Baseball state tournament pairings
CLASS 6A
At Claremore
Thursday
Game 1: Moore vs. Broken Arrow, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Jenks vs. Yukon, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Owasso vs. Edmond North, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Edmond Santa Fe vs. Stillwater, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Oral Roberts
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
At Tulsa Union
Thursday
Game 1: Shawnee vs. Claremore, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Skiatook vs. Carl Albert, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Guthrie vs. Durant, 4 p.m.
Game 4: McAlester vs. Deer Creek, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Oral Roberts
Championship game, noon
CLASS 4A
At Shawnee
Thursday
Game 1: Berryhill vs. Heritage Hall, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Anadarko vs. Tecumseh, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Hilldale vs. Byng, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Weatherford vs. Oologah, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner. 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Thursday
At Edmond Memorial
Game 1: Marlow vs. Jones, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Henryetta vs. Metro Christian, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Salina vs. Plainview, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Verdigris vs. Spiro, 6:30 p.m.
At Shawnee
Friday
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, noon
CLASS 2A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Game 1: Dale vs. Fairview, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Silo vs. Hennessey, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Ketchum vs. Tushka, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Oktaha vs. Wister, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Shawnee
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.
Girls soccer: Deer Creek, fresh off tough tournament, hosts Carl Albert on Tuesday
Allison Worsham, right, is one of four Deer Creek soccer seniors who have signed to play in college. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
EDMOND — Deer Creek’s girls’ soccer team learned a lot about itself in a humbling out-of-state tournament appearance last weekend.
The Antlers, who host Carl Albert on Tuesday, lost all three of their games at the Heart of America Classic in Kansas City, Mo., but senior Madison Smith said the games were good for her team.
“I thought we did good for the most part against the teams we played,” Smith said.
The tournament features several of the top girls’ soccer teams in middle America. For Deer Creek, it was a chance to play tougher competition.
The Antlers entered the tournament having won each of its last three games 10-0.
“(We learned) the levels of experience on the team,” Smith said. “There’s some pretty wide gaps; we have some freshmen trying to step into important roles.”
At the top, though, Deer Creek has lots of talent and experience. Smith has signed to play college soccer at Oklahoma, and fellow seniors Roman Edwards (Tulsa), Allison Worsham (Oklahoma City) and Maddie Windham (Oklahoma Baptist) will also play at the next level.
The Antlers were the Class 5A runner-up a year ago, and now their focus is squarely on finishing the job in 2012.
“I think all of the seniors have that desire,” Smith said. “I think last year we lacked that, and sometimes that’s how you lose championships — you have talent but not that desire. But now we have that extra hard work on top of everything. We’re coming together pretty good.”
Tuesday, the Antlers will face Carl Albert, which started the season slow but has won four straight games.
“I’m competitive and I want to win terribly bad,” Smith said of Tuesday’s game.
Football recruiting: Deer Creek quarterback Joel Blumenthal invited to Arkansas State
Deer Creek quarterback Joel Blumenthal was invited to visit Arkansas State. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Deer Creek quarterback Joel Blumenthal was invited to visit Arkansas State and watch the Red Wolves’ spring game Saturday, but he’ll have to miss the visit because he’s taking the ACT that day. He said he hopes to reschedule soon.
Blumenthal visited Tulsa with linebacker teammates and fellow juniors Austin Loomis and Kooper Ruminer last Saturday.
Arkansas State, which is entering its first season under coach Gus Malzahn, didn’t have any Oklahomans on last year’s roster, but there has been an increased effort to recruit the state. Heritage Hall defensive lineman Quintaz Struble signed with Arkansas State in February.
Blumenthal (6-foot-2, 175 pounds), who as a junior threw for 20 touchdowns and rushed for six, doesn’t have any offers yet but his interest is picking up.
Deer Creek football juniors Kooper Ruminer, Joel Blumenthal, Austin Loomis getting interest
Deer Creek junior LB Kooper Ruminer visited Kansas this weekend. PHOTO PROVIDED
Deer Creek junior linebacker Kooper Ruminer went to the Dallas Nike Football SPARQ Combine on March 24 and impressed, earning a spot on the 24-man All-Combine team.
As a result, Ruminer has
seen his recruiting stock increase. He went on an unofficial visit to Kansas this weekend, and will visit Tulsa next weekend.
Ruminer, who still is awaiting his first offer, recorded 136 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior, earning a spot on The Oklahoman’s Big All-City team.
Ruminer isn’t the only Antlers junior getting serious attention from college recruiters. Quarterback Joel Blumenthal and linebacker Austin Loomis will also both attend Tulsa’s spring game next weekend.
Blumenthal took an unofficial to North Texas this weekend. He doesn’t have any offers yet, but said North Texas seems to be the closest team to offering.
Loomis, who recorded 121 tackles as a junior, has been contacted by many Ivy League schools and plans to visit Yale for its junior day. Like Ruminer and Blumenthal, Loomis is still waiting on his first offer.
Tiger-Trojan Classic schedule
Thursday
at Broken Arrow
Tulsa Memorial vs. Moore, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Memorial vs. Edmond Memorial, 4 p.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Edmond Memorial, 6:30 p.m.
at Jenks
Tulsa Kelley vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Kelley vs. Deer Creek, 4 p.m.
Jenks vs. Deer Creek, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
at Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow vs. Deer Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Memorial vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 4 p.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 6:30 p.m.
at Jenks
Jenks vs. Edmond Memorial, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Kelley vs. Moore, 4 p.m.
Jenks vs. Moore, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
at Broken Arrow
Tulsa Memorial vs. Deer Creek, 9 a.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Moore, 11:30 a.m.
at Jenks
Tulsa Kelley vs. Edmond Memorial, 9 p.m.
Jenks vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 11:30 p.m.
East No. 4 vs. West No. 4, 2:30 p.m.*
East No. 3 vs. West No. 3, 5 p.m.*
East No. 2 vs. West No. 1, 2:30 p.m.*
East No. 1 vs. West No. 1, 5 p.m.*
Sites for these games will be determined by finish of Broken Arrow and Jenks in pool play.
Edmond North boys top tennis poll
Edmond North boys top poll
With much of its team returning from last season’s state championship squad, Edmond North’s boys are once again at the top of the Class 6A rankings in the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches poll released Tuesday.
The Huskies, with No. 1 singles runner-up Nate Roper and No. 2 singles champion Baylor Spring leading the way, came in ahead of Jenks, Tulsa Union and Edmond Memorial.
Edmond North’s boys are off until March 28 when they compete at the Duncan West event at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center, two days after the girls tournament there.
On the girls side, Jenks came in No. 1, ahead of Edmond North, Enid and Edmond Memorial.
In Class 5A, Metro Christian, Heritage Hall, Carl Albert and OCS are the top four in boys while Duncan, Heritage Hall, Cascia Hall and Tulsa Washington are tops on the girls side.
Anadarko’s boys are No. 1 in Class 4A, followed by Ada, Henryetta and Byng. Ada, Metro Christian, Elk City and Perry are the top four in girls.
OKLAHOMA TENNIS COACHES RANKING
CLASS 6A
Boys
1. Edmond North
2. Jenks
3. Tulsa Union
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Broken Arrow
6. Tulsa Kelley
7. McGuinness
8. Enid
9. Muskogee
10. Edmond Santa Fe
Girls
1. Jenks
2. Edmond North
3. Enid
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Tulsa Kelley
6. Broken Arrow
7. Tulsa Union
8. McGuinness
9. Bixby
10. Owasso
CLASS 5A
Boys
1. Metro Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Carl Albert
4. Oklahoma Christian
5. Cascia Hall
6. McAlester
7. Shawnee
8. Durant
9. Duncan
10. Ardmore
Girls
1. Duncan
2. Heritage Hall
3. Cascia Hall
4. Tulsa Washington
5. Tahlequah
6. Ardmore
7. Deer Creek
8. Carl Albert
9. Shawnee
10. Altus
CLASS 4A
Boys
1. Anadarko
2. Ada
3. Henryetta
4. Byng
5. Clinton
6. Elk City
7. Oologah
8. St. Mary
9. Seminole
10. Okmulgee
Girls
1. Ada
2. Metro Christian
3. Elk City
4. Perry
5. Midway
6. Byng
7. Beaver
8. Seminole
9. Oklahoma Christian
10. Anadarko
All-Suburban Conference Girls Basketball
Know of another All-Conference basketball team? E-mail it to Ryan Aber at raber@opubco.com.
All-Suburban Conference Girls
Most Valuable Player: Kelsee Grovey, Shawnee
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalyn Jackson, Deer Creek
Newcomer of the Year: Taylor Cooper, Shawnee
Coach of the Year: Wendi Wells, Shawnee
First team
Kylie Boggess, Piedmont
Gioya Carter, Carl Albert
Ashley Gibson, Deer Creek
Antoinet Webster, Western Heights
Micaela Yu, Shawnee
Second team
Ashley Almond, Piedmont
Toni Cheadle, Carl Albert
Bailey Mack, Harrah
Melinda Murillo, Guthrie
Sheronica Swindle, Western Heights
Third team
Lauren Collyer, Harrah
Sierra Hamilton, Chickasha
Haley Hill, El Reno
Mikaela Murillo, Guthrie
Sarah Parker, Piedmont
All-Suburban Conference Boys Basketball
Have information on another All-Conference team? E-mail it to Ryan Aber at raber@opubco.com.
All-Suburban Conference
Most Valuable Player: Carlbe Ervin, Carl Albert
Defensive Player of the Year: Raymond Little, El Reno
Newcomer of the Year: Cameron Peters, Piedmont
Coach of the Year: Pete Papahronis, Guthrie
First team
Garrett Hermanski, Deer Creek
Conner Haydon, El Reno
Dejoun Sanders, Shawnee
Jacobi Davis, Chickasha
Kai Callins, Guthrie
Second team
Tim Tullis, Western Heights
Cameron Peters, Piedmont
Rashaad Copeland, El Reno
Leland Palmer, Noble
Colin Jennings, Harrah
Third team
Darrain Winston, Carl Albert
Dondre Brookins, Carl Albert
Collin Bricker, Piedmont
Joel Blumenthal, Deer Creek
Dillion Mooreland, Shawnee
All-Defensive Team
Darrain Winston, Carl Albert
Shron Parker, Guthrie
Adrion Williams, Piedmont
Jose Bonilla, El Reno
Anthony Clark, Deer Creek
Freshman Gabby Grubb steps up, helps Bishop McGuinness top Deer Creek for state berth
Bishop McGuinness' Elyse Hight goes between Deer Creek's Shae Scheffler, left, and Jayln Jackson during the Irish's win Saturday in Norman. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
NORMAN — Early in the season, Bishop McGuinness girls coach Shawn Clark told freshman Gabby Grubb he didn’t need her to be great … yet.
“March is when I need you,” Clark told her.
Grubb came off the bench to score a career-high 18 points Saturday at Norman High School in the Irish’s 64-49 win over No. 3 Deer Creek.
Bishop McGuinness (21-6) now advances to the Class 5A state tournament, where it will defend its 2011 championship.
“It’s awesome,” Grubb said of Saturday’s game. “The team just really pulled it together and played our best.”
Saturday’s win paints a stark contrast to where this team was just two and a half months ago.
On Dec. 16, McGuinness played the Antlers in the Deer Creek Festival and lost 53-38. Senior forward Elyse Hight scored 30 of her team’s points that night.
Hight still led the team Saturday with 20 and 10 rebounds, but she got much more help than she was getting early.
The senior said part of her team’s growth throughout the year had to do with her 10-game absense in the middle of the year with a hip injury.
“A lot of girls had to step up, and I think that helped us,” Hight said. “It helped a lot of girls get their confidence up.”
Not the least of which was Grubb, who has been waiting all year for an opportunity like she got Saturday.
And largely because of her contribution, the Irish will get a shot at back-to-back titles.
“It feels like everything is coming together,” Hight said. “They’d better be ready for us at state.”
Large-school girls basketball power poll: No changes in the top five; Muskogee up to No. 7
Senior guard Kelsee Grovey and Shawnee look poised for a run at the Class 5A state championship. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
Here is the second edition of my large-school girls’ basketball power poll.
Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail.
1. Edmond Santa Fe (6A, 22-0)
Edmond Santa Fe did nothing to deserve a drop in ranking. The defending 6A champion Wolves’ schedule hasn’t been very tough — their smallest margin of victory this season is 15 — so when they get challenged it will be interesting to see how they respond. But there is no reason to believe Santa Fe would have an off night, and it remains the odds-on favorite to bring home the gold ball again.
Record vs. this poll: 2-0
Last week: No. 1
Next up: Regionals vs. U.S. Grant, Thursday, 8 p.m.
2. Shawnee (5A, 23-0)
The Wolves wrapped up a perfect regular season and are Class 5A’s clear No. 1 team. Big wins this season over Edmond Memorial, Carl Albert and Deer Creek allow Shawnee to edge Midwest City again at No. 2 in this power poll.
Record vs. this poll: 3-0
Last week: No. 2
Next up: Regionals vs. Noble, Thursday, 8 p.m.
3. Midwest City (6A, 23-0)
Midwest City got impressive back-to-back wins over Westmoore and Del City last week. The Bombers are peaking at the right time and are Edmond Santa Fe’s chief competition in Class 6A. No reason at this point to expect anything other than a Santa Fe-Midwest City rematch in the Class 6A tournament championship game.
Record vs. this poll: 3-0
Last week: No. 3
Next up: Regionals vs. Moore, Thursday, 8 p.m.
4. Tulsa East Central (5A, 22-3)
The Cardinals wrapped up their season with an impressive 14-point win at Tulsa Washington. Two of the Cardinals’ losses were to out-of-state teams in a season-opening tourney in Tennessee, and the other came to Jenks on Jan. 20. But East Central has also beaten Jenks this season.
Record vs. this poll: 1-1
Last week: No. 4
Next up: Regionals vs. Tulsa Central, Thursday, 8 p.m.
5. Edmond Memorial (6A, 17-5)
All five of Edmond Memorial’s losses are to teams ranked higher than it in this power poll (Twice to Santa Fe, twice to Midwest City, once to Shawnee). Memorial and Midwest City are lined up for a possible third game in areas.
Record vs. this poll: 1-5
Last week: No. 5
Next up: Regionals vs. Putnam City West, Thursday, 8 p.m.
6. Deer Creek (5A, 20-3)
The Antlers bring a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs. Deer Creek seems to be peaking at the right time and seems poised for a run at state.
Record vs. this poll: 2-1
Last week: No. 7
Next up: Regionals vs. Ardmore, Thursday, 8 p.m.
7. Muskogee (6A, 17-6)
The Roughers’ two-spot jump is the biggest of the week. Muskogee finished the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, including an overtime win over Jenks last week. Muskogee also has wins over Tulsa Union and Bixby, and has beaten Sapulpa twice.
Record vs. this poll: 1-1
Last week: No. 9
Next up: Regionals vs. Westmoore (at Bixby), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
8. Carl Albert (5A, 18-5)
The Titans had to rally from a halftime deficit to beat Western Heights in their regular-season finale. Carl Albert often goes through shooting dry spells, which cost it in home losses to Deer Creek and Shawnee. The Titans got a break in their playoff position, though, and are still expected to be a state tournament team.
Record vs. this poll: 0-2
Last week: No. 8
Next up: Regionals vs. Capitol Hill, Thursday, 8 p.m.
9. Jenks (6A, 18-5)
The Trojans finished their regular-season with a dud — a 22-point loss at Broken Arrow. Jessica Washington still isn’t 100 percent healthy, and Jenks brings a two-game skid into its playoff opener. Record vs. this poll: 2-3
Last week: No. 6
Next up: Regionals vs. Sand Springs, Thursday, 8 p.m.
10. Bishop McGuinness (5A, 18-5)
The Irish has lost just twice since Dec. 17 and finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. The defending 5A champs got off to a rough start this season with several new starters and a new coach, but looks like a strong contender to return to the state tournament.
Record vs. this poll: 0-2
Last week: No. 10
Next up: Regionals vs. Guymon, Thursday, 8 p.m.
jkersey@opubco.com
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