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
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 )
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.
District previews: Classes 6A-C
If you missed your school’s district football preview, here’s all the links for every district.
District previews: Classes 6A-C
Class 6A
District 6A-1: Lawton’s Sunny Puletasi learns quickly
District 6A-2: D’Juan Brooks stepping up for Edmond Memorial
District 6A-3: Jenks still strong without Jarrett Lake
District 6A-4: Choctaw trying to build tradition
Class 5A
District 5A-1: Coach Tom Cobble says it’s a good time to be in El Reno
District 5A-2: Carl Albert QB J.T. Realmuto could see time on defense
District 5A-3: Tulsa Washington unanimous No. 1
District 5A-4: McAlester poised to rebound; East Central wants more
Class 4A
District 4A-1: McGuinness’ offensive line a concern
District 4A-2: Tecumseh is strong up front
District 4A-3: Home playoff game is Collinsville’s goal
District 4A-4: Broken Bow coach high on Eric Dockins
Class 3A
District 3A-1: Tuttle battling lack of experience
District 3A-2: Madill trio has coach Kerry Roberts looking for big things
District 3A-3: Jody Iams’ Eagles rely on Wing-T
District 3A-4: Metro Christian gains valuable asset in QB Beau Marsaln
Class 2A
District 2A-1: Marc Robinson still growing for Heritage Hall
District 2A-2: Little Axe ready for breakthrough?
District 2A-3: Washington’s Chance Pistole moving to fullback; Bridge Creek rebuilding its line
District 2A-4: Atoka QB commands attention
District 2A-5: Chandler counting on Brandon Cummings
District 2A-6: Toughness key for Valliant
District 2A-7: Verdigris has 15 experienced seniors
District 2A-8: Colcord hoping to build on strong finish
Class A
District A-1: Hennessey avoids logjam at quarterback
District A-2: OCS’ Jack Warren hasn’t forgotten loss
District A-2 notes: Trio vying for QB job at CHA
District A-3: District loaded with talented teams
District A-4: Bray-Doyle deals with adversity
District A-5: Tough three weeks for Stroud
District A-6: Talihina a cut above the rest
District A-7: Morrison ready to reload
District A-7 notes: Barnsdall seniors looking for wins
District A-8: Commerce looks to preserve streak
Class B
District B-1: Could district dominance repeat?
District B-2: Paoli defense is a strength
District B-3: Weightlifting competition inspires OCA
District B-4: Copan’s secret is out
Class C
Shattuck closing in on record win streak
District C-1: Finding running back key for Forgan
District C-2: Aaron Vondrak to lead Thackerville
District C-3: Seiling to turn QB Zach McDonald loose
District C-4: Maud’s Jarrid Resler works way back
Football coaches out in full force…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Remember how I wrote Monday was kinda slow? Well, not so much Tuesday. Knew it was a good sign when the first couple of coaches I saw Tuesday were of the football variety.
It didn’t slow down all day, and there were a lot of interesting news and notes from Day 2 of the coaches clinic in Tulsa.
A lot of the discussion is surrounding the re-districting (which will happen Wednesday at 3 p.m., for those wondering).
Purcell coach Mike Wilson said the fact there are 57 teams in the “super” 3A is going to really put a strain on scheduling.
“You’re looking at seven-team districts and that is going to cause a problem,” he said. “I think it’s a poor way to split it up, but we’ll find out.”
Another interesting fact comes from “my boy” Grant Gower of Deer Creek. Apparently, the Antlers can’t stop growing.
Deer Creek’s ADM has it right in the thick in 5A at just under 900 students. Gower told me Deer Creek will have 966 students this year.
Not only that, but plans for more elementary and middle schools are underway. It wouldn’t shock him if a few years from now, Deer Creek is up in 6A.
It’s a good point, but the problem right now with Deer Creek is the football stadium is of a 3A quality. And the press box, well, let’s not even go there.
“That thing would survive the second coming,” Gower said. “Nothing can tear that down.”
Either way, sounds like a real exciting time to be a part of the Deer Creek family.
Moving to Edmond North, and it’s tough to get that smile off of head coach Jeremy Dombek’s face right now.
After a disappointing 4-6 season (and losing its final two games to miss out on the playoffs), Dombek thinks this is his best squad since coming to the Huskies.
And why not? With Joe Aska and Qua’Don Henderson touching the ball and on the field at the same time, don’t be surprised to see Edmond North in the conversation in 6A.
Aska and Henderson didn’t see much time together on the field last year, but that won’t be the case this year.
And it doesn’t stop defensively as cornerback Xavier Smith has committed to Missouri. Smith enters the season as one of the best. He’s going to be a three-year starter and Dombek said there’s not much more Smith can do at this point in terms of learning the position.
Going east, had a chance to check up with McLoud and Eric Cardin. The Redskins are going to be hurting. Can’t believe the names Wayland Moore, Cody Phipps and Cody Ferrell won’t be there anymore.
Dillon Endecott, a DE-turned-QB, is going to lead the way.
McLoud is also the home of the ever-growing powerlifting championships and will be again this spring.
Cardin said 124 schools participated last year, and the numbers keep going up because some of the larger schools are now getting into it. The small schools have always been on board.
Wednesday will, of course, be busy with the districts but also hoping to see some more basketball coaches. Not too many around thus far.
***
And if you know me, you know I was at tennis Tuesday night. The Boneman is in awe of how beautiful the Case Tennis Center at the University of Tulsa is.
Wow.
Players of the year: Andrea Lewis, Bishop Kelley, and Duncan Fugitt, Edmond Memorial. Coach of the year: Skip Griese, Ada.
Had to check up on my summer stars. Putnam North’s Chris Haworth and Heritage Hall’s Julie Labarthe, Sarah Bowen and Carissa Villaflor are all doing well, according to their coaches.
I could watch Bishop McGuinness’ Katelyn Connelly and Lewis play all day. What a good match for the supposed “exhibition.”
Lewis won, 8-6, but I had to keep reminding myself to walk around and talk to people instead of just being camped out there.
