Class 5A/6A volleyball state tournament, Day 1
7:30 p.m.: Sorry for the delay while I was on the road to football at Mustang. Edmond Memorial closed it out in three games and will face Bartlesville at 11:45 a.m. Saturday at OBU.
6:11 p.m.: Edmond Memorial takes a 2-0 lead on Bixby. Tulsa Kelley closed out Duncan in three games and will face Tulsa Washington at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at OBU.
5:04 p.m.: Bartlesville closes it out 15-10 in the fifth. The Bruins will face the Edmond Memorial-Bixby winner Saturday at 11:45 a.m. at OBU.
4:54 p.m.: We’re going to a fifth between Bartlesville and Edmond North.
4:50 p.m.: Tulsa Washington turns in the rally of the year to advance. Down 2-0 and two points away from elimination, the Hornets fought back for the 3-2 win, 20-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-11.
4:28 p.m.: Bartlesville takes a 2-1 lead on Edmond North. Tulsa Washington and Guymon going to the fifth game.
4 p.m.: Bartlesville evens it at a game apiece, winning 25-23.
3:37 p.m.: Edmond North takes the opener 25-17 for a 1-0 lead in the match.
3:15 p.m.: Jenks takes the final two games and the match to eliminate Tulsa Union in five. Edmond North and Bartlesville are just getting going. This is the one match today that I’ve really been looking forward to. North is a young, energetic team with loads of talent, and I’ve been hearing good things about Bartlesville since mid-August. Some coaches have told me they think the Bruins are the best east-side team.
2:28 p.m.: Catoosa eliminates Coweta in three games and will face McGuinness Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the semis. Tulsa Union has a 2-1 lead on Jenks in the fourth game of a tight match. Jenks is holding a 23-19 lead in the fourth.
12:51 p.m.: At 6A, Edmond Santa Fe knocks out Norman North in three hard-fought games. The Wolves get the Jenks-Union winner in the match that is about to begin. Catoosa and Coweta are just getting going in 5A play.
On a sidenote, Shawnee High shot to the top of my “favorite high school gyms” list. Amazing place that mixes a college arena look with some throwback touches that give it an old-school gym feel, too. Looking forward to spending the second half of the day there to see the Edmond Memorial and Edmond North matches.
12:05 p.m.: McGuinness closes it out in three, winning the final game 25-15. The Irish will face the winner of the next match, Coweta vs. Catoosa, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the semifinals, back at OBU.
11:45 a.m.: With two locations going today, it’ll be hard for me to update everything, but I’ll get as much as I can.
Edmond Santa Fe and Norman North are under way at Shawnee High, but I’m at Oklahoma Baptist for the 5A opener between Bishop McGuinness and Skiatook. The Irish have dominated the first two games, 25-8 and 25-8, with the third about to start.
Here’s today’s schedule for both sites:
Class 5A at Oklahoma Baptist
11 a.m.: McGuinness def. Skiatook 3-0 (25-8, 25-8, 25-15)
12:45 p.m.: Catoosa def. Coweta 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-22)
2:30 p.m.: Tulsa Washington def. Guymon 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-11)
4:15 p.m.: Duncan vs. Tulsa Kelley
Class 6A at Shawnee HS
11 a.m.: Edmond Santa Fe def. Norman North 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-23)
12:45 p.m.: Jenks def. Tulsa Union 3-2 (27-25, 19-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-13)
2:30 p.m.: Bartlesville def. Edmond North 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 15-10)
4:15 p.m.: Edmond Memorial vs. Bixby
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Private school honor: Bryana Wade, Mt. St. Mary’s…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There were a lot of heroes in the Mt. St. Mary’s softball team winning its first state softball championship. Morgan McCalmon was phenomenal in the circle. She gave up two runs in three games.
Freshman Sable Hankins came up huge in the championship with a couple of hits and RBIs to lead the Rockets past Washington.
But this team has an unquestioned leader. And the great news for MSM fans is that catcher Bryana Wade will be back for one more season.
Wade was incredible, hitting a home run in the semifinals and the championship. Definitely in the running for Little All-City Player of the Year (no, I haven’t decided that yet).
Other contenders
Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall, Football: Had more than 330 total yards and scored five touchdowns in a dominating win against Newcastle.
Barry J. Sanders, Heritage Hall, Football: In limited time, rushed for 162 yards and two long touchdown carries in the first half.
Irish offensive line: A statement was made in a rout of Elk City. LaRone Richardson had another big game with the line leading the way to 364 rushing yards.
Mac Katigan, Casady, Football: In a rather surprising loss (to me, anyway), Katigan ran for a score and threw for another against Dallas St. Marks.
Skyler Sikes, OCS, Football: Still operating without Jack Warren, Sikes came up huge with three touchdowns in the win against Perry.
Jake Peace, MSM, Football: Did they break the scoreboard in Lindsay? In a 71-40 loss, Peace scored four touchdowns for the Rockets.
Heritage Hall and CHA volleyball: Both had tremendous seasons. Chargers were ousted in the quarterfinals while CHA was downed by Cache in the championship.
Irish volleyball: Girls are one of the favorites to walk out with the 5A championship this weekend in Shawnee.
Irish cross country: Strong showing by both boys and girls in Edmond. Girls, led by Mary Kate Roy, placed third. Boys, led by Brett Scott, earned the 5A championship.
Edmond honor: Alex Christensen, Deer Creek…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Ooh this was a tough one. But in the end, his numbers were too good to be overlooked. So Deer Creek’s Alex Christensen gets the Edmond Player of the Week, just edging out the Memorial defense.
In talking with coach Grant Gower, he had no idea Christensen had THAT many carries. Christensen ended up with 38 carries for 246 yards and four touchdowns in a big road win against El Reno.
Gower said El Reno was unable to stop his big QB so he didn’t go away from it. I’ve compared Christensen as a beast before, and well, that might work for this week.
Good bounce back the last two weeks by the Antlers following the loss at Guthrie.
Other contenders
Memorial defense: Aw heck, the whole team in the second half. Playing inspired because of the loss of Cale Olbert, teams turned a 7-7 game at halftime time to a 47-7 win against Choctaw. Jeff Balkenbush and Ry Huff were part of the charge leading the way.
Jesse Mathews, North, Football: Once upon a time he was a contender for the QB job, but Mathews has made a nice transition and had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Putnam City.
Jeremy Moore, Santa Fe, Football: Wolves dropped their sixth consecutive game, but Moore did pick off two passes in the loss to Mustang.
North softball: Here we go. This is what they’ve been waiting for. Rick Nordyke’s girls are ranked No. 1 heading into this week’s state tournament.
Memorial, North, Santa Fe volleyball: Gotta think the Bulldogs are heavy favorites, but Shawnee will be Edmond east this weekend for the 6A volleyball tournament with all three teams.
Alex Shook and Tara Lewis, Memorial, Cross Country: Lewis was second and Shook was fourth at the pre-state run at Mitch Park.
Arya Bahreini and Alex Skinner, Santa Fe, Cross Country: Bahreini was third and Skinner was fifth as Wolves placed fifth at the pre-state run.
Class 4A volleyball state tournament, final day
5:45 p.m.: Madison Ward with a kill and a block to account for the final two points. Cache is your 4A volleyball state champion.
5:36 p.m.: CHA putting a rally together. Down 20-16.
5:31 p.m.: Cache jumps to a 16-8 lead in the fourth… could they finish it early?
5:20 p.m.: Cache takes a 2-1 lead into the fourth game, earning a 25-18 win. The low-hanging scoreboard at center court hasn’t come into play as much as I thought it would — maybe five or six times that I’ve seen — but a couple of balls got close in the last game. You hope something like that doesn’t get in the way during a crucial point in such a big match.
5:15 p.m.: Another battle going down to the wire. Cache leading 20-17 in the third.
4:56 p.m.: The Crusaders even it up at a game apiece with a 25-17 win in the second. Looking like we’ll be going all five, a fight to the finish.
4:47 p.m.: Cache’s size has been an advantage, offensively and defensively, but CHA is a team full of fighters. They lead the second game 15-12.
4:34 p.m.: Cache finishes it off for the 1-0 win. That’s only the third game CHA has lost in the last 15 matches — 14 straight victories coming into the finals. Cache has a 13-match win streak of its own.
4:28 p.m.: Cache out to a 17-8 lead in the opener. Timeout CHA.
4:17 p.m.: Following pregame introductions, we’re now getting under way with the first game of the best-of-five Class 4A state final between Christian Heritage and Cache.
3:27 p.m.: Christian Heritage closes it out in three, 25-15. They’ll take on Cache in the finals, set to start at about 4:05 p.m.
3:07 p.m.: Strong rally from LC, but CHA pulls out game two, 25-18, for a 2-0 lead. Of course, LC was in this same position Friday against Heritage Hall — in fact, the Bulldogs had probably played worse in those two games than today — and came back to win. So this one isn’t over by a long shot.
2:58 p.m.: CHA took the first game (25-23) and holds a 19-9 lead over Lincoln Christian in the second.
1:52 p.m.: Cache junior Madison Ward is truly a difference-maker. She landed a kill just inside the back line for the win to put Bulldogs in this afternoon’s championship game. Prior to Clinton winning the 4A title last year, 10 straight went to private school teams. Looks like we’ll have another public-private showdown here today. Christian Heritage and Lincoln Christian are warming up for their match, which should start at about 2:15.
1:38 p.m.: Let’s play five. Cache takes the third game and OBA wins the fourth in a rout, 25-13. Fifth and final game starting now.
12:52: The second game goes to OBA, 25-23. There’s only been one match in this tournament that didn’t go five games, and I don’t expect any different today.
12:45 p.m.: Off to an exciting start here at Chickasha. Cache took the opening game of the first semifinal match and the second is back-and-forth in their battle with Oklahoma Bible Academy (OBA up 23-22 right now).
Christian Heritage and Lincoln Christian are set to start the other semifinal at 1:45 p.m., and the finals at 3:45, but I’d expect it to be a little behind schedule. I’ll update as often as possible throughout the day.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Class 4A state volleyball tournament, Day 1
9:25 p.m.: Last update of the night… Christian Heritage wins 3-1 over Cascia Hall, advancing to the semifinals against Lincoln Christian at 1:45 p.m. Should be a wild Saturday in Chickasha.
7:06: Boneman here. Arrived at Heritage Hall for football between Chargers and Newcastle to learn that the Heritage Hall volleyball team lost to Lincoln Christian in five games. Is it the start of a long night for Charger athletics?
5:51 p.m.: LC takes the third game to pull within 2-1. Fourth game coming up.
5:38 p.m.: Chargers up 2-0, but the third game is much tighter so far. HH leading 15-12.
5:15 p.m.: Heritage Hall is out to a commanding lead against Lincoln Christian. After winning the first game 25-12, the Chargers are on top 16-8 in the second.
4:16 p.m.: After falling behind 5-1 to start the fifth game, Cache rallies for the win. The Bulldogs will face OBA Saturday at noon in the semifinals… The Heritage Hall-Lincoln Christian match, originally scheduled for 3 p.m., will start at about 4:40 p.m.
4 p.m.: Another wild one as Victory Christian rallies to force a fifth game with Cache, which has led in all four games, including an eight-point lead in the second. The Bulldogs have had opportunities to close this one out, but Victory — winners of 27 straight matches coming in — won’t go away.
3 p.m.: Fun with numbers – During the between-games break I took a minute to do some math… Corn Bible Academy has an ADM of 58.0 in the 9th-12th grades, which means more than 25 percent of the high school’s enrollment is on the volleyball team (15 players). To have an equal ratio, Broken Arrow would need 1,192 players to come out for volleyball. That would require 2,384 knee pads.
2:44 p.m.: When I made the reference to Alyssa Wilson and Clinton from last season in my opening post, I did it without having seen Cache play. But the Bulldogs’ Madison Ward fits the mold. Big jumper, hard hitter, and she’s about 6-foot-2. Only a junior, but she’s getting recruited by several major programs around the country. Cache has a 1-0 lead on Victory Christian with the second game about to start.
1:59 p.m.: OBA pulls it out with a 15-7 win in the fifth game. Thriller all the way.
1:45 p.m.: We’re heading to a fifth game in our opening match between Corn Bible and Oklahoma Bible. It’s been tight all the way. The closest game was OBA’s 25-18 win in the second, after trailing 7-2 early.
Noon: We’re under way at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament, wtih Oklahoma Bible and Corn Bible on the court in the first game of the opening match at Chickasha High School.
This is my first visit to the Fightin’ Chicks’ gym since it was built, and it’s a great place for this event. Big enough to accomodate the crowd, but not too big that it feels empty. I’m betting Saturday’s semifinal and final matches will have this place shaking. It’s loud in here now and there isn’t the kind of crowd you’ll have on a Saturday.
And there’s no doubt this tournament is going to get rowdy. It’s an extremely balanced field, and I don’t know that there’s a team playing that would be a surprise if they’re holding the gold ball on Saturday evening.
Of the coaches I spoke with, Heritage Hall, OBA and Christian Heritage are battle-tested. Cascia Hall has been playing its best volleyball the last few weeks. Victory Christian has won 27 straight matches.
Cache and Lincoln Christian have some big hitters — and that plays a huge factor in this tournament… just ask Alyssa Wilson and Clinton last year. Corn Bible is the smallest volleyball-playing school in the state, but they can hang with anyone. And they’ve got a big crowd. For a school with an ADM of 58.00, half the high school must be in attendance here today.
I’ll update the happenings throughout the day. Here’s Friday’s first-round schedule
Game 1: Oklahoma Bible 3, Corn Bible 2 (22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20, 15-7)
Game 2: Cache 3, Victory Christian 2 (25-19, 24-26, 25-20, 23-25, 15-9)
3 p.m.: Heritage Hall vs. Lincoln Christian
4:30 p.m.: Cascia Hall vs. Christian Heritage
Saturday’s schedule
Noon: Oklahoma Bible vs. Cache
1:45 p.m.: HH/LC winner vs. Cascia/Christian Heritage winner
3:45 p.m.: Semifinal winners
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Edmond honor: Taler Buck, Deer Creek…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The best of the best in the state (and some out of state clubs) for cross country were in Stillwater this weekend for the OSU Cowboy Jamboree.
And while Bishop McGuinness earned the 4A-5A boys title, nobody could touch Deer Creek’s Taler Buck in the individual competition.
Buck won the event by a staggering 18 seconds. And his time would have been good enough to place him fourth in the 6A competition, giving him Edmond Player of the Week honors.
The Antlers have one of the deepest squads in 5A and placed second to the Irish. Blaine Powell was 11th and Kody Ewing took 16th.
Other contenders
Jarion Tudman, North, Football: Welcome to Oklahoma, Tudman. The transfer from Amarillo came alive for 212 yards and 3 TDs in a win against Del City.
Ry Huff, Memorial, Football: Might see even more time this week and showed glimpses of what he can do with a touchdown in a 17-7 loss.
Abby Taliaferro, North, Softball: Taliaferro has been one of the best hitters for Rick Nordyke’s club all season and has done it in the biggest games.
Alex Hodges, Santa Fe, Volleyball: If it wasn’t for Memorial, we’d be talking about Hodges and the Wolves who are ranked No. 2 in 6A.
Taylor Melchert, Deer Creek, Cross Country: The girls placed sixth at the Jamboree with Melchert leading the way earning 36th.
Arya Bahreini, Santa Fe, Cross Country: His stellar season continued in Stillwater, too, placing fourth as the Wolves earned 10th.
Alex Shook, Memorial, Cross Country: Six was the magic number as Shook earned it individually and the team did the same at the Jamboree.
Edmond honor: Cale Olbert, Memorial…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
This might be the first time a Player of the Week honor is going to someone who didn’t score a touchdown. Yes, it’s true that Edmond Memorial RB Cale Olbert did not punch it in Friday in the win against rival Edmond North.
But you know what? He did just about everything else. With Kameron Doolittle hobbled, Olbert was the workhorse time and time again and has earned the Edmond honor.
Olbert is going to have to play a big role if the Bulldogs are going to continue their hot start. He adds a perfect blend to the offensive game. And we know how good that defense is.
Other contenders
Grant Bohuslavicky, Memorial, Football: Scored a touchdown and made big catches all night in the win against North.
Travis Townsend, North, Football: For three quarters, deadly accurate. Made good decisions all night long against Memorial.
Ty Hensley, Santa Fe, Football: Hensley scored the Wolves’ touchdown in a 41-6 loss at Midwest City.
Michael Coleman, Deer Creek, Football: Defense caused seven turnovers against Tecumseh and Coleman had an INT return for a touchdown.
Maddie Martin, Santa Fe, Softball: Wolves don’t have the numbers they’ve had in the past, but Martin is proving to be a stellar player.
Mattie Burleson, Memorial, Volleyball: You tend to forget how great she is with Micha Hancock also on the team, but Burleson is incredible at the net.
Tara Lewis and Alex Shook, Memorial, Cross Country: Surprise, surprise. Shook was second and Lewis fifth at the Edmond Dog Pack event at Mitch Park.
Hannah Helker and Anna Kimsey, North, Cross Country: In a good battle, Helker and Kimsey helped Huskies to win against Westmoore and rest of field at Edmond Dog Pack run.
Taler Buck and Courtney Maichak, Deer Creek, Cross Country: Girls won the smaller school competition and Buck was fourth in boys event at Edmond Dog Pack run.
Arya Bahreini and Alex Skinner, Santa Fe, Cross Country: Bahreini was third and Skinner seventh at the Edmond Dog Pack run.
Ed Memorial: Micha Hancock video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Like I said, a lot of fun watching the Edmond Triangular volleyball matches Tuesday at Santa Fe. After all the talking Scott Wright had done about Micha Hancock of Memorial, had to see if she was worth it.
She is…and then some. I don’t think you can say enough good things about her from the way she plays to the way she carries herself to her team-first attitude, tremendous competitor and person.
The second annual Heather Harkness Invitational Tournament is this weekend at Santa Fe and should be one of the best showcases of Oklahoma volleyball that you’ll see before the state tournament.
Anyway, as promised, here is a short video with Hancock following Tuesday night’s victories against Santa Fe and North.
Edlam: Volleyball edition…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Mark another one off the list. Now the only OSSAA-sanctioned sport I haven’t seen live is cross country. Never been at a CC meet.
Had never been to a HS volleyball event until Tuesday night. Loved it, knew I would. Pretty big fan of volleyball, just never get a chance to see it during the high school season.
It was the Edmond Triangular at Edmond Santa Fe, featuring No. 1 Memorial, No. 2 Santa Fe and No. 6 North. Really good stuff.
Memorial won in three games against Santa Fe and four against the Huskies to rule the city.
Memorial def. Santa Fe 25-7, 25-16 and 25-21.
Memorial def. North 25-18, 23-25, 25-10 and 25-20.
Had to start hitting the football phone call circuit so didn’t stay for Santa Fe and North, sorry. UPDATE: Santa Fe def. North in three games.
Thoughts and observations
- Let me come clean and say I don’t know all the ins and outs of the game. I can pay attention and not feel lost. I can appreciate the skill, but the intricacies are prob lost by me.
- With that said, Micha Hancock…wow. She was the biggest reason I wanted to watch the action Tuesday, and she certainly did not disappoint. In seven games, she wasn’t on the bench for one point. I don’t care who you are, gots to admire that.
- I’ve even written that she’s a lefty before, but it still threw me off to see her spike, serve left-handed. And man can she do both of those things. Her kills were things of beauty, but I actually was more impressed with her touch on her sets, routinely put her teammates in good position.
- And last Hancock point, watching her set up Mattie Burleson is fun to watch as long as you’re not the opponent. Might as well just mark the point down when those two hook up.
- Speaking of Burleson, she owns the net. She can block just about anything that comes her way. I personally like the AVP on NBC term of ‘roofed ‘em’ than block, but hey, whatever.
- Memorial is a well-oiled machine. Fun to watch a team play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. Amanda Ayers never saw a ball she didn’t think she could dive at (that’s how I play the game when I do play). And Skylar Conner and Caitlin Scott delivered some nasty blows, too.
- For Santa Fe, impressed with Alex Hodges for her all-around game. She is obviously one of the better players in the state, too. I also liked the spike-ability (that’s not a term, right?) of Barbara Jackson.
- For North, don’t know if there was one player. I can’t believe how young this team is. Players like Mallory Fox and Alissa Benson definitely had their moments, but this team will be fun to watch in the future.
- Look for a video with Hancock on NewsOK on Wednesday. I was just excited I got one of Hancock’s kills on video.
Volleyball: Another new No. 1 in 4A
Three weeks and three different No. 1 teams in the Class 4A OKRankings volleyball coaches’ poll.
Cascia Hall earned the preseason vote, with Heritage Hall taking over last week. Now, it’s Oklahoma Bible Academy, which will put its No. 1 ranking on the line tonight at Bethany.
The Enid-based school is 15-3, coming off a strong run to win the Clinton Tournament in which OBA 8-0 against Oklahoma teams. The only loss was at the hands of Pampa (Texas) HS. And among their victims were 4A’s defending champ, Clinton, No. 4 Cache (twice), No. 8 Corn Bible (twice) and Bethany.
The Trojans also knocked off another top-10 team in Santa Fe South last Tuesday. I’ll be catching up with coach James Ward this week to get his thoughts on the season.
No other major excitement this week in the 4A poll, though Christian Heritage stepped up another spot to No. 4. Big Pasture is in the top 10 with its 13-0 start.
And the 5A and 6A polls stayed mostly the same as well. In 6A, Norman North (11-1) moved up another spot to No. 7.
Shawnee is enjoying the move back down to 5A, jumping up to No. 9. Last year, the Wolves probably would have been state tournament contenders before getting bumped up to 6A just before the season started.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
