Bruce Gray Invitational schedule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Bruce Gray Invitational
At Deer Creek
Thursday
Boys
Mustang vs. McGuinness JV, 11:30 a.m.
Putnam City North vs. Star Spencer, 2:30
OCS vs. Deer Creek, 5:30
Enid vs. Western Heights, 8:30
Girls
McGuinness vs. Putnam West, 10 a.m.
Putnam North vs. OCS, 1 p.m.
Western Heights vs. Star Spencer, 4 p.m.
Deer Creek vs. Enid, 7 p.m.
Best of the Rest honor: Darian Bennett, Crescent…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Crescent coach J.L. Fisher told me a couple of weeks ago that his Tigers club normally plays well if running back Darian Bennett does well.
The last two weeks have been a good sign for fans of Bennett and Crescent. After giving Minco its first loss in Week 7, Crescent was dominant in a 67-6 win against Wellston.
And once again it was Bennett stealing the show. He rushed for more than 300 yards on just 10 carries. He added 10 tackles on defense and did it all in 24 minutes. Crescent regulars didn’t sniff time in the second half.
At 4-3 and 2-2 in district, Crescent is going to have a very interesting, exciting final couple of weeks.
Other contenders
Corey Wiley, McLoud: That’s how you perform in your first win of the season. Wiley threw two touchdowns ran for another four scores in the Redskins victory against Santa Fe South.
Alex Patterson, Enid: Needing to bounce back after the loss to Bixby, Patterson and the Plainsmen did just that. Patterson threw four touchdown passes in the win at Stillwater.
Chris Hunter, Watonga: I knew about Travis Hartfield, but where did Hunter come from? He scored five touchdowns as Watonga put up 76 points against Chisholm.
Michael Lowe, Jones: Longhorns have been sensational in two wins following Millwood. Lowe threw for five touchdowns and 291 yards in the 56-0 win against Luther.
Best of the Rest honor: Blake Riojas, Newcastle…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Again, will keep this short because you can read much more in Tuesday’s paper. But the Best of the Rest Player of the Week for last week is Newcastle’s Blake Riojas.
I could give it to the entire Racers team for making me look like an idiot because they did in the 35-7 victory against a good Blanchard team.
Newcastle was pumped to play at home, and it sure showed. Riojas scored four times and is averaging more than 220 rushing yards per game in the first three contests this season.
Other contenders
Michael Lowe, Jones: Came up huge in the 44-0 win against Mt. St. Mary’s. He was 16-of-22 for 311 yards and three touchdowns. And in a huge oversight, the Longhorns were left out of the 2A rankings. I apologize, Jones should be No. 9.
Jonathan Burton, Enid: In what was probably the best game of the week, Burton had four touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) in the 37-36 victory against Guthrie. He scored the game-winner from Alex Patterson with 31 seconds left.
Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek: After a disappointing Week 1, Bobcats are back to what they do best. Spangler threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-19 win against Little Axe.
Jeremy Smith, Kingfisher: In the big rivalry showdown with Hennessey, Smith scored four times in a fun, close 35-32 victory.
Midwest City vs. Enid Capsule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Midwest City (1-0) at Enid (1-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Enid
MWC (W – Del City 35-13)
Why the Bombers can win: Because this defense is as good as advertised. There are so many stars on this defense, and they’re already playing in mid-season form. Once the offense catches up, this team is going to be downright scary.
Quote:
Our coaches have really done a great job of getting us in position and keeping us fired up and focused.” – DB Ronnie Mathenia
Enid
Why the Plainsmen can win: Enid is coming off a huge win against Bishop Kelley. Not many gave the Plainsmen a chance against the Comets. Jonathan Burton has received most of the attention for Enid, but the defense showed in Week 1 to not forget about them.
Key matchup: Midwest City running game vs. Enid defense. The Bombers didn’t need James Flanders to have a big game to beat the Eagles, but they’re going to need a strong running game to be able to pick up this victory on the road.
The pick: Midwest City 26, Enid 17. Plainsmen will have some moment before MWC figures them out and then look for Greg Austin to come on strong and lead the Bombers to the win.
Future OU teammates Tyler Neal, T.J. Taylor will square off in Faith 7
The Faith 7 game is a little more than a week away, set for June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.
For local college fans, there are four players in the game who have signed with the three of the state’s Division I programs. That includes Putnam City West product Tyler Neal, and 6-foot-4 T.J. Taylor of Denison, Texas, who will be opponents next week and teammates the next four years at Oklahoma.
Also playing for Team Texas will be Oklahoma State signee Michael Jamal Cobbins out of Palo Duro High School in Amarillo. A skinny 6-foot-10, Cobbins can step outside and shoot a little, too. And Jordan Clarkson, a Tulsa-bound Texan from San Antonio, is a 6-foot-4 scoring machine. He is the all-time leading scorer at Wagner High School.
Overall, both rosters sound pretty impressive — and big. Texas has five guys 6-foot-8 or taller, and the Okies have five who are 6-foot-6 and up. As for the Oklahoma squad, it seems like a pretty complete team. If y ou were trying to put the best team together — not just the five best players, but fill each position to fit a team’s needs — this would be pretty close to what you’d come up with out of Oklahoma’s class of 2010.
You’ve got a couple of point guards in Star Spencer’s Kendre’ Talley and Enid’s Chris Fitzpatrick who can run an offense and score on their own, as well as a third point guard in Garber’s Bryce Lamer who is a glue guy and will do a lot of different little things to help a team. Xavier McClish is a pure shooter/scorer with good size at the 2-guard, and Tulsa Washington’s Tharone Chilton is a solid combo guard.
Class 6A Tennis results…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Much more later, but here ya go:
Class 6A Boys
At OKC Tennis Center
Monday
Team Scoring
1. Edmond North 30; 2. Edmond Memorial 24; 3. Jenks 22; 4. (tie) Putnam City North, Tulsa Union 20; 6. Enid 12; 7. Westmoore 5; 8. (tie) Norman North, Edmond Santa Fe 4; 10. (tie) Lawton Eisenhower, Mustang, Broken Arrow 2; 13. Stillwater 1.
No. 1 Singles
Championship
Chris Haworth, Putnam City North, def. Casey Distaso, Edmond North, 6-2, 6-4
Third Place
Logon Collins, Tulsa Union, def. Sylvester Vo, Westmoore, 6-2, 6-0
Fifth Place
Chase Gordon, Jenks, def. Bryce Merritt, Edmond Memorial, 6-3, 6-3
Seventh Place
Kolt Byerly, Mustang, def. Kevin Boyd, Norman North, 6-0, 7-6
No. 2 Singles
Championship
Nate Roper, Edmond North, def. Bowen Xu, Edmond Memorial, 6-4, 6-2
Third Place
Andre Tardio, Tulsa Union, def. Kole Melton, Putnam City North, 6-2, 6-3
Fifth Place
Gray Whitman, Jenks, def. Owen Fike, Enid, 7-6, 6-2
Seventh Place
Lucas Swisher, Edmond Santa Fe, def. Brandon Hadwiger, Stillwater, 6-3, 6-4
Girls tennis: Irish, Chargers, Huskies/Trojans reign supreme…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, one of my favorite weekends of the year is in the books. There didn’t look like there would be much drama in the Class 5A and 4A girls tennis team race.
There wasn’t.
Bishop McGuinness rolled in 5A while Heritage Hall earned three of the four championships Saturday at the new look OKC Tennis Center.
Now if you’re talking 6A, yea, that was some fun as Jenks and Edmond North tied for the championship. North earned two titles while Jenks earned one and was the runner-up in the other spots.
6A
That was fun. Admittedly, I wasn’t able to get to see as much of the 6A stuff as I would have liked to. However, did enjoy watching the Huskies and Trojans battling it out on side-by-side courts as North’s Ann Pepper defeated Gabrielle Siegler while Jenks’ Lisa Waldron returned the favor against Rachel Mitcham.
The race went about as expected and big ups to Enid as the Pacers earned third place, highlighted by a dominating weekend by No. 1 doubles Kathryn Dillingham and Mackenzi Zaloudek.
Waldron made tremendous strides this year and really became the heart of that Jenks squad. That second set vs. Mitcham was some intense stuff as neither held more than a two-game lead the entire way. Great battle.
That championship experience paid off for North’s No. 2 doubles of Reagan Reed and Natalie Price. The girls didn’t win regionals but did when it mattered – for the second time in a row.
Look out for Broken Arrow, that team is going to be good next year.
For your 6A notes, here ya go.
5A
No surprise that McGuinness dominated. But it might be the last year…might. I mean how do you replace Mia Lancaster, Emily Conrad and Whitney Ritchie?
At any rate, 12 straight titles is impressive. And when the lights shone brightest, the girls played their best. Ritchie and Trinian O’Neil didn’t lose a game in the final.
Lancaster, playing a really good and healthy Melanie Barnes of Duncan for the first time, dropped one game in each set while Conrad was almost beyond impressive. The No. 2 doubles team Ashleigh Chiaf and Abby Hodges rolled as well.
Duncan once again was the hard-luck loser as the Demons prob would have won the championship in the two other classes.
And I’ma give credit to the Carl Albert doubles team of Sallie McLaurin and Laura Miller for beating the Edison duo of Haley Martin and Abby Tolson. I didn’t think they would, but the placing worked out just like the seeding.
For 5A notes, here ya go.
4A
The Chargers did what they thought they would do, but it was a great story out of Perry as the Maroons tied for second with Cascia Hall. That’s a program that is really on the rise.
As for Heritage, it begins with Julie Labarthe. She didn’t lose a game in all four of her matches and set the school record with 36 love (6-0) sets in a season.
Junior Carissa Villaflor has really started to turn my head. She used to be a nice supporting player, but she’s turning into a monster as well, cruising to the title.
The No. 1 doubles squad of Sarah Bowen and Kelsey Grace played a tough, tough match with Cascia’s Bernie Clement and Michele Mesmer. Real good stuff from both teams with Heritage pulling it out. Cascia returned the favor at No. 2 doubles where Cascia’s Samantha Fuller and Abby Jordan took out Heritage’s Sarah Gretsch and Sarah Moll.
For 4A notes, here ya go.
***
The renovated OKC Tennis Center is on its way. There are still some big kinks to work out (namely when it comes to results), but it was a real pleasant atmosphere this weekend.
The clubhouse area is great and like how much more visible it is to find a court now. Everything was completed Thursday and came out OK.
Look for all the tennis videos you can handle on NewsOK this week. Talked with McGuinness’ Emily Conrad and Mia Lancaster, Heritage’s Julie Labarthe and Edmond North’s Ann Pepper.
Boys regionals Monday with state Friday and Saturday.
Tennis: Girls state preview…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Oh ye tennis gods, all I ask is a weekend of no rain and getting everything in. Friday begins the state tennis tournament at the OKC Tennis Center (my home away from home).
Here’s some thoughts and insights on what I believe will happen. And look for a story on Edmond North’s Ann Pepper in Friday’s paper.
6A
Last year’s champs: Edmond North
The Huskies have a great shot at repeating this year. I’m expecting an all Edmond North-Jenks singles final with Rachel Mitcham against Lisa Waldron of Jenks at No. 1 and Pepper vs. Gabrielle Siegler of Jenks at No. 2.
Broken Arrow’s Jodi Blackim will have something to say about that and Enid might go and mess up everything, too.
Edmond Memorial was able to earn both doubles regional titles against rival North, which I found very interesting. The Bulldogs might end up keeping the Huskies off the top spot.
Prediction: Jenks wins a nail-biter, followed by Edmond North, Enid and Edmond Memorial.
5A
Last year’s champs: Bishop McGuinness
There is no drama in this as the Irish should cruise to their 12th straight state championship. However, there will be drama at No. 1 doubles with Whitney Ritchie and Trinian O’Neil of McGuinness who could possibly take on Tulsa Edison in the championship.
Edison has Haley Martin, one of the best players in the state (and nation, for that matter). Martin has had Ritchie’s number on the Missouri Valley circuit, so it would make for one heckuva championship. Martin is teamed with Abby Tolson.
Also will be interesting to see how Duncan’s Melanie Barnes does if she gets a crack at Mia Lancaster of McGuinness. The depth and dominance of the Irish can’t be questioned, though.
Ritchie and No. 2 singles Emily Conrad are going for their fourth state titles while Ashleigh Chiaf and Lancaster are gunning for their third championship. Insane.
4A
Last year’s champs: Heritage Hall
Definitely expect the Chargers to take at least three of the four titles here. Nobody can touch Julie Labarthe and Carissa Villaflor should be able to handle things at No. 2 singles (though I got a hunch Mt. St. Mary’s Victoria Vaughn and Perry’s Lauryn Sullins will play a role).
At No. 1 doubles, Sarah Bowen of Heritage is so strong that it doesn’t matter too much who her partner is though Kelsey Grace is dang good in her own right.
Should be a fun weekend, and you’ll know I’ll be back each night with thoughts.
Faith 7 rosters announced
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
The rosters for the 45th Annual Faith 7 basketball game were recently announced. The game, featuring a team of Oklahoma all-stars against an all-star team from Texas, will be played June 5 at Shawnee’s Oklahoma Baptist University.
Here’s the Oklahoma roster:
Tharone Chilton, Tulsa Wahsington
Cameron Downing, Tulsa Memorial
Oren Faulk, Muskogee
Amric Fields, Putnam West
Chris Fitzpatrick, Enid
Bryce Lamer, Garber
Dylan Lemley, Roff
Xavier McClish, Midwest City
Tyler Neal, Putnam West
Kendre Talley, Star Spencer
Oil Bowl rosters announced
The Oklahoma rosters for the 73rd Oil Bowl were released this week.
The game, featuring all-star teams from Oklahoma and Texas, will be played June 12 in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Two players on the Oklahoma team will be heading to Texas to play for Big 12 teams–Clinton’s Delans Griffin (Texas Tech) and Midwest City’s Dominque Jones (Baylor).
Other notable names on the team include Oklahoman All-State running back Darwin Rideau of Star Spencer, Southmoore’s Mason Myers and Del City’s wide receiver tandem of Chris McAlester and Donavan Dan.
Kingfisher’s Jeff Myers will coach the team.
Last year’s game was canceled due to lightning in the area.
Oklahoma roster
QB: Jack Cameron, Tulsa Kelley; Matt Oberste, Sallisaw
RB: Delans Griffin, Clinton; Darwin Rideau, Star Spencer
WR: Donavan Dan, Del City; Joe Dowdell, Tulsa Kelley; Chris McAlester, Del City; Ronnie Price, Broken Arrow; Trey Wiley, Sallisaw; Jordan Woods, Kingfisher
OL: D.J. Brown, Lawton; Kevin Duke, Shawnee; Cohle Fowler, Verdigris; Alec Henry, Tulsa Union; Mason Myers, Southmoore; Tanner Nerby, Enid; Jarrett Richert, Clinton, John Saint, Tulsa Kelley; James Stephens, Broken Arrow
DL: Justin Butterfield, Bartlesville; Devon Harris, Lawton MacArthur; Dominique Jones, Midwest City; Sonny Puletasi, Lawton; James Renfrow, Broken Arrow; Lamares Shields, Del City; Kyle Williams, Broken Bow
LB: Ethan Biddy, Tuttle; Rhett Blundell, Kingfisher; Mike Lunsford, Catoosa; Emmanuel Maxwell, Midwest City; Jericho Rogers, Davis
DB: Dustin Bohanan, Guthrie; Nelson Medeiros, Edmond Memorial; James Roberson, Tulsa Union; Luke Snider, Tulsa Union; Markell Walker, Carl Albert
K/P: Cole Way, Tulsa Union
Coaches: Jeff Myers, Kingfisher; Mike Mobra, Catoosa; Brad Farrow, Broken Arrow
