Football: Prague coach Kyle Fridrich resigns; assistant Dan Maly promoted

PRAGUE — Coach Kyle Fridrich has resigned as head football coach at Prague after just one season, and assistant head coach Dan Maly has been promoted, superintendent Rick Martin said.

Prague was 7-4 in its only season under the 27-year old Fridrich, who was defensive coordinator at Tulsa Union under his cousin, Kirk, before taking the Prague job.

Fridrich was a standout player for the Red Devils, graduating in 2003. His departure is for personal reasons, Martin said.

Maly has been an assistant at Prague for three seasons. Before that, he was a head coach at Chisholm and Keota.

“He’s done a great job for us, and we felt like he provided the most consistency,” Martin said. “He’s very capable.”


Classes 4A-3A-2A girls’ basketball power poll: Anadarko, Fort Gibson on top

Caitlyn Spurgeon, left, puts up a shot over Anadarko's Lakota Beatty in the first round of last year's Class 4A state tournament. Vinita has beaten Anadarko out of the state tourney in four straight seasons. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

Caitlyn Spurgeon, left, puts up a shot over Anadarko's Lakota Beatty in the first round of last year's Class 4A state tournament. Vinita has beaten Anadarko out of the state tourney in four straight seasons. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

Yesterday, I posted my large-school girls’ basketball power poll. Today, I present my poll for Classes 4A, 3A and 2A.

This one was obviously much harder to narrow down to 10 teams because of the added class.

I try to take the coaches’ rankings, strength of schedule and my own judgment to determine my poll. Much of this poll, you’ll find, is quite different from the coaches’ rankings. I try my best to explain why I ranked the teams the way I did.

As always, please leave comments or shoot me an e-mail with your thoughts.

1. Anadarko (4A, 21-1)
The Warriors’ only loss came to 5A No. 1 Shawnee. Lakota Beatty will be one of the top recruits in the state as a senior next season, and she’s been fantastic as a junior. Anadarko has been beaten out of the state tournament in the first round by Vinita (ranked fourth in this poll) in four straight seasons.
Record vs. this poll:
2-0

2. Fort Gibson (4A, 22-1)
The defending 4A state champions will enter the playoffs as a strong contender to return to state and bring home the gold ball. The Tigers’ only loss was to 5A No. 2 Tulsa East Central.
Record vs. this poll:
1-0

3. Northeast Academy (2A, 19-2)
Northeast is ranked No. 5 in the 2A coaches’ poll, and I can’t understand that for the life of me. A seven-point loss to 6A No. 2 Midwest City and a close loss to Holland Hall in the Stroud Tournament are the team’s only two setbacks over the course of a brutal schedule. Northeast’s resume includes a win over 5A No. 4 Carl Albert.
Record vs. this poll:
1-0

4. Vinita (4A, 20-3)
Hornets have won 12 straight since losing to Tulsa Washington and Jenks in a tournament over the holiday break. Senior Caitlyn Spurgeon, an Arkansas Tech signee, is one of the state’s top scorers.
Record vs. this poll: 0-0

5. Snyder (2A, 18-2)
The defending 2A champs’ two losses are both to No. 1 teams — 4A No. 1 Anadarko and A No. 1 Chattanooga. However, Snyder has beaten Chattanooga twice this year.
Record vs. this poll:
0-1

6. Kansas (3A, 19-2)
Only losses are to Fort Gibson and Class 6A Jenks, and both came during the Tournament of Champions in late December. The Comets have played a tough schedule.
Record vs. this poll
: 0-1

7. Prague (3A, 21-1)
Red Devils’ only loss came to Jenks in the Tournament of Champions. Schedule includes impressive wins over Skiatook, Chandler and Perkins-Tryon.
Record vs. this poll:
0-0

8. Sulphur (3A, 21-1)
Only loss came to Anadarko, and wins over Mount St. Mary and Caddo are impressive. The Bulldogs haven’t played too tough a schedule on the whole, though.
Record vs. this poll: 0-1

9. Millwood (3A, 17-5)
Arnelia Spears’ team has played a tough schedule that includes losses to Carl Albert, Northeast, Bishop McGuinness and Dallas Skyline. Wins over Piedmont and Mustang give the Falcons credibility, plus, Millwood suffered through injuries early in the season.
Record vs. this poll: 0-1

10. Oktaha (2A, 25-0)
Oktaha and Amber-Pocasset are both unbeaten and ranked second and third, respectively, in Class 2A by the coaches behind Snyder. I give the slight edge to Oktaha right now, but neither school has played a tough schedule.
Record vs. this poll: 0-0

Jason Kersey
jkersey@opubco.com
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3A-4 All-District

Here’s the District 3A-4 All-District selections. Know of another district’s selections? E-mail them to raber@opubco.com.

Awards
Coach of the Year: Lloyd Wertman, Perkins
Co-Player of the Year: Lexus Jackson, Bethel
Co-Player of the Year: Shane Taff, Perkins
Offensive Player of the Year: Travis Battles, Perkins
Defensive Player of the Year: Kris Kelly, Prague
Co-Quarterback of the Year: Gage Auld, Prague
Co-Quarterback of the Year: Austin Hodge, Little Axe
Offensive Back of the Year: Justin Vermillion, Bethel
Co-Receiver of the Year: Sam Kinzie, Perkins
Co-Receiver of the Year: Charlie Lynn, Little Axe
Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year: Dale Burch, Star Spencer
Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year: Austin Maly, Prague
Co-Defensive Back of the Year: Justus Edwards, Perkins
Co-Defensive Back of the Year: Jay Woodberry, Bristow
Co-Inside Linebacker of the Year: Walter Lynn, Little Axe
Co-Inside Linebacker of the Year: James Russell, Prague
Co-Outside Linebacker of the Year: Bubba Grotheer, Perkins
Co-Outside Linebacker of the Year: Baruck Strickland, Prague
Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year: Cody Krug, Perkins
Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year: Gant Palmer, Prague
Co-Defensive End of the Year: Chance Bunch, Perkins
Co-Defensive End of the Year: George Chacon, Bristow
Specialty Player of the Year: Quincy Riedau, Star Spencer


OBCA All-Region Teams

Here are the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association’s boys All-Region Teams:

Region One
Chris Fitzpatrick, Enid
Trevon Hartfield, Watonga
Seth Heckart, Woodward
Jabe Karr, Okarche
Bryce Lamer, Garber
Dakota Martin, Chisholm
Chris Mustain, El Reno
J.D. Pugh, Texhoma
Rhett Radcliff, Forgan
Hayden Vencl, Garber
Player of the Year: Tyler Miller, Garber
Coach of the Year: Dusty Torrey, Garber

Region Two
Chris Boyd, Okemah
Patrick Buntt, Frontier
Bryan Champion, Perkins
Tyler Dean, Prague
Jordan Gipe, Yale
John Lazenby, Glencoe
Alex Moore, Cleveland
Chase Mongold, Ponca City
Kalian Watkins, Preston
Dillon Worley, Mason
Player of the Year: Ralston Moore, Pawnee
Coach of the Year: John Lazenby, Glencoe

Region Three
Parker Ballard, Pryor
Robert Boyles, Claremore
Jake Bullard, Vinita
Dakota Caudill, Claremore
Cale Elam, Oktaha
Oren Faulk, Muskogee
Courtney Gaston, Fort Gibson
Jon Griggs, Tahlequah
Devon Rinehart, Gore
Pud Ross, Locust Grove
Billy Waltrip, Fort Gibson
Player of the Year: Courtney Gaston, Fort Gibson
Coach of the Year: Gary Hendrix, Fort Gibson

Region Four
Derrick Bull, Altus
Nick Herrington, Erick-Sweetwater
Tevin Johnson, Binger-Oney
Dee Robinson, Lawton MacArthur
Kas Sanders, Fletcher
Gavan Steinmetz, Fort Cobb-Broxton
Josh Sweat, Big Pasture
Tanner Thompson, Cache
Dane Thrash, Cheyenne
Clay Walker, Hammon
Player of the Year: Levi Richardson, Mangum
Coach of the Year: Jeff Carlisle, Mangum

Region Five
Jared Beal, Norman North
Tanner Bell, Purcell
Blaine Brooks, Blanchard
Corbin Byford, Bray-Doyle
Trey Cohee, Ardmore
Conner Davey, Washington
Kyle Forehand, Lexington
Zach Hibbard, Lindsay
Gary Inglett, Plainview
Shea Longman, Newcastle
Dalen Qualls, Stratford
Player of the Year: Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek
Coach of the Year: Jason Sanders, Bridge Creek

Region Six
Jordan Burrell, Valliant
Dwight Camp, Red Oak
Jimmy Doolin, Dale
Jordan EagleRoad, Talihina
Kchris Griffin, Haworth
Kolby Johnson, Caddo
Dylan Lemley, Roff
Taggart Lockhart, Talihina
Dayne Parker, Roff
D.J. Shanklin, Hugo
Player of the Year: Cale Jackson, Bethel
Co-Coaches of the Year: Kale Simon, Roff; Troy Miller, Holdenville

Region Seven
Adrien Anderson, Tulsa Memorial
Desmond Butler, Tulsa Edison
Jack Cameron, Tulsa Kelley
Quan Carter, Tulsa Union
Tharone Chilton, Tulsa Washington
Steven Hamilton, Tulsa Edison
Braeton Hightower, Owasso
Damian Hooks, Tulsa East Central
Jake Toupal, Broken Arrow
Drew Wilson, Tulsa East Central
Player of the Year: Cameron Downing, Tulsa Memorial
Co-Coaches of the Year: Eric Savage, Tulsa Memorial; Beau Wallace, Tulsa East Central

Region Eight
Stephen Clark, Douglass
Trez Colbert, Midwest City
Larry Cunningham, Carl Albert
Obi Emegano, Edmond Memorial
Amric Fields, Putnam West
Xavier McClish, Midwest City
Dominique Raney, Putnam City
Josh Richardson, Edmond Santa Fe
Kendre Talley, Star Spencer
Jameel Whitney, McGuinness
Player of the Year: Tyler Neal, Putnam West
Coach of the Year: Terry Long, Douglass


Signing List 2010

It’s still a work in progress. Know a signing we missed? E-mail me at raber@opubco.com and we’ll get it added. We’ll run the signing list several times over the next few weeks:

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Recruit video: Denton Simek, Prague

One in a series of videos looking at some of the state’s top recruits:


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 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

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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 )

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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