The Chargers recently attended a team camp at Kansas State, and won the 7-on-7 tournament on the final day of the camp. And over the weekend, Heritage Hall reached the finals of the Shootout of the South 7-on-7 tournament in Little Rock, Ark.

Heritage Hall was one of the smallest schools to reach the final eight, which also included Allen, Texas, and large Arkansas schools like Fayetteville and Little Rock Central, among others.

Lake Hamilton (Pearcy, Ark.) defeated the Chargers 37-28 in the finals on Saturday.

But the performance was important for a young Heritage Hall squad that will rely on several sophomores and juniors at the skill positions. Junior Matthew McLaughlin was named the event’s Outstanding Receiver, while others like junior quarterback Connor McGinnis and senior T.J. Schallner also stood out.

“We just came in and played really well,” coach Andy Bogert said. “Connor threw the ball really well, just had a great day.”

Heritage Hall beat Topeka in the finals of the Kansas State tournament.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Monday, the items will be available to view at Sooner Legends, 1200 24th Ave. SW in Norman.

Items include a football autographed by four Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winners, Stan Musial autographed baseball, a Warren Spahn autographed baseball, an autographed Thunder baseball, an autograped Oakland A’s bat donated by Team Georgia, a Todd Helton autographed baseball and several other items.

After Monday, photos of the items will be available for viewing at Norman, Norman North and Southmoore, where the tournament is being played.

Anadarko advanced the Class 4A semifinals last season after winning the state championship in 2012. Cushing also made the semifinals last season.

Zinn said the choice to remain with the Warriors came down to where his heart was.

“It was one of those deals where everything was great at Cushing but there was something that was tearing at us the whole time,” he said. “You never know if you’re doing the right thing or not and everybody says, ‘Well, it’s a business.’ Well, it’s not a business; you’re in the profession of caring for kids and others and your heart has a lot to do with it and we just felt that we could probably best serve here.”

Zinn staying in Anadarko now leaves Cushing scrambling to find a coach.

“I just hate it because they’re such good people and I got to know some of the kids,” Zinn said. “They’re as good as it gets, as far as that goes. I feel bad because I left them in a bind right now … but hopefully they’ll be able to go find somebody to take it.”

– Jacob Unruh, junruh@opubco.com

After struggling in April, Noel had a fantastic May, hitting .326 with 17 stolen bases, a .436 on-base percentage and 16 walks. He’s also one of the top defensive outfielders in the minors.

Before the season, Noel was named by Baseball America as the best defensive outfielder in the Padres system.

Noel was picked by the Padres in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. He was the Padres’ 2011 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year after splitting time between Class A Fort Wayne and Class A-Advanced Lake Elsinore.

The event, which involves two rounds of stroke play to set the top 16 players for a match play bracket, lasted four days, with Wood defeating Cummins, the Class 4A state champion, 3 and 2. Earlier in the day, Wood defeated Norman North’s Thomas Johnson in the semifinals 3 and 2, while Cummins beat Edmond Memorial’s Jacob Bishop 4 and 2.

In the girls bracket, it was a showdown of future teammates, with Choctaw’s Anna Mikish edging Oktaha’s Kailey Campbell 2 and 1. Both players have signed to play for NAIA national champion Oklahoma City University.

Piedmont’s Dustin Hasley won the 14-15 boys age bracket, defeating Lane Wallace of Yukon in 20 holes.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

I’ve been firing out a lot of track and field information for readers over the last couple of days, with the Big and Little All-City track teams and athletes of the year, and here’s one more nugget worth checking out. The video above is of the men’s 100-meter final from the Golden Gala meet in Rome on Thursday.

It features some of the world’s top sprinters, led by Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, and for the local fans, Mookie Salaam.

Salaam gradauated from Edmond North, then ran at Oklahoma until 2011, when he left school to sign a pro contract with Adidas and focus on the Olympics. He is OU’s record holder in the 100 (9.97 seconds) and 200 (20.05 seconds). Salaam won the NCAA championship in the 200 in 2011, but injured his hamstring running the 100 at the 2012 Olympic trials. That forced him to withdraw from the 200 as well.

Salaam has run several races this year, and won two of them. He ran strong on Thursday, finishing sixth in a time of 10.08 seconds. But Bolt and Gatlin put on a show, with Gatlin coming out on top by one one-hundredth of a second.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Montgomery committed Monday night, as first reported by Rivals.com. Douglass coach Willis Alexander confirmed the news of the athletic senior who anchored the Trojans’ offensive line last season.

Montgomery also had an offer from North Texas, and had been getting attention from many other programs. He participated in Oklahoma’s camp over the weekend.

He is the second player from Oklahoma City to commit to Texas Tech and new coach Kliff Kingsbury, joining Millwood receiver Cameron Batson.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Wariboko-Alali tweeted, “Boomer!” after he received the offer and later confirmed the offer via text message. The offer comes after Wariboko-Alali had a strong performance in OU’s camp over the weekend.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound junior has also been offered by Oregon State and joins Lawton offensive lineman Jalin Barnett as the only 2015 in-state players to receive offers from OU.

– By Jacob Unruh, junruh@opubco.com

That’s the day Cornwell will appear in front of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s Board of Directors in an effort to gain eligibility next season.

Cornwell is approaching another big day. The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder plans on making his college decision in the next few weeks.

“It has to work out,” Cornwell said. “I’m not going to rush anything. There’s obviously a lot of teams still in the mix.”

Oklahoma State is one of those teams. The Cowboys missed out on Kyle Allen, the top-ranked quarterback in the 2014 class by both Rivals and Scout, on Monday when Allen announced that he had committed to Texas A&M. Allen chose the Aggies over OSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State and UCLA.

Cornwell will visit Stillwater on June 10, not long before he’s expected to decide. He’s developed a strong relationship with new Cowboys offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

“I love talking with him,” Cornwell said. “He’s a young guy I can relate to. I think he’s really going to hit it off at OSU, coming from a smaller school. He’s got all the weapons he needs. Coach (Mike) Gundy’s really enabled him. I don’t want to speak too much for him but I think he’s very happy and it’s going to be a good situation there.”

Yurcich has been an aggressive recruiter ho has sold Cornwell on what he’s doing with the offense.

“I like his confidence and the fact that he knows OSU’s one of the top notch program. For the 2014 class, he knows they’ve got a bunch of wide receivers and backs, he’s saying we just need a trigger-man to come in here and take over. He’s very confident. I love it,” Cornwell said. “They’ve built tradition over the last few years, very close to a national championship, and just to see them build on that would be very interesting.”

The most important part of the trip will be sitting down with OSU coach Mike Gundy, Cornwell said. Gundy’s nephew is one of Cornwell’s classmates at Norman North.

Cornwell went to Alabama’s camp over the weekend. He also could visit Virginia Tech before he decides. In addition to offers from those three schools, Cornwell also has offers from Notre Dame, Miami, Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn, Missouri and Oregon State among others. Cornwell’s performance at the Elite 11 regional in Dallas in early April earned him an invitation to the Elite 11 finals in Beaverton, Ore. The event begins June 28 and runs through July 3.

Cornwell threw for 2,742 yards and 27 touchdowns last season at Jones before moving to Norman North in January. Cornwell is appealing for an extra semester of eligibility. He missed a semester of school in 2011 as his mother battled an illness. Cornwell did take some home school courses during that time but needs one more semester of school to graduate.

He’s expected to enroll at his college of choice in January.

Millwood’s Alfonzo McMillian received his first NCAA Division I scholarship offer on Friday, from North Texas. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Last year, he led the state in interceptions, and now his work is beginning to produce scholarship offers.

Millwood cornerback/receiver Alfonzo McMillian received his first Division I offer from North Texas on Friday,according to the Millwood coaching staff. North Texas joins Central Oklahoma in pursuit of the 6-foot, 185-pound senior.

McMillian had 10 interceptions and returned two for touchdowns as a junior in a dangerous Millwood secondary. At the other corner was Cameron Batson, who picked off nine passes, and has verbally committed to Texas Tech as a receiver heading into his senior year. McMillian also had 23 receptions for 608 yards and 10 touchdowns, with an average of 26.3 yards per catch.

Of the programs that have contacted Millwood coaches about McMillian, some have been interested in him at cornerback, while others, like North Texas, see him as a receiver prospect.

With a good mix of size, strength and speed, this is likely just the beginning for McMillian in the recruiting game.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Here are the rosters for the games:

Girls
East
Choctaw: Kylee Hicks, Sydney Wyatt; Del City: Dionna Collins, Shaletha Clark, Malerie Denson, Tashianna Wisby; McGuinness: Allison Frey; Midwest City: Raven Gaddis, Quemari Boyd; Noble: Lauren Brown; Norman: Bethany Cox, Albany Anderson; Northwest Classen: Larisha Chandler; Shawnee: Micaela Yu; Stillwater: Austyn Iven; Southeast: Patricia Borjorquez
Coach: Nichole Copeland, Norman
Three-point contest participants: Jentri Thompson, El Reno; Abby Boyd, Yukon

West
Deer Creek: Ashley Gibson, Alexa Adair; Edmond Memorial: Kaleigh Troxell; Edmond North: Jhordyn Patton; Edmond Santa Fe: Cameerah Graves; El Reno: Jentri Thompson; Enid: Courtney Chelf; Mustang: Mallory Brothers; ;Piedmont: Sarah Parker, Kristin Hager; Putnam City: Jamee Moore; PC North: Micheiah Tyler; Southmoore: Kayla Tucker; Westmoore: Victoria Gonzalez; Yukon: Abby Boyd, Taylor Killman
Coach: Totsy Manning, Deer Creek
Three-point contest participants: Dionna Collins, Del City; Austyn Iven, Stillwater

Boys
East
Carl Albert: Javeion Gray, Malik Barnett; Choctaw: Carson Clay; Del City: Deaunte Long; Guthrie: Jerrick Warren; McGuinness: Luis Lopez; Midwest City: Cornell Neal, Daryck Jones; Moore: Dorian Gigger; Noble: Devin Wheeler; Norman: Daniel Harper; Shawnee: Theo Berry; Stillwater: Rico Thompson; US Grant: Jose Gutierrez; Southeast: Rashawn Thomas, Romello Roberson
Coach: Dewayne Bradley, Midwest City HS
Three-point contest participants: Daryck Jones, Midwest City; Cornell Neal, Midwest City
Dunk contest participants: Malik Barnett, Carl Albert; Dorian Gigger, Moore; Rashawn Thomas, Southeast

West
Capitol Hill: Nico Meadows, Aron Brown; Deer Creek: Joel Blumenthal; Edmond Memorial: Aaron Young; Edmond North: Carlbe Ervin, David Montgomery; Edmond Santa Fe: Kade Jacobs, Dashon Bell; Mustang: Garrett Goble; Putnam City: Ronnie Boyce, David Bush; PC North: John Robert Simon; PC West: Latron Jolly; Western Heights: Tim Tullis; Westmoore: Trey Ayala, Dillon Thompson
Coach: Don Tuley, Capitol Hill
Three-point contest participants: Aaron Young, Edmond Memorial; Kade Jacobs, Edmond Santa Fe
Dunk contest participants: Carlbe Ervin, Edmond North; Latron Jolly, PC West; Nico Meadows, Capitol Hill

McGuinness quarterback Jacob Lewis was offered by Air Force Wednesday. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

Bishop McGuinness quarterback Jacob Lewis followed up his impressive junior season with strong showings at offseason camps, and it’s starting to pay off with college scholarship offers.

Air Force is the biggest name to join the list, extending an offer on Wednesday. South Dakota, Harvard and Yale were the previous schools to offer a spot to Lewis.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound dual-threat quarterback rushed for 1,483 yards and threw for 2,437 yards with 52 combined touchdowns. He averaged 6.9 yards per rush and completed 55.7 percent of his passes.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

O’Brien hit .402 with 10 home runs, 36 RBIs and 38 runs scored in helping the Rams to an undefeated season and the Class 6A state title. He struck out only nine times in 107 plate appearances.

O’Brien is the fourth winner of the award from Owasso,

O’Brien is the fourth Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year to be chosen from Owasso High School, joining Dallas Trahern (2004), Pete Kozma (2007) and Dylan Bundy (2010-11). Bundy also won the award in 2009 at Sperry.

O’Brien recently switched his commitment to Oklahoma after initially signing with Fort Scott Community College.

The award recognizes not only athletic excellence but academic achievement and character on and off the field.

“Austin O’Brien is the best player on the best team in Oklahoma,” Bixby coach Mickey Nichol said in a release. “I think his statistics and team record speak for themselves. He is a winner and very deserving of any honors that come his way.”

Edmond Santa Fe’s Ty Hensley won the award last season.

Edmond North has been working to replace Jeremy Dombek, who left two weeks ago to take the head job at Mustang.

Dombek took Edmond North to the playoffs in five of his six seasons at the helm, winning one playoff game in each of the last three years.

Edmond North went through the last two weeks of spring practice with a limited staff, after some assistant coaches followed Dombek to Mustang.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Douglass’ Stephen Clark, who has signed with Oklahoma State, will play in the Little All-City boys basketball game Tuesday night at Redlands Community College in El Reno. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

If you’re looking for another chance to see Douglass star Stephen Clark in a high school basketball game, Tuesday night is your chance.

Clark will take part in the Little All-City basketball game at Redlands Community College in El Reno. The night begins with the girls game at 6:30 p.m., and the boys game will follow.

Clark, the Little All-City Boys Player of the Year, will team with fellow Trojan DeAngelo Smith on the East roster to take on the West, which includes 6-foot-11 John Moon of Crescent and Coyle teammates Tony Aska and Eric Harris.

The girls game will include Oklahoma signee T’ona Edwards of Northeast, the Little All-City Girls Player of the Year, on the East squad with teammate Danielle Gaddis and Dale duo Breck Clark and Lexes Satterwhite.

The West will be led by Millwood’s Teanna Reid, along with Bethany teammates Meagan Branscum and Grace Hadley, among others.

There will be free throw and 3-point competitions at halftime of each game, with participants determined by contests at each team’s practices.

Here are the rosters for the games:

West boys: Tony Aska, Coyle; Chris Crook, Millwood; Sam Grellner, Okarche; Eric Harris, Coyle; John Moon, Crescent; Quade Nelson, Blanchard; Grant Newton, Kingfisher; John Schaefer, Okarche; Tanner Stiles, Bethany; Cooper Treadway, Washington.

Co-Coaches: Varryl Franklin, Millwood; Josh Sumrall, Coyle

Free throw participants: Grant Newton, Kingfisher; Tanner Stiles, Bethany

Three-point participants: Chris Crook, Millwood; Grant Newton, Kingfisher

East boys: Evan Anderson, Dale; Aaron Baker, Community Christian; Alan Brewer, Tecumseh; Cody Campbell, Chandler; Stephen Clark, Douglass; Chad Forehand, Lexington; Austin Jennings, Harrah; Garrett Kilborn, Oklahoma Christian; DeAngelo Smith, Douglass; DeShawn Watson, Northeast.

Co-Coaches: Anthony Andrews, Douglass; Bryan Jennings, Harrah

Free throw participants: Aaron Baker, Community Christian; DeShawn Watson, Northeast

Three-point participants: Stephen Clark, Douglass; Austin Jennings, Harrah

West girls: Meagan Branscum, Bethany; Grace Hadley, Bethany; Mariah Haxton, OKC Storm; Shawnta Johnson, Hennessey; Rachel Littlebird, Calumet; Maclayn Massey, Christian Hertiage; Kortney Meat, Kingfisher; Alex Ray, Blanchard; Teanna Reid, Millwood; Meredith Wolfley, OKC Storm.

Co-Coaches: Rory Hamilton, Mount Saint Mary; Cherie Myers, Okarche

Free throw participants: Grace Hadley, Bethany; Alex Ray, Blanchard

Three-point participants: Rachel Littlebird, Calumet; Maclayn Massey, CHA

East girls: Breck Clark, Dale; Lauren Davis, Lexington; T’ona Edwards, Northeast; Mariah Fredman, Wellston; Danielle Gaddis, Northeast; Hannah Holasek, Lexington; Bailey Mack, Harrah; Lexes Satterwhite, Dale; Leslie Shuck,

Oklahoma Christian; Lakeitha Watson, Star Spencer.

Co-Coaches: Josh Forsythe, Dale; Londaryl Perry, Northeast

Free throw and 3-point participants: Danielle Gaddis, Northeast; Bailey Mack, Harrah

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Wariboko, at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, has begun picking up steam on the recruiting scene this spring behind strong performances at the U.S. Army National Combine and the Rivals/Under Armour Camp.

Lawton offensive lineman Jalin Barnett was the first 2015 player in the state to be offered. Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas State and Oregon State have all offered him.

– By Jacob Unruh, junruh@opubco.com

The Bears went 14-14 this past season, but surged through the playoffs to reach the Class 5A state tournament, losing in the first round. They’ll return their leading scorer, guard Leland Palmer, who averaged more than 16 points per game as a junior.

Smith did not relinquish his teaching position with the school, but hopes to pursue other basketball coaching opportunities.

“I just felt like it was time for a change,” Smith said. “I went ahead and resigned now, because I wanted the team to have the opportunity to prepare for the future over the summer.”

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

The OSSAA will replace lost trophies, plaques, medals and state championship t-shirts for any school, coach, director or student who lost the items in the storm. Those affected should first contact the school for which they participated to let them know of their loss. School administrators will then contact the OSSAA to report the items that need to be replaced.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and the OSSAA staff, we wish to extend our sympathy for those that gave recently lost so much,” the OSSAA’s Justin Tinder said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those that are suffering from such a tragic and great loss.”

Programs from the events can not be replaced, according to the statement.

To report a loss, administrators can contact Tinder at 405-840-1116 or by e-mail at jtinder@ossaa.com.

Matt Kemp hit a home run on Monday night. Then he performed a far bigger deed after the game.

The former Midwest City star, made aware of the devastating tornadoes that ripped through his home state just hours before, took to Twitter to offer his condolences.

But along with it, Kemp tossed in a generous proposal, donating $1,000 for the home run he hit that night, and another $1,000 for every one he hits before the mid-July All-Star Break, to Monday afternoon’s tornado victims.

Classy move by a guy who has made a habit of them recently.

The Oklahoma Coaches Association released its All-State baseball rosters Monday. The OCA All-State games will be played July 30 at Oral Roberts in Tulsa. The small schools game will start at 4:30 p.m., followed by the big school game at 7 p.m.

Large East
Catchers: Cody Ziegler, Broken Arrow; Jake Golden, Sapulpa
First baseman: Austin O’Brien, Owasso
Infielders: Trae Bobo, Owasso; Landon Decker, Vian; Trey Michaelczewski, Jenks
Outfielders: Grant Maxey, Jenks; Jacob Teague, Claremore; Hunter Heath, Bethel
Pitchers: Zach Jackson, Berryhill; Blake Battenfield, Verdigris; James Teague, Bartlesville
Designated hitter: Jon Pendergraft, Tulsa Union
Utility: Casey Bowlan, Shawnee
Coach: David Warburton, Cascia Hall

Large West
Catchers: Jon Denney, Yukon; Cameron Knight, Westmoore
First baseman: Russell Mithlo, Anadarko
Infielders: Bryan Dutton, Guthrie; Joel Davis, Midwest City; Tre Edwards, Southmoore
Outfielders: Landon Eason, Yukon; Chevin Noone, Carl Albert; Cole Lindley, Deer Creek
Pitchers: Holden Lyons, Edmond North; James Bowker, Plainview; Francisco Alvarez, Woodward
Designated hitter: Austin Brooks, OCS
Utility: Daniel Herrin, Norman North
Coach: Kelly Gaunt, Clinton

Small East
Catchers: Cade Carter, Colbert; Tye Rambo, Moss
First baseman: Dylan Fazekas, Red Oak
Infielders: Jake Collins, Latta; Cory Bogle, Ketchum; Cade Clay, Rattan
Outfielders: Cullen Mack, Rattan; Zach Fowler, Asher; Hunter Stephens, Silo
Pitchers: Evan Anderson, Dale; Duane Knight, Caney Valley; Wyatt Dodd, Central Sallisaw
Designated hitter: Taylor Smith, Dale
Utility: Devan Crose, Red Oak
Coach: Ryan Cordell, Rattan

Small West
Catchers: Dillon White, Sterling; Barrett Newell, Lookeba-Sickles
First baseman: Kolton Brown, Union City
Infielders: Drew Ward, Leedey; Leno Ramirez, Dover; Tyler Mannering, Thomas
Outfielders: Sam Grellner, Okarche; Seth Housley, Sentinel; Rocklin Pankhurst, Cordell
Pitchers: Bryant Hodge, Christian Heritage; Weston Cole, Sentinel; Devin Dixon, Lookeba-Sickles
Designated hitter: Walker Hines, Leedey
Utility: Dave Keil, Verden
Coach: Ryan Nightengale, Fairview

The pole vault competition at the Meet of Champions lasted so long Tuesday night that cars had to be brought in to shine extra light on the pit. Photo by Scott Wright, The Oklahoman

 Purcell senior Katy Whitekiller had pole vaulted over 12 feet before. But never in the dark.

So, considering she had already sealed up the gold medal at the Meet of Champions with an earlier vault of 11 feet, Whitekiller wasn’t too disappointed that she missed all three attempts at 12 feet, 1/2 inch, Tuesday night at Yukon High School.

Whitekiller and several other competitors made their final jumps in the dark, with cars parked on each side of the lane to shine extra light on the pit.

A few things led to the odd finish of the girls pole vault at the Meet of Champions. First — something that might be a sign of the growing popularity of the event — 26 boys entered the pole vault competition, which was held before the girls’ portion of the event. The boys started jumping at 5 p.m., but the competition lasted well into the evening, and pushed back the start of the girls’ vault.

Second, the wind was blowing out of the south. Had it been a north wind, the vaulting pit would have been at the opposite end of the lane, almost directly under one of the stadium’s light poles, and thus, it would have had better lighting.

But to allow the vaulters to run with the wind at their backs, the pit was on the north end of the lane, which is in a far corner of the stadium, behind a set of bleachers. So the stadium lights didn’t reach that area as well.

Whitekiller, who will vault at Southeastern Louisiana University next year, finally claimed her gold medal at about 10 p.m. She said it wasn’t the first time she had vaulted with the aid of car headlights.

“I did it once before in practice,” she said. “I was using a new pole, and I was determined to get it done, so my coach had to pull up and turn his lights on for me.

“I think it got to a couple of the girls tonight, but you just had to stay focused and not let it bother you.”

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

The Oklahoma City Area Baseball Coaches Association will play its annual all-star game at 6 p.m. Thursday at Palmer Field at Dolese Park.

An all-star team made up from these two rosters will play a Tulsa-area all-star team in a doubleheader at noon Saturday at Bishop McGuinness. OCS’ Ken McQueen and Tecumseh’s Chad Trahan will coach the Oklahoma City team.

NORTH
Starters
Pitchers: Brock Stuber, Piedmont; Parker Rigler, Edmond Memorial; Kyle Stephens, Edmond North
Catchers: Mike Hale, Putnam City North; Jon Denney, Yukon
First baseman: Cody Daylor, Edmond North
Second baseman: Daniel Costello, Edmond Santa Fe
Third baseman: Bryan Dutton, Guthrie
Shortstop: Dalen Edgar, Piedmont
Outfielders: Landon Eason, Yukon; Jack Hale, Edmond Memorial; Cole Lindley, Deer Creek
Utility: Austin Brooks, OCS
Desgnated hitter: Jacob Jerome, Edmond Santa Fe

Reserves: Chiante’ McKee, Star Spencer; Bradley Fitch, Bishop McGuinness; Reed Brooks, Putnam City; Jonathan Sergent, Classen

Coaches: Ken McQueen, OCS; Kory Williams, Piedmont

SOUTH
Starters
Pitchers: Alexander Svetgoff, Westmoore; Gage Trahan, Tecumseh; Nick Ward, Southmoore
Catchers: Lane Paul, Tuttle; Cameron Knight, Westmoore
First baseman: Dylan Mauk, Blanchard
Second baseman: Daniel Herron, Norman North
Third baseman: DJ Gasso, Norman North
Shortstop: Tre Edwards, Southmoore
Outfielders: Chevin Noone, Carl Albert; Hunter Heath, Bethel; Quade Nelson, Blanchard
Utility: Damion Orr, Midwest City
Designated hitter: Joel Davis, Midwest City

Reserves: Cooper Owens, Putnam City West; Colin Webb, Moore; Matt Foster, Norman; Casey Bowlan, Shawnee; Jovanny Hernandez, U.S. Grant; Zack Howry, Capitol Hill; Landon Vodka, Mustang.

Coaches: Chad Trahan, Tecumseh; Travis Owen, Tuttle

The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced its All-State tennis teams Tuesday. The OCA All-State tennis event will be held July 30 at Tulsa Union.

BOYS
EAST
Jayden Black, Henryetta
Josh Ellis, Ada
Chase Gordon, Jenks
Levi Kerr, Grove
Andreas Kutt, Tulsa Union
Cameron Schuessler, Durant
John Stour, Ada
J.T. Tasker, Metro Christian

WEST
Andrew Ahshapanek, Anadarko
Oakes Arceneaux, Heritage Hall
Tanner Chambers, Edmond North
Riley Hale, Bishop McGuinness
Seth Moore, Yukon
Nathan Roper, Edmond North
Matt Taber, Carl Albert
Sylvester Yo, Westmoore

GIRLS
EAST
Mariah Burke, Jenks
Olivia Charvat, Metro Christian
Reynolds Chew, Metro Christian
Courtney Coon, Broken Arrow
Piper Huey, Jenks
Abby Jordan, Cascia Hall
Margo Martin, Ada
Lauryn Sullins, Perry

WEST
Samantha Cassidy, Duncan
Alexandra Dick, Enid
Kathryn Dillingham, Enid
Alex Morales, Ardmore
Ann Pepper, Edmond North
Shali Schoepflin, Edmond Memorial
Brittany Toone, Duncan
Lacie Unah, Anadarko

According to sources, Edmond North’s Jeremy Dombek is expected to be named the new football caoch at Mustang, pending board approval Monday night. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

Edmond North’s Jeremy Dombek will leave to become the new head football coach at Mustang High School, pending the approval of the Mustang school board at its meeting Monday night, sources have told The Oklahoman.

The Mustang school board is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday.

Dombek will replace Ty Prestidge, who resigned on May 3 to take an offensive coordinator position with longtime friend Todd Dilbeck at Choctaw.

Dombek was expected to address his team at Edmond North Monday morning, according to sources. Pending board approval, Dombek would be able to begin working with his new team at Mustang Tuesday.

Mustang missed the playoffs in 2012, despite a 6-4 record. It was the second straight year the Broncos fell short of the postseason.

Edmond North has reached the second round of the Class 6A playoffs each of the last three seasons under Dombek, and missed the playoffs only once since he took over in 2007.

The move leaves the Huskies scrambling now. Dombek is likely to take some of his assistant coaches to Mustang, so Edmond North could have multiple coaching spots to fill as spring practice begins. Monday is the first day that Class 6A football teams can hold football practices.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Zinn said on Wednesday that he has been named the girls basketball coach at Cushing, leaving one of the top programs in Class 4A looking for its third coach since 2009.

“I’m kind of anxious,” Zinn said. “I’m ready to go in there and even though they had success last year, they lose all five starters off last year’s team.”

Cushing made the Class 4A semifinals last season before losing to eventual champion Fort Gibson.

Anadarko also made the semifinals one year after winning the state title, which was Zinn’s first season.

The success he had at Anadarko made the decision tough, he said, but it ultimately came down to what was best for his family.

“It’s very hard, not only the relationship with the kids, but also with the kids we have returning and the vast amount of potential with those kids that we have,” Zinn said. “But more than anything it’s not as much of a professional move as it is a family thing.”

Darwin Franklin, the son of Millwood’s Hall of Fame boys basketball coach Varryl Franklin, was hired to lead the football team, a move that became official Monday night.

“As a former student at Millwood, we welcome him and think he will be a great addition to our staff,” Griffin said. “It will be a joy to have him and his father working together.”

Darwin Franklin is currently on staff at Centennial High School, where he served as a football assistant in the fall. Varryl Franklin has been Millwood’s basketball coach since 1978, leading the team to 12 of its state-record 15 championships.

Franklin replaces Tony Henry, who stepped down last month after he and his wife accepted teaching jobs on an oil base in Saudi Arabia.

“I’m not giving up coaching, I’m just taking a break,” Henry said. “I enjoyed my time at Millwood and I wish them the best.

“My wife and I are excited for this opportunity. The benefits are great. Our three kids will get the chance to travel and see the world, so they’re excited, too.”

Henry will be working for Saudi Aramco, teaching the children of the oil company’s employees.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association released the state tournament brackets Monday and Tuesday.

CLASS 6A
At Shawnee
Thursday
Tulsa Kelley at Norman North, 11 a.m.
Jenks vs. Yukon, 1:30 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Owasso, 4 p.m.
Edmond North vs. Broken Arrow, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Tulsa Kelley/Norman North winner vs. Jenks/Yukon winner, 4 p.m.
Edmond North/Broken Arrow winner vs. Edmond Santa Fe/Owasso winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 6 p.m.

CLASS 5A
At Edmond Santa Fe
Thursday
Noble vs. Deer Creek, 11 a.m.
Guthrie vs. Coweta, 1:30 p.m.
Carl Albert vs. Pryor, 4 p.m.
Chickasha vs. Claremore, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Noble/Deer Creek winner vs. Carl Albert/Pryor winner, 4 p.m.
Guthrie/Coweta winner vs. Chickasha/Claremore winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A
At Edmond Memorial
Thursday
Piedmont vs. Byng, 11 a.m.
Tuttle vs. Weatherford, 1:30 p.m.
Plainview vs. Catoosa, 4 p.m.
Berryhill vs. Dewey, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Piedmont/Byng winner vs. Plainview/Catoosa winner, 4 p.m.
Tuttle/Weatherford winner vs. Berryhill/Dewey winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Shawnee
Championship game, 3:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A
Thursday
At Deer Creek
Verdigris vs. OCS, 11 a.m.
Stroud vs. Vian, 1:30 p.m.
Salina vs. Spiro, 4 p.m.
Marlow vs. Kingston, 6:30 p.m.

At Edmond Santa Fe
Friday
Verdigris/OCS winner vs. Salina/Spiro winner, 11 a.m.
Stroud/Vian winner vs. Marlow/Kingston winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

CLASS 2A
Thursday
At Dolese Park
Dale vs. Alva, 11 a.m.
Caney Valley vs. Latta, 1:30 p.m.
Colbert vs. Tushka, 4 p.m.
Silo vs. Ketchum, 6:30 p.m.

At Shawnee
Friday
Dale/Alva winner vs. Colbert/Tushka winer, 11 a.m.
Caney Valley/Latta winner vs. Silo/Ketchum winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 1 p.m.

On Friday, Dilbeck took one more step down that path, hiring Mustang head coach Ty Prestidge — previously Dilbeck’s assistant with the Broncos — as his offensive coordinator at Choctaw, pending school board approval.

“It’s still board-pending, but when I came back to Oklahoma, I knew there was one piece I wanted to get back with us,” Dilbeck said. “Ty and I have worked at three places together before. He hired me at Plainview and Westmoore, and now I’ve hired him at Mustang and Choctaw.”

Dilbeck spent the last seven years out of state, with one year as an assistant at Rice University and six as the head coach at Alma (Ark.) High School.

Prestidge, who had served as Choctaw’s head coach for one season before joining Dilbeck at Mustang, informed his team Friday afternoon that he would not return. He will coordinate the Choctaw offense, just like he did under Dilbeck at Mustang when the team reached the 2005 state championship game.

“I feel like he’s the best quarterback coach and coordinator in the state of Oklahoma,” Dilbeck said. “He understands how to teach quarterbacks and he relates to kids really well.”

Mustang likely won’t be able to get a new head coach in place in time for spring practice, which can begin May 13. But as the largest school on the west side of the state in a district that is putting lots of money into schools and athletic facilities, Mustang athletic director Chuck Bailey is likely to have a long list of applicants.

“Ty informed me (Friday morning) that he was resigning his position,” Bailey said. “We appreciate what Ty did, and we look forward to the process of replacing him here at Mustang.”

Phillips was bitten twice on the calf during the second round of the Class 6A east regional tournament Monday at Emerald Falls in Broken Arrow.

“When it bit him the second time, he looked down and it was still on his leg, so he yanked it off and threw it,” Enid athletic coordinator Steve Chard said. “He didn’t show any of the usual symptoms until late that night. He got pretty sick and his leg was red and swollen, so they gave him two or three doses of anti-venom.”

Multiple bites from a copperhead at one time can be extremely dangerous, though generally not fatal. Chard said Phillips was significantly improved when he got out of the hospital Wednesday.

Several players and coaches, including those from Bixby, Jenks and other schools, called or visited Phillips in the hospital.

Former Edmond Memorial golfer Taylor Moore was named the SEC Freshman of the Year at Arkansas.

Edmond Memorial product and two-time Class 6A state champion Taylor Moore made the quick jump to success at the next level.

The Arkansas golfer was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year on Wednesday.

Moore had four top-25 finishes in six tournaments and finished under par in two events. He had two top-10 finishes and a season stroke average of 73.87.

He was 27th recently at the SEC Tournament, thanks to a strong finish, playing the course in 2-under-par over the final 36 holes.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Edmond Memorial assistant coach Dan Kurtenbach was named the head coach at Weatherford earlier this week.

Kurtenbach has been an assistant coach for the Bulldogs for the last four seasons. He was the head coach at Casady in 2007 and 2008. Before that, he held assistant coaching jobs at Broken Arrow, Shawnee and Midwest City.

Kurtenbach replaces Mickey Seifried, who took the job as the technology director of Weatherford Public Schools.

Seifried went 30-26 in five seasons as the head coach at Weatherford, including a 12-1 season in 2009. The Eagles went 7-5 in 2012.

Before becoming the head coach, Seifried spent eight seasons as an assistant at the school.

McCann coached the team the last two seasons, winning 28 total games during that span after coming over from Putnam City North.

This is the third time in as many years that Mustang finds itself in a similar situation. McCann was hired to replace Robert Foreman two years ago when he moved into an administration job with the school district. And Terry Long was brought in as the boys basketball coach last year after Alan Green was promoted into a role as the school’s athletic compliance director.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Dilbeck has coached at multiple programs in the state, including Tahlequah and Mustang. He was one of the first high school coaches in the state to implement and succeed with a multiple-receiver, spread offense that gained popularity in the mid-2000s.

He coached Mustang to the Class 6A state championship game in 2005, losing 33-7 to Tulsa Union. He left after that season to join Todd Graham’s coaching staff at Rice University for one year, then went to Alma (Ark.) High School for six years.

With funding from a bond issue a few years ago, and the pending split of Class 6A football teams, it seems like an ideal time to take over a program like Choctaw, which will be in Division II of the new 6A starting in 2014.

“They’ve redone some schools and facilities at Choctaw, and you can tell it’s a community that’s excited about what’s going on,” Dilbeck said. “It reminds me a lot of Mustang when we got there, except Choctaw’s facilities are better than what we had at Mustang back then.

“Timing can be great sometimes, and I just think this is an awesome opportunity.”

After the death of his father last November, Dilbeck decided he wanted to return to Oklahoma to be closer to family.

“All of our children are back in Oklahoma, and after the playoffs ended here, I decided it was time to look at getting back to Oklahoma, so that’s what I pursued,” he said. “I think this is a great opportunity at a school with administrators, faculty and a community that’s really supportive.”

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Former Santa Fe star Aaron Anderson is returning to Edmond to play at Central Oklahoma after spending his freshman season at Fresno State.

Central Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Terry Evans mined the local ranks for a strong 2013 signing class that includes a couple of players making their return to Oklahoma after some time away.

One of those is former Putnam City standout Garen Wright, who hasn’t played basketball since graduating from high school in 2009. The 6-foot-4 athlete was drafted by the Houston Astros and played professional baseball for three seasons.

Former Edmond Santa Fe star Aaron Anderson is coming home after playing his freshman season at Fresno State. He averaged 15 minutes per game and got 12 starts for the Bulldogs as a true freshman.

The Bronchos signed one of the state’s top scorers, Jacob Richardson of Porter, who averaged 32.2 points as a senior.

Midwest City product Jarrod McDaniel is returning to the team at UCO, and the team signed three junior-college prospects.

In addition to Texas native Phillip Brown of Northern-Enid, Evans signed a pair of local products in Southeast’s Trai Jordan, out of Murray State, and El Reno’s Devante Moore from Connors State, an Oklahoman Super 5 selection in 2011.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Class A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Cashion vs. Binger-Oney, 11 a.m.
Rattan vs. Thomas, 1:30 p.m.
Roff vs. Glencoe, 4 p.m.
Wright City vs. Sterling, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Cashion-Binger-Oney winner vs. Rattan-Thomas winner, 11 a.m.
Roff-Glencoe winner vs. Wright City-Sterling winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

Class B
Thursday
At Edmond Memorial
Dover vs. Asher, 11 a.m.
Moss vs. Lookeba-Sickles, 1:30 p.m.
Leedey vs. Sentinel, 4 p.m.
Red Oak vs. Olustee, 7:30 p.m.

At Dolese Park
Friday
Leedey-Sentinel winner vs. Dover-Asher winner, 4 p.m.
Moss-Lookeba-Sickles winner vs. Red Oak-Olustee winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

At ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Class 6A
All games Wednesday, May 1
First Round
Westmoore vs. Southmoore, 10 a.m.
Tulsa Union vs. Muskogee, 10 a.m.
Moore vs. Jenks, 10 a.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Tahlequah, 10 a.m.
Semifinals
Westmoore-Southmoore winner vs. Tulsa Union-Muskogee winner, 12:30 p.m.
Moore-Jenks winner vs. Broken Arrow-Tahlequah winner, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 3:15 p.m.

Class 5A
All games Wednesday, May 1
First Round
Cache vs. Seq. Tahlequah, 11:15 a.m.
Holdenville vs. Berryhill, 11:15 a.m.
Purcell vs. Bethel, 1:45 p.m.
Henryetta vs. Valliant, 1:45 p.m.
Semifinals
Purcell-Bethel winner vs. Cache-Seq. Tahlequah, 3:15 p.m.
Henryetta-Valliant winner vs. Holdenville-Berryhill, 3:15 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 6:15 p.m.

Class 4A
All games Wednesday, May 1
First Round
Dale vs. Latta, 11:15 a.m.
Chisholm vs. Washington, 11:15 a.m.
Davis vs. Liberty, 12:30 p.m.
Tushka vs. Mangum, 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Dale-Latta winner vs. Davis-Liberty winner, 1:45 p.m.
Tushka-Mangum winner vs. Chisholm-Washington winner, 1:45 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 4:45 p.m.

Class 3A
All games Tuesday, April 30
First Round
Rattan vs. Rock Creek, 10 a.m.
Wayne vs. Fort Towson, 10 a.m.
Mooreland vs. Depew, 10 a.m.
Apache vs. Preston, 10 a.m.
Semifinals
Rattan-Rock Creek winner vs. Wayne-Fort Towson winner, 12:30 p.m.
Mooreland-Depew winner vs. Apache-Preston winner, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 3:15 p.m.

Class 2A
All games Tuesday, April 30
First Round
Binger-Oney vs. Dewar, 11:15 a.m.
Okarche vs. Roff, 11:15 a.m.
Turner vs. Barnsdall, 1:45 p.m.
Pond Creek-Hunter vs. Soper, 1:45 p.m.
Semifinals
Binger-Dewar winner vs. Turner-Barnsdall winner, 3:15 p.m.
Pond Creek-Soper winner vs. Okarche-Roff winner, 3:15 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 6:15 p.m.

Class A
All games Tuesday, April 30
First Round
Red Oak vs. Arnett, 11:15 a.m.
Tupelo vs. Asher, 11:15 a.m.
Eagletown vs. Hammon, 12:30 p.m.
Buffalo Valley vs. Leedey, 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Red Oak-Arnett winner vs. Eagletown-Hammon winner, 1:45 p.m.
Tupelo-Asher winner vs. Buffalo Valley-Leedey winner, 1:45 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 4:45 p.m.

Kendal Cudjoe will be the next head coach of the Douglass boys basketball team, four-time defending Class 4A state champions.

The Cudjoe family has a strong tradition at Douglass High School, and now Kendal Cudjoe has the opportunity to build on it.

On Thursday, he was named the new boys basketball coach for the Trojans, winners of the last four Class 4A state championships.

Kendal’s father, Lawrence Cudjoe, built the basketball program into a state power during his 18-year tenure that ended in 1974. He died in 1994 and the court at Douglass now bears his name. Here’s a story about Lawrence Cudjoe, a former Harlem Globetrotter and all-around fascinating man in his own right.

Kendal Cudjoe was a standout on the basketball court at Douglass in the mid-1970s, and quarterbacked the Trojans to the 1976 state football title. He graduated in 1978.

“When you get a chance to go back and coach where you played, I think that’s every coach’s dream to at least get to do it one time,” Kendal Cudjoe said. “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to do that. For the court to be named after my father, and the rich tradition of the school, this means a whole lot to me.”

Cudjoe replaces Anthony Andrews, who was not retained after one season at Douglass.

Cudjoe spent the last four seasons as a head coach at Northwest Classen, two years with the girls team and two with the boys team.

In addition, Douglass also hired Anthony Gardner, a longtime Star Spencer boys assistant, as its new girls basketball coach.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Sanders, who spent the past season at Siloam Springs, Ark., said he signed the contract Friday afternoon to replace former coach Theresa Johnston, but has yet to meet with next season’s team at Newcastle.

A major factor in Sanders deciding to return to Oklahoma is that he felt homesick.

“I got a great team coming back,” Sanders said. “I’ve got all of my starters coming back here at Siloam, but it’s just a deal where I want to get back home. It just didn’t feel right being away from all of my family.

“I’ve always liked the town of Newcastle, the surroundings, where it’s located and I hope that I can stay there. It’s not a place where I want to go and move away. I’m coming hoping I can get a program going and establish something.”

Sanders, 53, last coached at Cache, where he guided the Bulldogs to an undefeated season and Class 4A championship in 2010 and a runner-up finish in 2011. Before that, he coached at Anadarko where he guided the Warriors to a Class 4A title in 2005.

Now, he’s hoping he can bring that success to Newcastle, which lost to Elgin in the Class 4A area tournament.

“I want to win wherever I go — not that I can — but I hope that I do,” Sanders said.

“I want to win this year. I haven’t seen them play or nothing. I hope we can get things going right away.”

Sanders retired when he left Cache following the 2011 season. His wife, Robbin, will also be an assistant principal and counselor at Newcastle.

 
We’ve had votes for Little All-City Player of the Year (won by Perkins-Tryon’s Jordan Gorham and Big All-City Player of the Year (won by Piedmont’s Sarah Parker. Now, it’s time to vote on the Super 5 player of the year.

All five candidates had excellent seasons. Want to vote for someone not on the five? Leave a comment and why you think the player should earn the honor. The poll closes at 4 and we’ll announce our winner at that time.

Here are the choice:
Lakota Beatty, Anadarko: The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 17.7 points and more than four assists per game for the Warriors. The Oklahoma State signee was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year and was on The Oklahoman’s Super 5 as a junior. Anadarko coach Jeff Zinn said Beatty “could have averaged close to 30 but winning and bringing out the best in her teammates was most important to her.”

Gioya Carter, Carl Albert: Carter, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in helping the Titans reach the Class 5A state tournament. The Oklahoma signee averaged bettern than three assists per game and more than two steals.

Christina Devers, Bixby: Devers was a huge part of the Spartans’ run to the Class 6A championship game, averaging 20.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.9 steals. She really made strides in her outside shooting game as a senior and it really paid off in the state tournament, as she hit several critical shots in the first two rounds to help Bixby advance. She has signed with Central Arkansas.

Kaylan Mayberry, Tulsa Washington: The son of former NBA standout Lee Mayberry and sister of Tulsa women’s basketball standout Taleya Mayberry, Kaylan made her own way this season as a senior. She came up big in each of the Hornets’ three state tournament wins, including a semifinal upset over No. 1 Edmond Santa Fe. She averaged 11.9 points and recently committed to Oral Roberts.

Jessica Washington, Jenks: The 5-foot-8 guard led the Trojans with 23.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The North Carolina signee was a McDonald’s All-American and helped the USA U-1 team to a gold medal in the world championships. She had 97 assists and 77 steals for the Trojans.

We’ve started revealing The Oklahoman’s postseason basketball honors will the boys teams late last week. This week, it’s the girls turn.

Perkins-Tryon’s Jordan Gorham was the fans choice as the Girls Little All-City Player of the Year, while Northeast’s T’ona Edwards was The Oklahoman’s selection. Now, it’s on to Big All-City selections. Cast your vote for one of the players below, or write in your own with an “Other” vote in the comments. The poll will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday and The Oklahoman’s choice will be announced here and at NewsOK.com/sports.

Here are the choices:
Gioya Carter, Carl Albert: Carter, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in helping the Titans reach the Class 5A state tournament. The Oklahoma signee averaged bettern than three assists per game and more than two steals.

Dionna Collins, Del City: Collins played a huge role in returning the Eagles to the 5A state tournament, averaging 18.5 points and 2.3 assists. Collins came back from a knee injury suffered last season to become one of the most explosive offensive players in the state.

Ashley Gibson: Deer Creek: Gibson, a 5-foot-9 forward, averaged 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds for the 5A state champions. She was dominant at times during the state tournament, earning 5A state tournament MVP honors from The Oklahoman.

Tamara Lee, Edmond Santa Fe: Lee, a f-foot-7 junior, was the leading scorer for the Wolves, averaging 15 points per game. She teamed up with Wolves point guard Cameerah Graves to give Santa Fe one of the best guard tandems in the state.

Sarah Parker, Piedmont: Parker, a 6-foot forward, averaged 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in helping Piedmont to within one game of the state tournament in its first year in Class 5A. She also has the ability to shoot from outside as well.

We’ll start off with the Little All-City voting Monday, with The Oklahoman’s choice being announced Tuesday. Cast your vote for one of the players below, or write in your own with an “Other” vote. The poll will close at 2 p.m. Tuesday and The Oklahoman’s choice will be announced here and at NewsOK.com/sports.

Here are the choices:

Kaely Bond, Mount St. Mary: Bond, a 5-foot-11 guard, averaged 14.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while helping the Rockets to the Class 4A title game. The three-year starter was the Rockets leading scorer, helping Mount St. Mary to a school-record 25-6 season.

Breck Clark, Dale: Clark, a 5-foot-9 forward, averaged 20 points and eight rebounds, plus three assists and a pair of blocks for the Pirates. She helped Dale to a pair of state tournaments during her time there, including the 2010 title and another state tournament appearance this year.

T’ona Edwards, Northeast: Edwards, who recently committed to Oklahoma, helped the Vikings to the Class 2A state titles and an undefeated record. She averaged 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. She also had more than six assists per game and nearly four steals per game.

Jordan Gorham, Perkins-Tryon: Gorham, a 6-f00t center, averaged 16.2 points and 10.5 rebounds in helping Perkins-Tryon to a 28-1 season.

Morgan Vogt, Okarche: Vogt, a 5-foot-8 junior, averaged 20.9 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Class A champions. She was The Oklahoman’s selection as the state tournament Most Valuable Player. Vogt started as a freshman.

Roop was the current assistant principal at Altus Intermediate School and previously served as the athletic director. He also played football at Central State and later served as principal at Hoover Middle School in Oklahoma City.

According to Frederick police, Roop fell from a grain car at Tillman Producers Co-Op Fertilizer Plant and was unresponsive. Roop was transported to Memorial Hospital in Frederick, where he later died.

An eyewitness report said Roop was standing on a rail car taking grain samples using a 10-foot brass pole, but at one point hit electrical lines above him. Sparks then started to fly and Roop fell to the ground.

The Altus Times also said an investigator with the State Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting with the ongoing investigation of the accident.

Here is a 2008 story from The Oklahoman archives on Roop’s recovery from pneumococcal meningitis.

Stephen Clark of Douglass is The Oklahoman’s pick for Super 5 Player of the Year. See all of The Oklahoman’s Super 5 and All-State teams in Sunday’s newspapers and at NewsOK.com/Sports.

____________________

The Oklahoman’s postseason basketball honors will be revealed beginning Sunday and running through April 14, but here’s your chance to weigh in. Each day, we’ll present a poll for fans to vote on their choice for Player of the Year in all the different categories — Little All-City, Big All-City and Super 5, each for boys and girls.

It began on Tuesday with the Little All-City boys fan poll, and continues today with the boys Super 5 All-State Player of the Year. Cast your vote for one of the players below, or write in your own in the “Other” box. The poll will close at 2 p.m. Friday, when the fans’ choice for Super 5 Player of the Year will be determined. The Oklahoman staff will also reveal its choice on the Varsity blog and on NewsOK.com/sports.

Here are your choices:
Stephen Clark, Douglass: The reigning Super 5 Player of the Year, Clark averaged 36 points and 12 assists to lead Douglass to its fourth title, and he surpassed the 3,000-point mark for his career.

Jaylen Lowe, Owasso: Lowe averaged 20 points a game, and kept the rest of the Rams’ offense involved as well, leading them to the state semifinals in their first tourney appearance since 2005.

Shaquille Morris, Edmond Memorial: The 6-foot-7 Wichita State signee was a double-double machine, finishing with nearly 18 points and nine rebounds per game as the Bulldogs won state for the second time in three years.

Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial: An Oklahoma signee, Woodard fought off a lingering hamstring injury to average 17 points and six assists per game for the state champion Bulldogs.

Seth Youngblood, Roland: Youngblood poured in 25.5 points per game, fighting off constant attention from opposing defenses, while leading the Rangers to the Class 4A state title game in an epic showdown with Douglass.

Edmond Memorial big man Shaquille Morris was announced as The Oklahoman staff’s pick as Big All-City Player of the Year. We will have a story posted online shortly. Thanks to all of you who voted in the poll.

____________________

The Oklahoman’s postseason basketball honors will be revealed beginning Sunday and running through April 14, but here’s your chance to weigh in. Each day, we’ll present a poll for fans to vote on their choice for Player of the Year in all the different categories — Little All-City, Big All-City and Super 5, each for boys and girls.

It began on Tuesday with the Little All-City boys fan poll, and continues today with the Big All-City boys. Cast your vote for one of the players below, or write in your own in the “Other” box. The poll will close at 11 a.m. Thursday, when the fans’ choice for Big All-City Player of the Year will be determined. The Oklahoman staff will also reveal its choice on the Varsity blog and on NewsOK.com/sports.

Here are your choices:
Carlbe Ervin, Edmond North: Ervin averaged 19.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists in helping the turnaround at Edmond North, which went 15-11 and came up just short of reaching the state tournament.

Shaquille Morris, Edmond Memorial: The 6-foot-7 Wichita State signee was a double-double machine, finishing with nearly 18 points and nine rebounds per game as the Bulldogs won state for the second time in three years.

Cornell Neal, Midwest City: Anchored a small but tough Midwest City lineup with 14.1 points, 5.4 assists and 3.5 steals per game as the Bombers reached the state finals and garnered a national ranking during the season.

Rashawn Thomas, Southeast: A lanky 6-foot-7 senior, Thomas finished with 22.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per game to lead Southeast back to state for the first time since 2008.

Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial: An Oklahoma signee, Woodard fought off a lingering hamstring injury to average 17 points and six assists per game for the state champion Bulldogs.

A big part of the story is how the community is rallying around Willits and the program, and it continued doing just that Tuesday.

The Binger community voted to approve a proposition that included renovations to historic Johnny Bench Field with a 68.4-percent vote in favor of raising the sales tax in the town one cent.

The renovations are expected to total between $400,000 and $600,000, and superintendent Kirk Wilson said before the vote that he hoped they would be completed by the beginning of the fall season. It is still unclear when renovations will begin, though, as the city still has to legally go through a bidding process.

Willits, however, was just pleased with the results Tuesday night.

“I think it’s big. I think it really is,” Willits said. “It shows the commitment of the school system and the city council and the community. I think it’s pretty major of a deal, especially in our neck of the woods.”

Incorporating the Johnny Bench Museum that is currently located in city hall into the stadium is also a key part of the renovations.

Binger-Oney is currently No 4 in Class A with a 14-7 record, just one season after winning just six games.

“In the past week we’ve seen our kids kind of grow up,” Willits said. “They’ve won some big games and that’s something they haven’t done in awhile. You’re starting to see the kids, one, come together as a team and individually they are starting to get better. Something like this, it shows the kids (the community is behind them).”

Large West
Jerrick Warren, Guthrie; Stephen Clark, Douglass; Bryce Beckett, Lawton MacArthur; E.J. Golightly, Chickasha; Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial; Tevin Foster, Lawton; Rashawn Thomas, Southeast; Galen Satoe, Anadarko; David Bush, Putnam City; Cornell Neal, Midwest City.
Coaches: Lonnie Nunley, Cache; Ryan Wagner, Piedmont

Large East
Seth Youngblood, Roland; Julio Hukill, Tecumseh; Jakob Hartsock, Bartlesville; Jaylen Lowe, Owasso; Don Simmons, Tulsa Edison; Zach Norris, Coweta; Juwan Parker, Tulsa Washington; Rico Thompson, Stillwater; Jordan Huffman, Broken Arrow; Delvan Lucas, Tulsa Central.
Coaches: Rick Johnson, Bartlesville; Scott Norris, Coweta

Small West
Branson Daugherty, Merritt; Deric Shelton, Plainview; Jake Regier, Forgan; Trevyn Woolbright, Sterling; Tony Aska, Coyle; Seth Overstreet, Laverne; Tyler Stafford, Cyril; Eric Harris, Coyle; Dallen Mercer, Velma-Alma; John Moon, Crescent.
Coaches: Eric Norton, Walters; Clint York, Lexington

Small East
Jeylyn Sharpe, Ketchum; Evan Anderson, Dale; Stoney Newton, Okemah; Kagen Castlebury, Glencoe; Zac Self, Varnum; Trent Storts, Latta; Jeremiah Winney, Weleetka; Jason Couch, Chouteau-Mazie; Jacob Richardson, Porter; Brady Bradbury, Adair.
Coaches: Brett Thomas, Weleetka; Mitchell Brown, Smithville

On Wednesday afternoon, The Oklahoman announced its winner of the Little All-City Player of the Year award, Douglass point guard and Oklahoma State signee Stephen Clark. Check back soon for more details on our selection.

____________________

The Oklahoman’s postseason basketball honors will be revealed beginning Sunday and running through April 14, but here’s your chance to weigh in. Each day, we’ll present a poll for fans to vote on their choice for Player of the Year in all the different categories — Little All-City, Big All-City and Super 5, each for boys and girls.

It begins today with Little All-City boys fan poll. Cast your vote for one of the players below, or write in your own in the “Other” box. The poll will close at 11 a.m. Wednesday, when the fans’ choice for Little All-City Player of the Year will be determined. The Oklahoman staff will also reveal its choice on the Varsity blog and on NewsOK.com/sports.

Here are your choices:
Tony Aska, Coyle: The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 19.6 points and 12.6 rebounds while blocking 109 shots in leading Coyle to the Class B state finals.

Stephen Clark, Douglass: The Oklahoma State signee posted 36 points and 12 assists per game to carry the Trojans to their fourth state title in a row.

Chauncey Collins, OKC Storm: The 6-foot-1 junior guard averaged better than 23 points and was named MVP of the national homeschool tournament, which the Storm won.

Ashford Golden, Millwood: The 6-foot-4 junior played a central role in the Falcons’ balanced attack, and he provided several key plays in their state title run.

Collin Jennings, Harrah: A 6-foot-4 junior guard, Jennings averaged 17.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game in helping the Panthers back to the state tournament for the first time since 2008.

Former Sequoyah-Tahlequah star Angel Goodrich helped Kansas pull off a pair of upsets to advance to the Sweet 16.

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Unfortunately all of the former state standouts were beat out in the first two rounds of the NCAA Men’s Tournament, with Butler’s Rotnei Clarke (Verdigris) and Iowa State’s Tyrus McGee (Stringtown) coming closest to advancing to the Sweet 16.

On the women’s side, though, three Oklahoma high school alums helped their teams advance to the Sweet 16.

None was bigger than former Sequoyah-Tahlequah star Angel Goodrich, who helped 12th-seeded Kansas pull off a pair of upsets.

Goodrich had 20 points and eight assists in a 75-69 win over South Carolina in the second round after posting 14 points and eight assists in an opening 67-52 win over Colorado.

In Kansas’ win over South Carolina, former Norman standout Ashley Bruner had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Gamecocks in the loss.

Goodrich’s Jayhawks play top-seeded Notre Dame at 11 a.m. Sunday in Norfolk, Va.

Former Star Spencer standout Sharane Campbell also had a big start to the tournament, averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2 steals for Oklahoma in tournament wins over Central Michigan and UCLA.

The sixth-seeded Sooners play No. 2 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Duke’s Richa Jackson, a former Midwest City standout, started for the Blue Devils in wins over Hampton and Oklahoma State, totaling five points, two steals and three rebounds.

The No. 2-seed Blue Devils play No. 6 Nebraska at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Norfolk.

Former Verdigris star Rotnei Clarke was named to the NABC’s District 4 All-District team earlier this week.

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Former Verdigris star Rotnei Clarke, the leading scorer in state history, was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ District 4 All-District team earlier this week.

Clarke, now at Butler, was joined on the first team by Temple’s Khaliif Wyatt, LaSalle’s Ramon Galloway, Massachusetts’ Chaz Williams and Virginia Commonwealth’s Juvonte Reddic.

Clarke averaged 16.9 points in helping the Bulldogs to the third round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Marquette.

Clarke scored 41 points combined in Butler’s two tournament games, including 24 against Marquette.

For the season, Clarke shot nearly 41 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Clarke finished his high school career with 3,758 points and helped the Crdinals to the 3A state title as a senior.

Former Lawton High standout Craig Foster was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Division II All-America team Wednesday.

Foster, a 5-foot-11 junior, led Cameron with 16.6 points and 5.7 assists per game.

He helped the Aggies to an 18-9 overall record, including a perfect 12-0 at home.

Foster was an Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association All-State selection as a senior at Lawton and helped the Wolverines to the state tournament as a junior.

His college career took off this season after appearing in 24 games as a sophomore, with a high of 15 points in last year’s Lone Star Conference Tournament.

Eight times this season, Foster topped the 20-point mark. He scored a career-high 29 against West Texas A&M on Feb. 9.

Earlier this month, he was named the LSC’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

Amanda Marcum Enfield, a Mustang native, is the wife of Florida Gulf Coast basketball coach Andy Enfield. Here, they’re photographed with their three children.

You can bet there will be some people in Mustang closely watching the NCAA Tournament action in Philadelphia on Friday.

And we’re not talking about OU fans.

No. 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast will have a pocket of fans in Mustang — where the wife of the team’s head coach, Andy Enfield, was born and raised — pulling hard for an upset of second-seeded Georgetown in the 5:50 p.m. game.

Amanda Enfield — then known as Amanda Marcum — grew up in Mustang, but left at 18 years old to move to New York City to pursue a modeling career. Since then, she has been in such magazines as Maxin, Vogue and Elle. She has modeled for Armani, Victoria’s Secret, Tommy Hilfiger and many others, with her work taking her all over the United States, Europe and Asia.

A big Oklahoma State basketball fan, she met her husband when she was in Boston to watch the Cowboys at a 2003 NCAA Tournament second-round game. Their first date was to watch St. John’s play in the NIT.

Here’s Amanda Marcum Enfield in 1999 during a runway show for designer Donald Deal.

Andy Enfield was out of coaching when they met. He had been an assistant for the Boston Celtics for three seasons, among other jobs, but went into private business for a few years. He got back into coaching as an assistant at Florida State in 2006, and landed the FGC job in 2011.

The couple has three kids, Aila, Lily and Marcum.

Here’s a story we wrote about Amanda when she was just starting her modeling work in Mahattan.

And here’s a story from The Naples News about her and her husband, right after he was named the head coach at FGC.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Last night, I blogged about the Oklahoma high school alums that were playing in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

There aren’t as many for the men–primarily because Tulsa and ORU aren’t in this field. But the state still has plenty of representation.

The headliners of the group are Iowa State’s Tyrus McGee of Stringtown and Butler’s Rotnei Clarke of Veridigris.

McGee is the Cyclone’s sixth man, averaging 13.2 poitns and more than an assist per game. Clarke, the leading scorer in state history, is averaging 16.7 points and is shooting 41.2 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Here’s a look at all of the players from the state who are playing in the tournament:

Butler: Rotnei Clarke (Verdigris) vs. Bucknell, 11:40 a.m. Thursday (truTV)

Oklahoma State: Alex Budke (Stillwater) vs. Oregon, 3:40 p.m. Thursday (TNT)

South Dakota State: Jake Bittle (Bixby) vs. Michigan, 6:15 p.m. Thursday (CBS)

Missouri: Tony Criswell (Douglass) vs. Colorado State, 8:20 p.m. Thursday (TNT)

Oklahoma: Tyler Neal (Putnam City West), C.J. Cole (Sperry)*, Ryan Spangler (Bridge Creek)* vs. San Diego State, 8:20 p.m. Friday (TBS)

Iowa State: Tyrus McGee (Stringtown) vs. Notre Dame, 8:45 p.m. Friday (CBS)

Western Kentucky: Brandon Harris (Northwest) vs. Kansas, 8:50 p.m. Friday (TNT)

Former Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Maddie Martin was named the ACC’s Pitcher of the Week.

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Former Edmond Santa Fe standout Maddie Martin, The Oklahoman‘s Big All-City Player of the Year in 2011, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Pitcher of the Week earlier this week.

Martin, a freshman at Maryland, threw four complete games in the week, helping the Terrapins go 5-2.

She faced 109 batters, striking out 23 and giving up just four earned runs.

Against Oklahoma State, Martin threw six innings without allowing an earned run. She also picked up the win against Hampton and threw seven shutout inning against Valparaiso.

Martin limited hitters to a .223 average against her and finished the week with a 1.40 ERA. For the season, Martin is 4-7 witha  3.84 ERA and 38 strikeouts.

A pair of former Deer Creek standouts had big games last week for Arkansas in the Razorbacks’ final games before SEC play began.

In the first of two games against AlabamaAnderson A&M, freshman Isaac Hellbusch hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot that broke a 1-1 tie in an eventual 20-2 Arkansas win.

Hellbusch added a two-run single later in the same inning and finished with five RBIs on the night.

Brian Anderson, a sophomore outfielder who is a regular starter for the Razorbacks, had a career-high four RBIs in the win.

Anderson (.321/.426/.423) leads Arkansas in runs scored (17) and extra-base hits (6).

Anderson and Hellbusch were coached at Deer Creek by Arkansas alum Ron Moore.

Arkansas (14-7, 1-2) starts a three-game series at South Carolina on Friday.

Capitol Hill’s Juan Varela struck out 15 and held Douglass without a hit in the Redskins’ 6-4 win over the Trojans on Monday in the opening round of the All-City Tournament.

The Redskins came back to beat Classen, 2-1, on Tuesday behind another sterling performance on the mound. Pedro Herreroa struck out 15, allowing one run on four hits.

Capitol Hill will play U.S. Grant at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dolese Park in the tournament finals.

Capitol Hill is coached by former Moore standout Mike Hinckley., who played for the Washington Nationals in 2008-09.

Former Midwest City standout Richa Jackson is heading to the NCAA Tournament with Duke.

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Five former Mid-Del standouts will be playing in the NCAA Women’s Tournament, which begins Saturday.

Midwest City is the only team in the state with three alums whose teams are playing in the tournament—Ashley Clark (Tulsa), Richa Jackson (Duke) and Kaylon Williams (Oklahoma). Williams suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in October and is out for the season.

Clark, a freshman, is averaging 5.8 points in 20.2 minutes for the Golden Hurricane. Jackson, a junior, averages 5.6 points for the Blue Devils.

Del City has a pair of alums playing in the tournament—Oklahoma State senior Toni Young and Fresno State freshman Toni Smith.

Young, the Cowboys leading scorer, averages 15.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. Smith ahs played sparingly as a freshman, averaging 4.6 minutes per game in 17 games.

Smith’s teammate, Cache’s Taylor Thompson, is a starter for the Bulldogs and averages 10.2 points.

Fresno State is the only out-of-state team in the tournament with more than one Oklahoman on the roster. South Carolina features Norman’s Ashley Bruner and former NEO standout Wilka Mountout.

The other two state high schools with multiple representatives in the tournament are Shawnee and Tulsa Washington.

Tulsa freshman Kelsee Grovey was a regular starter a year after helping Shawnee to the Class 5A title. Grovey averages 10.5 points per game.

Taylor Cooper, who teamed with Grovey on that state title team a year ago, has also had a big impact as a freshman, starting every game and averaging 10.2 points.

Tulsa Washington’s Taleya Mayberry averages 18.7 points for Tulsa while former teammate Kamri Anderson, a junior, averages 8.0 minutes per game for Oklahoma State.

Here’s a look at all the Oklahoma high school alums in the women’s tournament and their first-round opponents:

Oklahoma: Sharane Campbell (Star Spencer), Kaylon Williams (Midwest City) vs. Central Michigan, 10:10 a.m. Saturday*

Oral Roberts: Emma Gade (Stillwater), Taylor Cooper (Shawnee), Christian Key (Victory Christian), Kevi Luper (Adair), Elisabeth Daniels (OKC Knights), Jaci Bigham (McAlester), Jenni Bryan (Coweta), Felecia Achilefu (Tulsa East Central) vs. Tennessee, 12:30 p.m. Saturday*

UCLA: Alyssia Brewer (Sapulpa) vs. Stetson, 12:30 p.m. Saturday*

Texas A&M: Courtney Walker (EdmondSanta Fe) vs. WichitaState: Alie Decker (Edmond Memorial), 3:05 p.m. Saturday

South Carolina: Ashley Bruner (Norman) vs. South DakotaState, 3:10 p.m. Saturday

Fresno State: Taylor Thompson (Cache), Toni Smith (Del City) vs. Cal, 3:20 p.m. Saturday

Kansas: Angel Goodrich (Sequoyah-Tahlequah) vs. Colorado, 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Duke: Richa Jackson (Midwest City) vs. Hampton, 11:05 a.m. Sunday

Oklahoma State: Kamri Anderson (Tulsa Washington), Liz Donohoe (Edmond North), LaShawn Jones (Putnam City), Kendra Suttles (Lawton), Morgan Toben (Owasso), Toni Young (Del City) vs. DePaul, 1:30 p.m. Sunday

Tulsa: Kadan Brady (Healdton), Ashley Clark (Midwest City), Kelsee Grovey (Shawnee), Taleya Mayberry (Tulsa Washington), Mariah Turner (Norman North), Antoinet Webster (Western Heights) vs. Stanford, 4:20 p.m. Sunday

Prairie View A&M: Deanna Moore (Muskogee) vs. Baylor, 6:30 p.m. Sunday*

*In Oklahoma City regional

Okarche’s Rae Grellner will play the national anthem before Friday night’s Thunder game.

Rae Grellner has been a big hit at the Big House the last two years, not just with her basketball skills.

The Okarche basketball player has twice played the national anthem on the violin before an Okarche game at the State Fair Arena — a huge hit with the crowd each time.

And now she’ll get to play an even bigger stage. Grellner adn her violin will be center stage for the national anthem at Friday night’s Oklahoma City Thunder game vs. Orlando at 7 p.m. at Chesapeake Arena.

Here’s our story from earlier this month, when Grellner played the anthem right before helping Okarche win a state title.

Edmond Memorial’s Chloe Webber and Edmond North’s Hannah Dowell signed to play lacrosse at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Webber is an attacker and Dowell is a midfielder.

“I am excited to add more girls to next year’s roster who are local so that we can continue to grow the sport throughout Oklahoma,” Lady Bison coach Katy Mohr said in a release.

OBU is in its first season of women’s lacrosse. The addition of the sport was announced in 2010 along with the additions of football and swimming.

Oklahoma Baptist is playing an independent schedule this year, going 1-4 through its first five games.

The Lady Bison host Missouri State on March 30.

They’ve also played Texas State, Texas Tech, Midland University and the University of Dallas.

Lacrosse is a club sport at both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

All-City girls track Kirsten Burnett in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 31 2012. Photo By Steve Gooch,

Deer Creek sprinter Kirsten Burnett has decided on her college future, verbally committing to the Oral Roberts track program on Wednesday.

Burnett won four gold medals at the Class 5A state track meet last season, including individual victories in the 100 and 200 meters. She was named The Oklahoman’s Big All-City Girls Track Athlete of the Year.

Burnett picked ORU over Oklahoma Baptist.

“I felt very at home there. I knew I’d be comfortable,” Burnett said of ORU. “I think there’s a lot of potential to grow individually and as a program.”

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Carl Albert’s Gioya Carter was named the Suburban Conference’s MVP. (Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman)

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Carl Albert’s Gioya Carter was named the Suburban Conference’s Most Valuable Player.

Carter, an Oklahoma signee, helped the Titans reach the semifinals of the Class 5A state tournament before losing to fellow Suburban Conference member Shawnee.

El Reno sophomore Sheridan Grey was named Newcomer of the Year and Deer Creek’s Whitney Jones the Defensive Player of the Year. Shawnee’s Wendi Wells was named the Coach of the Year.

Deer Creek’s Ashley Gibson, Piedmont’s Sarah Parker, Guthrie’s Melinda Murillo and Shawnee’s Micaela Yu and McKenzie Cooper were named to the first team.

Carl Albert’s Jordan Gilbert, Deer Creek’s Alexa Adair, Chickasha’s Dominique Golightly, Shawnee’s Bailey Taylor and Piedmont’s Ashley Almond were named second team.

El Reno’s Regan Owen, Noble’s Lauren Brown, Deer Creek’s Bayli Blanchard, Chickasha’s Sierra Hamilton and Guthrie’s Micayla Haynes were on the third team.

Anadarko’s Lakota Beatty reacts after making a shot and being fouled during a Class 4A girls high school basketball game against Vinita in the first round of the state tournament at SNU’s Sawyer Center. (Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman)

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Anadarko’s Lakota Beatty was selected as the Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year, it was announced Thursday.

Beatty, an Oklahoma State signee, averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game for the Lady Warriors. Anadarko made it to the Class 4A semifinals.

As a junior, Beatty was an Oklahoman Super Five selection after leading her team to a state title.

The award honors athletic excellence as well as academic achievement and character on and off the court.

With the award, Beatty is a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, which will be announced later this month.

Previous winners include Edmond Santa Fe’s Courtney Walker (2012), Midwest City’s Ashley Clark (2011), Midwest City’s Richa Jackson (2010), Adair’s Kevi Luper (2009), Sapulpa’s Alyssia Brewer (2008) and Sequoyah-Tahlequah’s Angel Goodrich (2007).

On Wednesday, the OSSAA board of directors approved the ballots that will be sent to the schools for the vote. Though the actual ballots are far more lengthy, and full of legal language, here’s a basic breakdown of the two plans. There is not an option on the ballot to keep 6A football as it is.

Plan I

1. Class 6A will include the 32 largest football playing schools according to ADM.

2. Class 6A will be divided into two divisions.

3. Division I will consist of the largest 16 football playing schools.

4. Division II will consist of the next largest 16 football playing schools.

5. Each division will consist of two eight-team districts.

6. The top four finishers from each district will advance to the playoffs.

7. The playoffs will consist of eight schools from each division.

8. One champion will be determined from each division.

Plan II

1. Class 6A will include the 32 largest football playing schools according to ADM.

2. Class 6A will consist of four eight-team districts.

3. Each school is to play the other schools in the assigned district.

4. Each district will be divided into two divisions, four schools from Division I and four schools from Division II.

5. Division I schools will come from the largest 16 football playing schools according to ADM.

6. Division II schools will come from the next largest 16 football playing schools according to ADM.

7. The top two finishers in each district division will advance to the playoffs (Only games within a team’s district division will count for playoff advancement.).

8. The playoffs will consist of a total of eight schools from Division I and eight schools from Division II.

9. One champion will be determined from each division.

Midwest City and Okemah won state powerlifting state titles last weekend at the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association’s state powerlifting meet at McLoud High School.

McAlester’s Caden Pratt earned the large class’ lightweight squatter, lightweight deadlifter and lightweight overall lifter titles. Wetumka’s Derrick Moore also earned a trio of individual honors in the small class, taking the heavyweight squatter, heavyweight bencher and overall heavyweight lifter titles.

The title was Midwest City’s sixth consecutive in the large-school class. The Bombers finished with 65 points, 22 more than second-place Blanchard. Morris, Prague and McAlester rounded out the top five.

In the small-school class, Okemah edge Mangum 68-66. Holdenville, Kiefer and Sharon-Mutual took the next three spots.

In the large school class, Pratt was joined by Westmoore’s Josh Morgan (heavyweight squatter, heavyweight overall lifter), Blanchard’s Braden Stringer (lightweight bencher), Bridge Creek’s Brett Morris (heavyweight bencher) and Durant’s Jacob Barnhart (heavyweight deadlifter)

The other outstanding lifters in the small school were Empire’s Stephen Price (lightweight squatter), Hartshorne’s Dallas Herring (lightweight bencher), Mangum’s Michael Gilmore (lightweight deadlifter) and Haskell’s Britt Williams (lightweight overall lifter).

Individual winners
Large school
123: Shane Delso, Morris
132: Caden Pratt, McAlester
145: Grant Neugin, Sequoyah-Tahlequah
157: Felix Depona, Edmond Santa Fe
168: Braden Stringer, Blanchard
181: Jesse Gregory, Tuttle
198: Jacob Barhart, Durant
220: Chase Mercer, Noble
242: Josh Morgan, Westmoore
275: Brett Morris, Bridge Creek
Heavyweight: Dalton Gillispie, Prague

Small school
123: Song Cha, Wyandotte
132: Samson Montalbo, Mangum
145: Zach McKimmy, Caddo
157: Michael Gilmore, Mangum
168: Carlos Herrera, Hollis
181: Britt Williams, Haskell
198: Derrick Moore, Wetumka
220: John Jones, Chouteau
242: Comanche Beaver, Okemah
275: John Custar, Sharon-Mutual
Heavyweight: Colton Pickett, Holdenville

See the rest of the game photos here. 

———

Millwood’s Chris Cook watches as Hugo’s Trey Johnson makes the game-winning basket for Millwood in a Class 3A boys state basketball tournament game between Hugo and Millwood at Yukon High School in Yukon, Okla., Thursday, March 7, 2013. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

I have covered a lot of basketball games, college, high school and professional, and I’ve never seen or even thought about a game ending like this.

When I photograph close games I try to put myself in the best location to capture the most likely outcome. Millwood looked like they were headed for a loss and since they are a local team I wanted to capture their reaction after the game. I stood close to the Millwood bench to give me a view of the players walking back.

When Hugo inbounded the ball to an open Trey Johnson I thought the game was over. I turned my camera towards the Millwood bench and players on the other side of the court. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Johnson bolt towards the basket and swung my camera around to see the play. By the time it came into focus the ball was already in the air and then the gym went silent.

At first I thought I was confused as to what was actually going on, maybe Hugo was sealing the victory. Then I noticed all the blank looks on fans’ and players’ faces. After a moment the Millwood players’ and fans’ blank expressions turned into a celebration.

After checking at the scorer’s table to make sure I was not seeing things I started to feel bad for the Hugo player. I thought back to all the mistakes I had made when I was his age and how most of them were only noticed by a few people.

–Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Last night, Mount St. Mary’s girls clinched a spot in the Class 4A state tournament with a win over Heritage Hall. You can read about that here.

Here’s the video of the last moments of the game, including Aimee Rischard’s 3-pointer that put the Rockets ahead for good:

2A girls at State Fair Friday and Saturday

Boys
At Oklahoma City University
Thursday
Latta vs. Talihina, 2 p.m.
Ketchum vs. Chouteau, 3:30 p.m.
Thomas vs. Merritt, 7 p.m.
Haworth vs. Konawa, 8:30 p.m.

-2A boys at OCU Friday, State Fair Saturday

Class 3A
Girls
Thursday at State Fair Arena
Millwood vs. Verdigris, 2 p.m.
Hugo vs. Perkins-Tryon, 3:30 p.m.
Sulphur vs. Lindsay, 7 p.m.
Sequoyah-Tahlequah vs. Adair, 8:30 p.m.

-At State Fair Friday and Saturday

Boys
At Yukon
Sperry vs. Sequoyah-Tahlequah, 2 p.m.
Okemah vs. Crooked Oak, 3:30 p.m.
Hugo vs. Millwood, 7 p.m.
Verdigris vs. Centennial, 8:30 p.m.

-At State Fair Friday and Saturday

Class 4A
Girls
Thursday
At Southern Nazarene
Harrah vs. Cushing, 2 p.m.
Weatherford vs. Fort Gibson, 3:30 p.m.
Anadarko vs. Vinita, 7 p.m.
Mount St. Mary vs. Byng, 8:30 p.m.

-At SNU Friday, State Fair Saturday

Boys
Thursday
At Choctaw
Tulsa McLain vs. Anadarko, 2 p.m.
Muldrow vs. Douglass, 3:30 p.m.
Victory Christian vs. Harrah, 7 p.m.
Roland vs. Tulsa Webster, 8:30 p.m.

-At State Fair Friday and Saturday

First-year Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury extended an offer to the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Batson, who was No. 24 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list ranking the 2014 class of football recruits.

The offer came less than two weeks after one of Kingsbury’s mentors — former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, now at Washington State — offered Batson a scholarship as well.

Batson is also gaining interest from Texas A&M, which has invited him to campus this weekend. Oklahoma State, California and Ohio are among the other programs actively recruiting Batson.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

“Ralph was really dedicated, just a tireless worker who put his heart and soul into trying to improve our program the last five years,” Yukon athletic director David Fisher said. “It wasn’t an easy task when you’re playing in the toughest conference in the state. But he did everything with high energy and integrity.”

The Millers were 2-18 this season, their worst record in Nigro’s five years. The season ended last Friday with a playoff loss at third-ranked Putnam City.

Fisher said the search process for Yukon’s next coach will begin after the state tournament, which concludes March 9.

Here are the schedules:

Class B
Boys
At State Fair Arena
Thursday
Moyers vs. Big Pasture, 2 p.m.
*Arnett vs. Burlington -OR- Mulhall-Orlando, 3:30 p.m.
Fargo vs. Red Oak, 7 p.m.
Coyle vs. Forgan, 8:30 p.m.

Friday
Moyers/Big Pasture winner vs. Arnett/Burlington/Mulhall-Orlando winner, 9 a.m.
Fargo/Red Oak winner vs. Coyle/Forgan winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 7:15 p.m.

Girls
At Carl Albert
Thursday
Timberlake vs. Erick, 2 p.m.
Shattuck vs. Red Oak, 3:30 p.m.
Lomega vs. Leedey, 7 p.m.
Hammon vs. Deer Creek-Lamont, 8:30 p.m.

Friday
At State Fair
Timberlake/Erick winner vs. Shattuck/Red Oak winner, 10:30 a.m.
Lomega/Leedey vs. Hammon/Deer Creek-Lamont winner, 6 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

*-The Burlington/Mulhall-Orlando boys area tournament game has been postponed until 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center in Enid, weather-permitting.

Class A
Boys
At Southern Nazarene
Thursday
Fort Cobb-Broxton vs. Velma-Alma, 2 p.m.
Cheyenne-Reydon vs. Glencoe, 3:30 p.m.
Wright City vs. Sterling, 7 p.m.
Weleetka vs. Laverne, 8:30 p.m.

Friday
At State Fair
Cheyenne-Reydon/Glencoe winner vs. Wright City/Sterling winner, noon
Fort Cobb-Broxton/Velma-Alma winner vs. Weleetka/Laverne winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 1:45 p.m.

Girls
At Oklahoma City University
Thursday
Okarche vs. Sterling, 2 p.m.
Frontier vs. Turner, 3:30 p.m.
Fort Cobb-Broxton vs. Kiowa, 7 p.m.
Cheyenne-Reydon vs. Pond Creek-Hunter, 8:30 p.m.

Friday
At State Fair
Okarche/Sterling winner vs. Frontier/Turner winner, 4:30 p.m.
Fort Cobb-Broxton/Kiowa winner vs. Cheyenne-Reydon/Pond Creek-Hunter winner, 9 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.

Class 6A
BOYS
EAST
At Tulsa Rogers
Friday
Winner’s Bracket
Owasso vs. Broken Arrow, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Stillwater vs. Bixby, 8 p.m.

At Catoosa
Winner’s Bracket
Tulsa Union vs. Jenks, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Tulsa Washington vs. Bartlesville, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Catoosa
Stillwater/Bixby winner vs. Owasso/Broken Arrow loser, 8 p.m.
Tulsa Washington/Bartlesville winner vs. Tulsa Union/Jenks loser, 6:30 p.m.

WEST
At Choctaw
Friday
Winner’s Bracket
Midwest City vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Edmond North vs. Putnam City

At Norman North
Winner’s Bracket
Edmond Memorial vs. Putnam City West, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Putnam City North vs. Lawton Eisenhower, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Norman North
Putnam City North/Lawton Eisenhower winner vs. Edmond Memorial/Putnam City West loser, 6:30 p.m.
Edmond North/Putnam City winner vs. Midwest City/Edmond Santa Fe loser, 8 p.m.

GIRLS
EAST
Thursday
At Catoosa
Winner’s Bracket
Muskogee vs. Tulsa Washington, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Jenks vs. Tulsa Union

At Tulsa Rogers
Loser’s Bracket
Broken Arrow vs. Mustang, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Bartlesville vs. Bixby, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Catoosa
Broken Arrow/Mustang winner vs. Bartlesville/Bixby loser, 1:30 p.m.
Jenks/Tulsa Union winner vs. Muskogee/Tulsa Washington loser, 3 p.m.

WEST
Thursday
At Choctaw
Winner’s Bracket
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Putnam City, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Norman vs. Southmoore, 8 p.m.

At Harrah
Loser’s Bracket
Lawton Eisenhower vs. Choctaw, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Norman North vs. Edmond Memorial, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Harrah
Lawton Eisenhower/Choctaw winner vs. Norman North/Edmond Memorial loser, 1:30 p.m.
Norman/Southmoore winner vs. Edmond Santa Fe/Putnam City loser, 3 p.m.

CLASS 5A
BOYS
EAST
Friday
At Bixby
Winner’s Bracket
Tulsa Memorial vs. Tulsa Kelley, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Chickasha vs. Guthrie, 8 p.m.

At Sapulpa
Winner’s Bracket
Coweta vs. Tulsa Edison, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Skiatook vs. Noble, 8 p.m.

At Bixby
Saturday
Skiatook/Noble winner vs. Coweta/Tulsa Edison loser, 6:30 p.m.
Chickasha/Guthrie winner vs. Tulsa Memorial/Tulsa Kelley loser, 8 p.m.

WEST
Friday
At Edmond North
Winner’s Bracket
Bishop McGuinness vs. Lawton MacArthur, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Del City vs. Capitol Hill, 8 p.m.

At Edmond Memorial
Winner’s Bracket
Carl Albert vs. Southeast, 6:30 p.m.
Western Heights vs. Piedmont, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Edmond Memorial
Western Heights/Piedmont winner vs. Carl Albert/Southeast loser, 6:30 p.m.
Del City/Capitol Hill winner vs. Bishop McGuinness/Lawton MacArthur loser, 8 p.m.

GIRLS
EAST
Thursday
At Bixby
Loser’s Bracket
Chickasha at Tulsa Edison, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Tulsa East Central at Collinsville, 8 p.m.

At Sapulpa
Winner’s Bracket
Tahlequah vs. Tulsa Memorial, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Grove vs. Tulsa Kelley, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Sapulpa
Grove/Tulsa Kelley winner vs. Tahlequah/Tulsa Memorial loser, 1:30 p.m.
Chickasha/Tulsa Edison winner vs. Tulsa East Central/Collinsville loser, 3 p.m.

WEST
Thursday
At Edmond North
Loser’s Bracket
Del City vs. Ardmore, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Shawnee vs. Piedmont, 8 p.m.

At Edmond Memorial
Loser’s Bracket
El Reno vs. Lawton MacArthur, 6:30 p.m.
Carl Albert vs. Deer Creek, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Edmond North
El Reno/Lawton MacArthur winner vs. Carl Albert/Deer Creek loser, 1:30 p.m.
Del City/Ardmore winner vs. Shawnee/Piedmont loser, 3 p.m.

Tulsa and Texas State both came in with offers for the 6-foot-6, 290-pound tackle, and interest continues to grow from other schools as well. He has an upcoming visit to Baylor scheduled as well.

In case you missed it, here’s the first Super 30 list for the class of 2014.

Meanwhile, his Miller teammate, defensive end Andre Dowuoana-Hammond, 6-2, 235, continues to draw interest from a variety of Division I programs. He and Bowling were both invited to junior day at Oklahoma State last month.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

USA Today’s Scott Allen took time to rank the top 10 high school baseball states in the country.

You can read the full list here.

The top four are no real surprise: California, Florida, Georgia, Texas. Next comes South Carolina at No. 5, followed by Oklahoma at No. 6.

Here’s what Allen had to say about the state of baseball in the state:

6. OKLAHOMA

Best Current High School Prospect: Jonathan Denney, C, Yukon
The Arkansas commit is a potential first-round draft pick.

Best Former ALL-USA Selection: Dylan Bundy, 2011
Bundy, the 2011 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year, was selected fourth overall in the 2011 draft. After dominating the minor leagues last season, he will compete for a rotation spot with Baltimore this spring.

Best All-Time: Johnny Bench
The 14-time All-Star and Hall of Fame catcher starred at Binger High School before the Cincinnati Reds made him the 36th overall pick of the 1965 draft.

The best current high school prospect and best former All-USA selection are pretty obvious picks. Denney, who was recently named as a Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American, has a chance to be the highest state high school position player picked in a long time. Bundy broke through to the majors last season at 19 years old.

The final category might draw more of an argument. When ESPN ranked the top 100 baseball players of all-time last year in its Hall of 100 project, Mickey Mantle was the top state player on the list at No. 9. Bench came in at No. 27.

Willie Stargell (No. 84) and Paul Waner (91) also made that list.

In addition to the OKC Storm boys and girls teams, the event will also include Sunrise Christian from Wichita, Kan., which is led by Oklahoma commit Jacob Hammond. A 6-foot-10 junior forward, Hammond played last season for the Storm.

Prime Prep Academy, the Dallas-area school started by NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, will participate as well. Both Prime Prep and Sunrise are ranked in most national polls.

Other teams participating include Planet Academy from Phoenix, Word of Life boys and girls from Wichita, God’s Academy boys and girls from Dallas and the St. Louis Patriettes girls team.

Friday’s games will begin at noon, with the first game Saturday to tip off at 9 a.m.

Here is the full Storm Festival Schedule

Friday
Noon: OKC Storm vs Word of Life
1:15 p.m.: OKC Storm Girls vs Word of Life Girls
2:45 p.m.: Sunrise Christian vs Planet Academy
4:15 p.m.: Gods Academy vs Prime Prep
5:45 p.m.: St Louis vs God’s Academy Girls
7 p.m.: OKC Storm vs Planet Academy
8:30 p.m.: Prime Prep vs Sunrise Christian Black

Saturday
9 a.m.: St Louis vs OKC Storm Girls
10:15 a.m.: Word of Life vs God’s Academy
11:30 a.m.: OKC Storm vs Sunrise Christian Black
1 p.m.: St Louis vs Word of Life Girls
2:30 p.m.: Planet Academy vs God’s Academy
4 p.m.: Sunrise Christain vs Prime Prep

This rendering from MA+ Architecture, which is handling the renovation projects at Taft and Speegle stadiums, shows a view from the outside of Taft Stadium after the renovations are completed. The project is slated to begin in May.

On Tuesday night, the Oklahoma City community will get the chance to learn about the details and see the final design of the nearly $9.7 million renovation to historic Taft Stadium that will begin in May.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Northwest Classen High School auditorium, located at 2801 NW 27th St. in Oklahoma City.

The meeting is open to students, parents and other community members who wish to learn about the project, which is being paid for by a 2007 district-wide bond issue and other Oklahoma City Public Schools funds.

Taft Stadium, built in 1934, currently hosts football games for Northwest Classen and John Marshall football games, as well as those for multiple OKCPS middle schools. In the past, it hosted everything from All-State games to stock-car races.

The meeting is being coordinated by MA+ Architecture, the firm handling the renovation, as well as the MAPS trust project office. Money from the 2007 bond issue is being managed by MAPS.

OKC’s Speegle Stadium is undergoing a similar renovation, and John Marshall is in the process of building a new stadium on its campus, meaning OKCPS will greatly improve the quality of its stadiums for football, soccer and track in the next year.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Woods, who has worked as an assistant at Star Spencer and Millwood over the last five seasons, is replacing Bruce Troxell, who stepped down after six years.

Woods, a former Millwood player, had a standout career at Oklahoma State. He was picked in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft and spent parts of four seasons in the NFL and CFL before ending his professional career in 2008.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Douglass’ Stevie Clark, an Oklahoma State signee, and Oklahoma signee Jordan Woodard of Edmond Memorial lead the way among 30 state nominees for 2013 McDonald’s All American honors.

On the girls side, more than 40 state players were nominated, including Carl Albert’s Gioya Carter, an OU signee, and OSU signee Lakota Beatty of Anadarko.

The nominees are among 814 seniors from around the country nominated to participate in the McDonald’s All American Games, which will be played April 3 at the United Center in Chicago.

Nominees will be honored at a breakfast at McDonald’s and the team rosters will be announced on ESPNU at 4 p.m. tonight. Twenty-four boys and 24 girls will be selected to participate in the event.

The last state boys player to be selected for the event was Putnam City’s Xavier Henry in 2009. Midwest City’s Richa Jackson was the last girls player selected, playing in the 2010 game.

Oklahoma McDonald’s All American Game nominees:
BOYS
Ronnie Boyce, Putnam City
David Bush, Putnam City
Kevin Caudhill, Deer Creek
Stevie Clark, Douglass
Carlbe Ervin, Edmond North
Dorrian Gigger, Moore
Tyler Harrison, John Marshall
Jakob Hartsock, Bartlesville
Markell Henderson, Boswell
Tyler Holcomb, Edmond Memorial
Jaylen Lowe, Owasso
John Moon, Crescent
Shaquille Morris, Edmond Memorial
Cornell Neal, Midwest City
Juwan Parker, Tulsa Washington
Jacob Richardson, Porter
Jacob Seidel, Jenks
Don Simmons, Tulsa Edison
Quinton Smith, Bartlesville
Brian Speaks, Tulsa Edison
DaVaunta Thomas, Tulsa Hale
Rashawn Thomas, Southeast
Trae Thomas, Owasso
Josh Thompson, Capitol Hill
Rico Thompson, Stillwater
Jerrick Warren, Guthrie
Anthony White, Tulsa Memorial
Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial
Dylan Woods, Bluejacket
Seth Youngblood, Roland

Girls
Kori Barrios, Hammon
Lakota Beatty, Anadarko
Cheyenne E. Been, Dewar
Gioya Carter, Carl Albert
Courtney Chelf, Enid
Corbin Coker, Prague
Bethany Cox, Norman
I’mani Davis, Tulsa Union
Christina Devers, Bixby
T’ona Edwards, Northeast
Cameerah Graves, Edmond Santa Fe
Jalissa Gum, Frontier
Taylor Harris, Kiefer
Kylee Hicks, Choctaw
Abby Hoover, Sapulpa
Austyn Iven, Stillwater
Miranda Janz, Erick
Shelbie Kirby, Collinsville
Taylor Koelsch, Owasso
Ashley LaGasse, Lomega
Che’Ron Lewis, Cushing
Kelsey McClure, Muskogee
Taylor McElhaney, Oologah
Olivia Mason, Fairview
Maclayn Massey, Christian Heritage
Casey Miller, Beggs
Correy Moyer, Skiatook
Kylie Parker, Anadarko
Stevi Parker, Bixby
Kaitlyn Peterson, Edmond North
Bria Pitts, Tulsa East Central
Olivia Porter, Walters
Teanna Reid, Millwood
Tiffany Rieger, Burlington
Kayla Tucker, Southmoore
Jessica Washington, Jenks
Peyton Walker, Hammon
Ariel Williams, Tulsa East Central
Samantha Williams, Bluejacket
Paige Wilson, Bartlesville
Micaela Yu, Shawnee

Past Oklahoma McDonald’s All Americans
Boys
2009: Xavier Henry, Putnam City
2007: Blake Griffin, OCS
2003: J.R. Giddens, John Marshall
1997: Ryan Humphrey, Tulsa Washington
1989: Jeff Webster, Carl Albert
1988: Lee Mayberry, Tulsa Rogers
1987: Mike Maddox, Putnam City North
1982: Wayman Tisdale, Tulsa Washington

Girls
2010: Richa Jackson, Midwest City
2008: Alyssia Brewer, Sapulpa
2005: Earnesia Williams, Sapulpa

Washington State extended an offer on Wednesday, which was initially reported by Rivals.com.

Washington State’s only interaction with Batson, 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, was viewing his game tape, which Millwood coaches sent to Cougars coach Mike Leach.

“They like me as a receiver,” Batson said. “A lot of the schools I’m hearing from see me as a receiver, but some are looking at me as an athlete.”

Batson did a little bit of everything for the Falcons last season. He was among the state’s leaders with nine interceptions as a cornerback, and had 598 receiving yards on just 26 catches, for an average of 23.0 yards per catch. He also rushed 26 times for 347 yards, over 13 yards per carry, and spent time at quarterback, completing 8 of 12 passes for 76 yards and two TDs.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Chancellor, 6-foot-3, 165 pounds, will head to Oklahoma as a preferred walk-on, McGuinness coach Justin Jones said Wednesday.

Chancellor turned down an opportunity at Ohio, which was offering a scholarship starting in January 2014. And he was being recruited by a variety of other schools, including some in the Ivy League.

Oklahoma State was also pursuing him, and came close to offering him after receiver Fred Ross of Tyler, Texas, flipped his commitment the night before signing day.

A long-time OU fan, Chancellor settled on the Sooners. An Oklahoman All-State selection, he finished the year with 1,397 yards and 21 touchdowns on 61 catches in helping the Irish to the Class 5A semifinals.

He made a big splash in Week 5 when he had 359 receiving yards and four touchdowns on six catches in a 42-32 win over Carl Albert, all while wearing a half-cast to protect his broken left hand.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

The offseason momentum of the 2014 quarterback class kept going Wednesday when Norman North’s David Cornwell and Edmond Santa Fe’s Justice Hansen each picked up new scholarship offers.

Oklahoma State and Miami extended offers to Cornwell, who reported the offers on Twitter. He already had offers from Auburn, Indiana, Tulsa and Washington State.

Hansen added Auburn to his list, which already included Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Missouri, Arkansas and Arizona State.

Cornwell, who played at Jones last year, is applying for a waiver from the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. Cornwell’s eligibility clock began with the start of the 2009 season, though he didn’t play varsity football until last year and did not play at all in 2011 as he took a mission trip to Africa.

Cornwell is the fifth in-state player offered by OSU for 2014. He threw for 2,742 yards and 27 touchdowns for Jones last year and ran for 755 yards and six scores.

Hansen threw for 3,079 yards with 36 touchdowns, while rushing for 733 yards and 14 TDs.

Tuesday’s snowstorm wiped out a lot of good basketball games, but Friday’s schedule is packed, too, and we’re giving the fans the chance to pick which matchup The Oklahoman high school sports staff should cover.

The final week of the regular season for the big schools includes several rivalry games around the metro area, while Class 4A and below are in the playoffs already, creating some unique matchups to pick from for the Fans’ Choice Game of the Week.

Fans can vote in the poll now in the poll below. We will have a reporter and photographer at the girls and boys games between the two schools chosen. The poll will close at 4 p.m. Thursday, and game coverage will be included in Saturday’s Oklahoman.

Monday, Douglass defensive end Deondre Clark and Norman North quarterback David Cornwell were named to the initial Rivals100 for the 2014 class.

Tuesday, they were joined by four other Oklahoma high school standouts on the Rivals250.

Clark leads the way at No. 48. Cornwell is at No. 63.

Jenks defensive back Steven Parker is at No. 114, Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen is at No. 140, Broken Arrow running back Devon Thomas is at No. 155 and Broken Arrow linebacker Gyasi Akem is at No. 238.

Thomas is the only state player who is committed after switching from Oklahoma to Oklahoma State.

The 2014 class is one of the strongest in the state in a long time and it certainly shows in these rankings.

If you look last year at the finals Rivals250, only one state player made the list and he didn’t even play last season–Southmoore’s D.J. Ward (No. 154).

In 2012, Heritage Hall teammates Sterling Shepard (131) and Barry Sanders (134) were on the final list, as was Jenks’ Alex Ross (144).

The 2011 final list features Millwood’s Josh Turner (161) and Duncan’s Dylan Dismuke (209).

Tulsa Washington’s Calvin Barnett (103), Southmoore’s Austin Haywood (139), Tulsa Central’s Demarco Cobbs (140), Mustang’s Bronson Irwin (195), Owasso’s Trent Spurgeon (210) all made the list in 2010.

2009 featured Jenks’ Gabe Lynn (43), Dewar’s Ronnell Lewis (44), Carl Albert’s David Oku (97) and Tulsa Union’s Jeremy Smith (248).

Muskogee wide receiver Jameel Owens topped the 2008 list among in-staters at No. 52. Roughers teammate Stacey McGee (86) and Guthrie’s Kye Staley (130) also were named.

The 2007 list wasn’t ordered but Enid’s Austin Box, Norman’s Ryan Broyles, Millwood’s Gerald Jones and Tulsa Union’s Matt Romine made the list.

In 2006, Muskogee’s Derek Burton, Ardmore’s Jermaine Gresham and Southeast’s Gerald McCoy were named to the list.

Rivals.com released its annual Rivals100 list of the nation’s top 100 football recruits Monday morning, and as expected there were a few Oklahoma players on the list.

Douglass defensive end Deondre Clark enters the list at No. 48, after he set a school record with 22 sacks last season and finished with 99 tackles.

Norman North quarterback David Cornwell is No. 63 on the list. Last season at Jones, Cornwell threw for 2,742 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Rivals.com released its list just one day after we released the first edition of our annual Super 30 list of the state’s top recruits, which can be found here. We also made the case for who should be No. 1 and broke down the strong quarterback class in the state.

Clark is No. 1 and Cornwell is No. 5 on our Super 30 list.

Clark currently has 14 offers, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, USC and Notre Dame.

Cornwell has offers from Auburn, Virginia Tech, Washington State, Indiana and Tulsa. He has also taken recent visits to Alabama, Michigan and UCLA.

CLASS 4A

TUTTLE 61, BLACKWELL 9

Tuttle advanced to the Class 4A finals for a sixth straight season in dominant fashion. The route was on early for the Tigers as they opened the dual with three pins from Gunner Laffoon at 132, Nick Richards at 138, and Dakota Head at 145.

VINITA 33, WAGONER 27

Dual matchups don’t get much closer than this one. Eight of the 14 matches came down to a decision, and both teams picked up seven victories each. Vinita needed a 4-1 decision from  Tyler Binns in the final match at 126 pounds to clinch the win and advance to the finals.

CLASS 3A

PERRY 42, VIAN 27

Vian nearly pulled off a shocking upset of Perry, but key victories for the Maroons from Jake Biggs at 138 and David Thomas at 160 would prove to be the difference. Biggs turned a close match into a third period pin to give Perry six team points. Three matches later, Thomas scored a takedown with four seconds remaining to earn a one point victory.

NEWKIRK 43, BERRYHILL 24

Trailing 12-3 after the first three matches, Newkirk finally captured the momentum with a pin from Jacob Vap at 152 pounds. The Tigers won eight of the next nine matches to defeat Berryhill and move on to the 3A finals.

CLASS 4A

TUTTLE 63, BRISTOW 13

Bristow held a 13-12 lead after Chris Smith picked up a pin in the 152-pound match. Then the Purple Pirates hit the strength of the Tuttle lineup as the Tigers reeled off nine straight wins, including seven by pin. Tuttle has won the last three dual state championships and will move on to face Blackwell in a rematch of the 2012 finals.

BLACKWELL 48, LOCUST GROVE 26

Locust Grove jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but Blackwell won nine of the next 12 matches to cruise to an easy win.  Blackwell moves on to the semifinals where they will look to avenge a loss 31-16 loss to Tuttle in 2012 dual state finals.

VINITA 64, WEATHERFORD 10

Vinita rolled out to a 31-0 after winning the first six matches with pins at 132, 138, 145, and 160. Weatherford’s Matt Hoffman finally got the Eagles on the board at 170 with 11-0 major decision victory. Vinita clinched the blow out win in the 220-pound match with a pin from Kaleb Phillips.

WAGONER 34, PIEDMONT 23

Wagoner used key victories in several close matches to win the first round’s most competitive dual. Piedmont, who advanced to dual state by defeating traditional power Cushing in districts, couldn’t recover from a 25-11 deficit after Wagoner’s Derek Marshall picked up a pin at 220-pounds. The Bulldogs put the dual away with a pin from Alex Lockwood in the 106-pound match. Wagoner advances to take on Vinita in the semifinals.

CLASS 3A

PERRY 70, GEARY 9

Perry, winners four consecutive dual state titles, made quick work of Geary in dual that lasted only 35 minutes. Geary lead 9-6 after winning two of the first three matches before Perry strung together 11 straight victories.

BERRYHILL 64, LITTLE AXE 6

Berryhill won 12 of the duals 14 matches, 10 of which by bonus points, to make quick work of Little Axe. Berryhill will meet Newkirk in the semifinals.

VIAN 43, PLAINVIEW 29

Vian was finally able to breakaway in a back and forth dual with five straight pins at 170, 182, 195, 220, and 285. The dual featured five lead changes within the first six matches before Vian broke away. Vian advances to face four time defending champion Perry in the semifinals.

NEWKIRK 43, CASCIA HALL 25

Newkirk picked up a fall from Laken McConnell at 182 pounds to turn a close dual into a runaway. Including McConnell’s pin, the Tigers earned bonus point wins in five of the last eight matches.

Below is the poll for the Fans’ Choice Game of the Week. We will have a reporter and photographer at the girls and boys game between the two schools chosen. The poll below will close at 4 p.m. Thursday, and game coverage will be included in Saturday’s Oklahoman.

Cast your vote now.

Zack Smith, who spent the last nine years as an assistant coach at Del City, is the new football coach at Chandler.

“I appreciate the opportunity,” Smith said. “I think it’s a good move for me right now in my career. It’s definitely going to be a change of pace though.”

Smith succeeds Scott Myers in the position.

Myers died in November at age 45 after a two-year battle with cancer.

The Lions were 5-5 last season, nearly making the playoffs in District 3A-2.

“I’m really excited to keep going on with what Scott put forward and keep this program moving in the right direction,” Smith said. “I’ve been up there a lot in the last few weeks, trying to build relationships with the players and their parents. The kids we have coming back really liked coach Myers and hopefully I can build on the good things he was doing here.”

He helped coach the Eagles defense. Del City went 9-2 this season, winning District 5A-1.

Prior to his time at Del City, Smith spent a year at Pottsboro, Texas, after finishing his playing career at Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Smith is originally from Boyd, Texas.

Former Owasso standout Dylan Bundy is ranked No. 2 on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects. AP Photo

Former Owasso right-hander Dylan Bundy is entering just his second full season as a professional baseball player, but his status continued rising Tuesday when he was revealed as the No. 2 prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects.

Former Broken Arrow standout Archie Bradley is No. 24 while former Putnam City and Oklahoma State left-hander Andrew Heaney is No. 81.

Bundy, 20, made his MLB debut last season for the Baltimore Orioles, appearing in two games out of the bullpen. In the minors he started 23 games, going 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA and 119 strikeouts across three levels.

“His Fastball is easily plus, thrown up to 98 mph, and he maintains velocity deep into his starts with a clean and easy delivery,” MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo wrote. “His curve should be at least above-average in the future, though he’s still learning to throw it consistently. He has good arm speed on his changeup, which should be another above-average or better pitch. He looks every bit the top of the rotation starter the Orioles hoped they were getting when they gave him a Major League contract.”

Bundy spoke via phone with MLB Network on Tuesday and was asked to grade his first professional season.

“I really wouldn’t give it just a grade,” he said. “I would just go on my feel and how I felt all year; I felt good throughout the whole year. I still had the zip on the fastball that I needed, I was still throwing strikes and competing out there.”

Bradley, a Broken Arrow standout who was going to play at Oklahoma before being drafted No. 7 overall in 2011 by Arizona, had a successful first season as a professional. He started 27 games in the Midwest League, going 12-6 with a 3.84 ERA and 152 strikeouts. Perhaps the most glaring statistic is his .181 batting average against.

“His fastball, which tops out at 95 mph, has some serious sink to generate groundball outs,” Mayo said. “His curve has sharp bite to it, though he doesn’t always command it well. He has a feel for a changeup with some fade to it, giving him the chance to have three average or better offerings at his disposal.”

The negative? Bradley also led the league in walks with 84.

Heaney was selected ninth overall in last year’s draft by the Marlins and was able to make six starts in the minors. His overall ERA was a bit high at 4.33, though.

“Heaney’s plus pitchability should let him move quickly, as he has a firm grasp of the strike zone and mixes his pitches well,” Mayo wrote.

Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar is ranked No. 1.

The Dale girls’ only loss this season was to Bethel, so I’m sure there will be a revenge factor in play. Of course, since this was the fans’ choice, I expect to see a lot of you there on Friday night. The louder the better.

-Scott Wright, The Oklahoman

______________________

We’re giving the fans a chance to decide which high school basketball matchup The Oklahoman high school sports staff should cover Friday night.

We will have a reporter and photographer at the girls and boys game between the two schools chosen. The poll below will close at 4 p.m. Thursday, and game coverage will be included in Saturday’s Oklahoman.

Cast your vote in the poll below.

Joel Blumenthal didn’t want to spend any time later in life wondering “what if.”

The Deer Creek quarterback, still holding out hope for a Division I offer, weighed his options and decided Thursday night to commit to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan.

Blumenthal decided the juco route gave him the best opportunity to continue chasing his dreams–playing Division I football and beyond.

“I was really just thinking about what I wanted to do–go juco, Division II or walk-on somewhere,” Blumenthal said. “I wanted to play Division I and Butler gives me the best chance.

The Grizzlies have had success moving quarterbacks to Division I.

Zach Mettenberger signed with LSU following the 2010 season at Butler and started for the Tigers this season. Billy Cosh, Butler’s quarterback last season, is committed to Houston.

“They know exactly what I’m thinking,” Blumenthal said. “They know I want to play at the next level.”

Blumenthal threw for 2,456 yards and 32 touchdowns with just three interceptions as a senior, helping the Antlers to a district title and the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.

He also ran for 643 yards and nine touchdowns.

“That’s exactly what they want,” Blumenthal said of Butler’s coaches. “They want an athletic passer that can run or keep the play alive when it’s needed. That’s exactly what I want to do.”

Butler’s coaches visited Blumenthal at home Sunday and he decided to commit Thursday night after a phone conversation with the coaches.

The only thing that could change Blumenthal’s decision would be a late Division I offer.
TCU and New Mexico expressed strong interest but went in different directions. Blumenthal has been in contact recently with Arkansas State.

Jeffreys, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound linebacker, finished the season with 185 tackles in 13 games, helping the Irish reach the Class 5A semifinals. He also had six quarterback sacks and an interception, earning a spot on The Oklahoman’s Big All-City first team.

Known as the Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel is located in Charleston, S.C., and plays in the FCS, formerly known as Division I-AA.

Bradshaw, a linebacker, committed to the Bison program last week, while Holland made his decision official on Sunday.

Bradshaw led the Class 5A champion Titans with 132 tackles, and added three sacks as Carl Albert bounced back from a 1-5 start to win state.

Holland anchored the offensive line that was crucial in opening the run game for All-State quarterback Steven Thompson.

Holland chose OBU, which will play its first season of football in more than 70 years this fall, over multiple offers from Division I and II programs.

“It just felt like the right place for me,” said Holland, 6-foot-2, 270 pounds. “All the coaches really welcomed me in and made me feel at home there. I wanted to be a part of the new tradition of OBU football.”

Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen picked up yet another offer Sunday when Texas A&M joined the list of schools offering the 2014 prospect.

The Aggies join Arizona State, Missouri and Arkansas in offering Hansen.

With the success of Heisman Trophy-winning Johnny Manziel in Kevin Sumlin’s system in College Station, the A&M offer figures to be an attractive one.

An Oklahoman All-Stater as a junior, Hansen threw for 3,079 yards and 36 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. He also ran for 773 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Hansen was recently invited to play in the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game in Florida.

Friday, Jan. 18th:
Bishop McGuinness vs. Cascia Hall
1:00 p.m.: Varsity Girls
3:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys

Mt. St. Mary vs. Bishop Kelley
5:00 p.m.: Varsity Girls
7:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys

Saturday, Jan. 19th:
Bishop McGuinness vs. Bishop Kelley
11:oo a.m.: Varsity Girls
1:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys

Mt. St. Mary vs. Cascia Hall
3:00 p.m.: Varsity Girls
5:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys

Mount St. Mary boys soccer coach Francois Boda was named the Southwest Sectional Coach of the Year

Mount St. Mary boys soccer coach Francois Boda was named the Southwest Sectional Coach of the Year, the school learned this week.

The award was given by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Boda was also in the running for the organization’s National Coach of the Year award for boys soccer, which was given to Shawn Brower of Tennessee.

The Southwest Sectional award includes the states of Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

“Coach Boda’s tireless energy, professionalism, mentoring and leadership of our young student-athletes has been recognized big-time and Rockets everywhere are so proud,” Mount St. Mary athletic director John Keilty said.

Last year, Boda coached the Rockets to the Class 4A state championship. He also serves as head coach of the girls team.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

In this provided photo, U.S. Grant and Southeast boys basketball players are seen Tuesday night gathering in a circle during a moment of silence to remember former U.S. Grant player Anthony Hartfield, who was killed Monday.

A circle of red and blue formed at midcourt Tuesday night when players from the U.S. Grant and Southeast boys basketball teams locked arms during a moment of silence to remember former Grant player Anthony Hartfield.

The 20-year-old Hartfield was shot and killed in an apparent botched robbery attempt at his home on Monday. Here’s the story.

U.S. Grant is also planning something special to remember Hartfield at its homecoming game against John Marshall on Feb. 1. Hartfield was a two-time Big All-City and All-State honorable mention selection by The Oklahoman during his career at U.S. Grant.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen is one of the top prospects in the state for the 2014 class.

Hansen’s recruiting profile continues to skyrocket as he recently picked up his third Division I offer when Arizona State joined the mix, according to Santa Fe coach Lance Manning. Hansen already had offers from Missouri and Arkansas.

Hansen also recently was invited to play in the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game in Florida.

As a junior, Hansen threw for 3,079 yards and 36 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He also ran for 773 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Tulsa East Central wide receiver/defensive back Stanvon Taylor was named to the MaxPreps All-American team.

Taylor, an Oklahoma commit, earned the honors at defensive back. He had 34 tackles and four interceptions on defense, though most teams avoided going his way. On offense, Taylor had 61 catches for 1,035 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for two more touchdowns.

Taylor was The Oklahoman‘s All-State Defensive Player of the Year this season and played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl earlier this month.

He helped his team to the Class 5A championship game before falling to Carl Albert.

Also, Vian offensive lineman Rob Boyd was named to the MaxPreps Small Schools All-American team.

Boyd (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) is committed to Tulsa.

Boyd was a dominant force on the Vian offensive line that helped the Wolverines become the second highest-scoring offense in state history. Boyd was an Oklahoman first-team All-Stater this season and also played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.

Also, Victory Christian quarterback Keats Calhoun was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American second team.

Here’s the rest of the team:
First-team offense
Second-team offense
Second-team defense
Medium School First-team offense
Medium School First-team defense
Medium School Second-team offense
Medium School Second-team defense
Small School First-team defense
Small School Second-team offense
Small School Second-team defense

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013
2:30 p.m.: Union vs. Lawton Ike
4:00 p.m.: Midwest City vs. Lawton
5:30 p.m.: Putnam City vs. John Marshall
7:00 p.m.: PC North vs. PC West

Friday, Jan. 11, 2013
5:30 p.m. / 7:00 p.m.: Semi-finals

Saturday, Jan 12, 2013
3:30 p.m.: 3rd place game
5:00 p.m.: Championship

A proposal developed by the rules committee of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association was voted down by the board of directors in December and sent back to the committee for further discussion.

However, a large group of 6A coaches and administrators decided be proactive in developing their own proposal to take to the OSSAA, rather than sitting back to see what happened.

One of the most popular ideas being discussed at the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association clinic Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City was modeled after Texas’ postseason format, which splits its largest class into two playoff brackets based on enrollment.

The idea would keep Class 6A as the largest 32 schools, and four teams from each district would qualify for the playoffs.

But instead of having one 16-team playoff, the postseason would be split into two divisions. The largest two playoff teams from each district would be put in Division 1 and the smallest in Division 2, making for two eight-team playoff brackets.

Coaches had also been discussing the same idea involving an increase of teams in Class 6A, up to 48 or even 64. And other ideas will be entertained as well.

The OSSAA board of directors meets Wednesday.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK