond North vs. Norman North
Prediction: Edmond North. The Huskies remember all too well what happened last year against Norman. This team is mentally tougher than most give ‘em credit for, and they’ll show it with a victory here.
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman
Prediction: Memorial. I might have blinders on for this one, but I’ve seen how far the Bulldogs have progressed in the last month. You can wipe out Memorial’s win vs. Norman because it was early in the season and Norman’s win because it was during a brutal stretch. This should be the best first-round game of the tournament.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Putnam City North
Prediction: Santa Fe. Bankin’ on Courtney Walker to put this team on her shoulders and carry them as far as she can. Getting this first one will be huge. PCN is an extremely dangerous squad right now and again, beating a team three times in one season is not an easy thing to do.
Class 5A Girls
Deer Creek vs. Booker T.
Prediction: BTW. You can’t game plan for championship experience and the two-time defending champions certainly have that on their side. The XFactor if Deer Creek is going to win this game: sophomore Jalyn Jackson, she’ll have to be a force in the post.
Class 4A Boys
Bishop McGuinness vs. Cache
Prediction: Irish. Cache is a great story for reaching this point, but coach Tondrell Durham has been here too many times to be spooked by the moment. Can’t reiterate it enough, but the balance of Kevin Caruthers, Jameel Whitney, Joe Edmonds and Matt Christiansen is going to be tough to take out.
Class 3A Boys
Mt. St. Mary’s vs. Hugo
Prediction: Rockets. Any doubts I had about Lenny Hatchett’s club went right out the window with that statement-making win against Bridge Creek. Vincent Mason and Dalton Newsome can carry this team a long way, and they’re battle-tested.
Class 2A Girls
Christian Heritage vs. Washington
Prediction: Washington. Any other team (just about), and I would pick CHA to earn its first win. But with the tournament experience that Washington has, it is such a tough chore to come out with the victory. Think it helps that it’s the 2 p.m. game, though. No time to think and get nervous.
I’ll be at 6A girls Thursday, and you can follow me on Twitter @BPrzybylo. If I’m wrong on the picks, you know I’ll be the first person to make fun of myself for it.
Private schools POW: Meagan Henson, CHA…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
You never know sometimes about undefeated teams. Are they that good, or were they a product of their schedule? And after the Christian Heritage girls lost in regionals, hmm, became skeptical.
But they fought and fought and fought some more. The girls worked their way through the losers’ bracket, a thrilling OT battle with Central Sallisaw and qualified for the state tournament.
The biggest reason is the play of senior Meagan Henson, who has been phenomenal all season. The TCU signee just finds a way to make the big plays.
She was the leading scorer in all three games this week and just has that certain ‘it’ factor that can’t be described or put in a box score.
CHA’s reward for all the battling is a date with perennial power Washington on Thursday at 2 p.m. at State Fair Arena.
Other contenders
Kevin Caruthers, Bishop McGuinness, Basketball: The senior guard was HUGE in the OT win against Woodward. Sometimes he’s a little too unselfish, but he definitely makes this team go. Irish play Cache at 2 p.m. at Oklahoma Christian University.
Elyse Hight, Irish, Basketball: You could argue the girls squad is the best team not playing this, but Hight did everything she could. A 10-point loss to Anadarko and a three-point loss to Clinton ended their season.
Vincent Mason, Mt. St. Mary’s, Basketball: A tough loss against Millwood put the Rockets up against a solid Bridge Creek club that had already beaten ‘em once. Led by Mason and Dalton Newsome, MSM won by 31 points. Rockets take on Hugo at 3:30 p.m. at Moore.
Boneman’s note: Because of all the basketball coverage (B-6A), I admit to not having much knowledge at all at how the first week of spring sports went. If you have someone you would like to nominate for a POW from the spring sports, send it along. Appreciate the assistance.
Private schools: Area Results…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
From one extreme to another if you follow the private school clubs. You’re jumping up and down for Christian Heritage as the girls worked their way back to state. You sigh in disappointment as the Bishop McGuinness girls were knocked off by Clinton. And you do a double-take on the 31-point win for Mt. St. Mary’s over Bridge Creek.
Advanced to State
Bishop McGuinness boys
Bishop McGuinness
Girls: Irish lost to Clinton (56-53). It’s the end of the road for McGuinness in one of the biggest shockers (in my opinion). This team will be back, but it’s a tough way to go out for those seniors.
Mt. St. Mary’s
Boys: Rockets def. Bridge Creek (64-33). Advance to state. In an absolute shocker (not really), it was Vincent Mason (18 pts) and Dalton Newsome (16 pts) leading the charge.
CHA
Girls: Crusaders def. Savanna (65-51). Huge second half has CHA in state tournament. Meagan Henson had 17 points to lead the way.
Private schools: Area Schedule (Friday Results)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Maybe we all found out just how good the Woodward boys are, pushing the Irish to the limit before McGuinness won in overtime. Bids fell short for Irish girls and Mt. St. Mary’s boys.
Bishop McGuinness
Boys: Irish def. Woodward (57-51 OT). Advance to state. Senior guard Kevin Caruthers stepped up in this one, scoring 21 points. Irish were down six entering fourth quarter but found a way.
Girls: Irish lost to Anadarko (64-54). Play Clinton at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Midwest City. Winner advances to state. Theresa Nash and Elyse Hight played well, but Anadarko is dang good team.
Mt. St. Mary’s
Boys: Rockets lost to Millwood (45-42). Play Bridge Creek at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Moore HS. Winner advances to state. Two teams have split fist two meetings this season, each winning by three. As said all week, tough draw for 3A Area I boys.
CHA
Boys: Crusaders lost to Davis (65-56). It’s the end of the road for CHA, but this year was a good learning experience.
Girls: Crusaders def. Crowder (53-17). Play Savanna at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at SE Expo in McAlester, winner advances to state. Good balance for CHA, led by Meagan Henson’s 12 points. Need one more.
Private schools: Area Schedule (Thursday results)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Only one team was in action Thursday in the private school realm, but both Christian Heritage squads have lived to see another day. Girls game sounds like a classic.
Bishop McGuinness
Boys: Irish play Woodward on Friday at 8 p.m. at Midwest City. Winner advances to state.
Girls: Irish play Anadarko on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Midwest City. Winner advances to state.
Mt. St. Mary’s
Boys: Rockets play Millwood on Friday at 8 p.m. at Moore HS. Winner advances to state.
CHA
Boys: Crusaders def. Silo (52-46). Play Davis in an elimination game at SE Expo in McAlester on Friday at 3 p.m.
Girls: Crusaders def. Central Sallisaw (54-51, 3OT). Play Crowder in an elimination game at SE Expo in McAlester on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
