EDMOND — Edmond Santa Fe senior-to-be defensive back Khari Harding made this huge hit on teammate Dale Jefferson during spring practice on Wednesday.

Harding has offers from eight NCAA Division I schools (Arkansas, Arkansas State, Houston, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas State, Memphis and Wyoming).

Jefferson had to be helped off the field Wednesday but I’m told he’ll be fine.

Harding (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) recorded 71 tackles and three interceptions last season for the Wolves, which were 10-2 and district champions.

Texas Tech became the second Big 12 football program to offer Deondre Clark a scholarship, extending an offer on Wednesday, Douglass coach Willis Alexander said.

Clark, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end, will be a junior in the fall. He has been playing significant minutes for the Trojans since his freshman year, starting at both defensive end and tight end as a sophomore.

He finished the season with 75 tackles, 18 sacks and 16 quarterback hurries, as well as 12 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also has offers from Oklahoma State and Missouri.

MTV show featuring Stephen Clark and the Trojan basketball team to air in June

The constant lurking of video cameras never derailed Douglass’ charge for a third straight basketball state championship, and now, the players get to find out if it was all worth it to share their locker room and their lives with MTV.

The show, “Nothing but Net,” will air as a two-part series on June 10 and 17, each being televised at noon central time.

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

Douglass junior basketball standout Stephen Clark, front, is considering the idea of graduating a year early and enrolling in college this fall.

The shock of losing his head coach to another school has shaken Douglass basketball star Stephen Clark to the point that he is considering reclassification to graduate a year early and enter college this fall, his mother told The Oklahoman Friday.

Clark’s mother, Dorshell Clark, said her son has checked with the school to make sure he has the proper credits to graduate early, and the family has been working in accordance with NCAA Clearinghouse guidelines since early in his high school career, when it became clear he would be a Division I recruit. (Clark’s first scholarship offer came at the end of his freshman year.)

Clark is a strong student, and has been doing advanced work in some of his classes, long before this option presented itself.

Dorshell Clark said Stephen hasn’t made an official decision yet, but in addition to making sure his schoolwork is in order, they have contacted some of the more than two dozen college programs recruiting him to see if they would have an opening for him in the class of 2012, instead of 2013.

“We haven’t called all of them, but we’ve called some of them,” she said. “We haven’t been told ‘No’ yet.”

The idea was prompted with news early this week that long-time Douglass coach Terry Long — also a long-time friend of Dorshell Clark – was leaving to become the new head coach at Mustang.

It has been very important to Clark to graduate from Douglass, where his mother and two older brothers each graduated from, but he doesn’t want to play for another coach in his senior year.

“It really breaks my heart. I’m not ready for him to be finished with high school yet,” Dorshell Clark said. “But right now, he sees it as a possible option.”

Stephen Clark, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, was The Oklahoman’s Super 5 Player of the Year after averaging 25 points and 11 assists as a junior, leading the Trojans to their third consecutive Class 4A state title. Clark has been the leading scorer on all three championship teams.

Considered a top-100 recruit in the 2013 class by virtually every national recruiting service, Clark has more than 25 scholarship offers, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Connecticut, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida State, Marquette, Georgia and Memphis.

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

Scott is No. 2 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list, which ranks the state’s top college football prospects. He has offers from more than a dozen schools.

Scott, rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, was receiving interest from Oklahoma, but after Colleyville, Texas, signal caller Cody Thomas committed earlier this week, it is highly unlikely the Sooners will offer the 6-foot-2, 195-pound quarterback.

New Mt. St. Mary coach Andy Fisher with the Rockets' seniors-to-be

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

A day after officially getting the job as Mount St. Mary head boys basketball coach, Andy Fisher met with his new team.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Fisher said. “It’s a great opportunity and Lenny (Hatchett) did a great job here.”
Fisher replaces Hatchett, who led the Rockets to three consecutive state tournaments from 2009-2011. Hatchett recently left to take the job at Edmond Santa Fe.
“We had numerous candidates for this position and after visiting with coaches throughout the state of Oklahoma, Andy Fisher’s name came to the forefront,” Mount St. Mary principal Talita DeNegri said in a release announcing the hire Friday. “Once I sat down with him, he had a special presence about him and a distinct insight into who we are and what we are all about at The Mount.
“He has an extreme passion for kids, an incredible knowledge of the game of basketball and he has the leadership skills to continue to enhance the tradition of Rocket basketball.”
Fisher was an assistant for seven years under Tondrell Durham. The Irish won four state titles during his time there including this year’s Class 4A title.
“I’m really going to miss those guys,” Fisher said Thursday. “I had a great time there and learned a lot. It just felt like the time was right.”

The game will be played July 24 at Oral Roberts (Small school 4:30 p.m., large school 7 p.m.)

Large East

Pitchers: Gabe Coldwell (Stilwell), Jacob Evans (Broken Arrow), Alex Hackerott (Sand Springs)

First baseman: Derrick Haworth (Durant)

Infielders: Donovan Walton (Tulsa Kelley), Mason Mantle (Metro Christian), Brenton Washausen (Claremore), Carter Cumbie (McAlester)

Outfielders: Dylan Helms (Eufaula), Corey Hassel (Stillwater), Adam Boyd (McAlester), J.P. Seifried (Claremore)

Catchers: Kylar Robertson (Sand Springs), Josh Whisler (Owasso)

Large West

Pitchers: Ty Hensley (Edmond Santa Fe), Jordan Watson (Edmond Santa Fe), Carson McPherson (Ardmore)

First baseman: Michael Lowe (Jones)

Infielders: Alex Polston (Carl Albert), Colt Pickens (Yukon), Tanner Dearman (Anadarko), Joe Robinson (Edmond North)

Outfielders: Greg Bruno (Midwest City), Luke Davis (Guthrie), Christian Thaxton (Duncan), T.J. Turner (Lawton MacArthur)

Catchers: Taylor Hawkins (Carl Albert), Dakota Shadoan (Norman North)

Small East

Pitchers: Evan Sanders (Hartshorne), Jacob Lux (Wyandotte), Dillon Proctor (Caddo)

First baseman: Jonathon Samuels (Rattan)

Infielders: Dusty Henry (Afton), Kaleb Matthews (Wellston), Landon Coon (Dale), Ty Miller (Caddo)

Outfielders: Caleb Hill (Wister), Brennon Fuser (Afton), Asa Thomas Manship (Dale), Zach Burns (Tushka)

Catchers: Cash Miller (Coleman), Eddia Lomas (Roff)

Small West

Pitchers: Brett McNaughton (Pioneer), Austin Kretchmar (Okarche), Stetson Buller (Timberlake)

First baseman: Clayton Brewster (Cheyenne)

Infielders: Jason Johnson (Arnett), Brady Baugh (Hennessey), Kent Callison (Lookeba-Sickles), Cameron Nix (Carnegie)

Outfielders: Josh Jackson (Amber-Pocasset), Dillon Almaguer (Granite), Jeff Jackson (Amber-Pocasset), Aaron McCandless (Shattuck)

Catchers: Cody Hunter (Arnett), Landon Larue (Crescent)

Maybe it’s a program with “a lot of tradition,” or it’s “heading in the right direction.”

Rarely does and AD find himself with as much ammunition as those looking to fill some of the high-profile boys basketball jobs open right now.

Would you like to take over a program that has won two state titles in the last five years and just went to state with a young team that returns almost every key player? Maybe Guthrie is the place for you.

Maybe you’re looking for a team with two state championships in the last three years and state appearances in five of the last six, with a nationally recruited senior-to-be on the roster? Perhaps Tulsa Washington is your next gig.

If that still isn’t enough, would you be interested a job opening at a school that has won three straight gold balls, led by the best player in the state, who will be a senior next year? Douglass, the latest big-time job to come open, is on your short list.

When you add in the fact that Edmond Santa Fe and Mount St. Mary (eight combined state tournament appearances in the last five years) have both been filled in the last couple of weeks, it’s hard to imagine a more fertile ground for coaches looking for new jobs at established programs. Or ADs looking to lure a great coach to a new location. These aren’t the only jobs open, but they’re certainly the most attractive.

With summer leagues and team camps not far off, these jobs are certain to be filled promptly. But as hires are made for these jobs, more dominoes will fall. And since these positions will draw top coaches, we’re getting ready to see another layer of really good jobs open up — at least a couple of them.

The carousel is spinning, and it isn’t slowing down yet.

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

Moore, a two-time state champion, Gray, the Class 5A runner-up last week, and Class 4A champion Trent Mewbourn of Heritage Hall will lead the West boys team that includes Edmond North’s Michael Hampton, Oklahoma Christian’s Rustin Purser, Luther’s Ryan Stults and Heritage Hall’s Michael Helton.

Mustang girls June Tigert and Charter Lawson will represent the West, a team that includes Guthrie’s McCandren Lewis, Deer Creek’s Abby Thompson, Purcell’s Megan Gowens and Washington’s Kelsey Stuever.

They’ll compete against an East squad that includes Shawnee’s Kurstyn Mills and Bethel’s Jordan Humphrey.

The All-State match will be played at Cherokee Hills Golf Club in Catoosa on July 23.

Here are the full rosters for the match-play event:

West girls: Kelsey Stuever, Washington; Taryn Smith, Hinton; Ashton Gores, Plainview; Megan Gowens, Purcell; Sarah DeLong, Elgin; Madison Ward, Cache; Megan Blonien, Altus; McCandren Lewis, Guthrie; Charter Lawson, Mustang; June Tigert, Mustang; Amanda Johnson, Duncan; Abby Thompson, Deer Creek.

East girls: Catrina Pearson, Muskogee; Erica Carangalan, Tulsa Union; Kurstyn Mills, Shawnee; Tiffany Thompson, Coweta; Kayla Schroeder, Bristow; Addie Guthrie, Poteau; Hanna Voise, Perry; Jordan Humphrey, Bethel; Jasmine Vasquez, Tishomingo; Haley Day, New Lima; Mikayla Rosser, Broken Arrow; Kaylee Crawford, Henryetta.

West boys: Michael Hampton, Edmond North; Taylor Moore, Edmond Memorial; Jacob Oaks, Ardmore, Logan Gray, El Reno; Trent Mewbourn, Heritage Hall; Michael Helton, Heritage Hall; Will Roberts, Plainview; Rustin Purser, Oklahoma Christian School; Ryan Stults, Luther; Hayden George, Hinton; Cash Campbell, Ardmore; Blake Rhodes, Lawton MacArthur.

East boys: Eric Kline, Ponca City; Jason Goben, Tulsa Union; Seth Wheeler, Durant; Cameron Holder, Tulsa Memorial; Gabe Rogers, Cascia Hall; Blade Knox, Seminole; Jackson Hess, Okmulgee; Zach Oliver, Checotah; Austin Welch, Lincoln Christian; Tyler Martindale, Central Sallisaw; Will McDonald, Jenks; Jackson Stuteville, Durant.

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

The Mustang Board of Education approved the move at its regular meeting late Monday night.

Long will fill the void created when Alan Green moved into a full-time role as the school’s compliance officer, which was announced last month.

Long was also considered a candidate for the head job at Edmond Santa Fe, which went to former Mount St. Mary coach Lenny Hatchett last month.

Mustang, which is the largest school on the west side of the state, was riddled by injuries last season and struggled to a .500 record. But in the 2010-11 season, the Broncos were a top-five team, despite falling one win short of the state tournament.

Over the last three seasons at Douglass, Long’s teams lost seven games — six of those to out-of-state competition. The Trojans were led by point guard Stephen Clark, a nationally recruited prospect who will be a senior next season.

Douglass will be a highly sought-after coaching position, along with current vacancies at Guthrie and Mount St. Mary.

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

Douglass' Te'era Williams was the Little All-City Player of the Year after leading the Trojans to their first state tournament in 20 years. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Douglass girls’ basketball standout Te’era Williams has signed with Texas Southern, her mother said

Williams, who was The Oklahoman’s Little All-City Player of the Year after leading the Trojans to their first state tournament in 20 years, had signed with Grambling State, but was granted a release after coach Donnita Rogers was fired.

Williams averaged 27.3 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals as a senior.

Sanders led Cache to an undefeated season and a Class 4A state championship in 2010, and a runner-up finish in 2011.

Last May, Sanders had accepted Choctaw’s open girls’ basketball coaching position, but backed out before officially resigning at Cache and stayed one more year.

Nunley said Cache, which lost in the area semifinals in 2012, has a strong freshman class coming up.

raber@opubco.com

Four state players are among the nominees for the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

Vian offensive lineman Rob Boyd, Sequoyah Tahlequah quarterback Brayden Scott, Tulsa East Central wide receiver/defensive back Stanvon Taylor and Lawton defensive end D.J. Ward are among the 400 nominees to play in the game.

The nominations were made the the game’s selection committee, consisting of regional coaches throughout the country and Rivals.com officials. Of the group, 90 will be selected to play in the game. The selections begin in September and run through early December.

The game will be played Jan. 5.

Taylor and Ward are both OU commits, with Taylor having made his decision public Friday. Boyd is committed to Tulsa. Scott has offers including Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Clemson, Missouri, Tennessee and Tulsa.

The position has been filled; Manning said Monday he has hired former Midwest City defensive coordinator Chris Rose.

Rose was considered a top candidate to replace Steve Huff as the Bombers’ head coach, but the job ultimately went to former Tulsa Washington and Star Spencer coach Darrell Hall.

Rose replaces Kenny Young, who retired after one year as the Wolves’ defensive coordinator. Before that, he had a long, successful tenure as head coach at Bishop McGuinness.

Rose was formerly an assistant coach at Edmond Memorial, where he was also the boys’ soccer coach.

He inherits a defense that lost some of its best players from 2011, but is also bringing several good ones back.

The Wolves lost defensive ends Michael Onuoha, who signed with OU, and Josh Crouch, who combined for 162 tackles and 16 sacks a year ago.

Also gone is defensive back Conner Bays, who made 101 tackles and will play college ball at Southwestern Oklahoma State.

But returning for Santa Fe is cornerback Khari Harding, who boasts offers from several Division I schools and is one of the top college prospects in the state for the class of 2013.

Linebacker Jerremy Moore also returns after recording 102 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.

Manning is entering his second season as Edmond Santa Fe’s coach. In 2010, the Wolves were 1-9, but in Manning’s first season, the team went 10-2 and won its district.

Western Heights' Antoinet Webster has signed with Tulsa, her coach said. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Western Heights guard Antoinet Webster finally found a college basketball home.

Webster, whose lack of any NCAA Division I offers was the subject of an Oklahoman story earlier this year, signed with Tulsa, Jets coach Carol Beall said.

Webster averaged 19.2 points as a senior for Western Heights, which missed the Class 5A state tournament for the first time in three seasons. Webster (5-foot-9) was forced to shoulder the load for the inexperienced Jets.

Webster joins a Tulsa recruiting class of 2012 that includes a few big names around the metro — Shawnee’s Kelsee Grovey and Kaitlyn Ramirez and Midwest City’s Ashley Clark.

Friday
Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Oral Roberts
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 5A
At Tulsa Union
Thursday
Game 1: Shawnee vs. Claremore, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Skiatook vs. Carl Albert, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Guthrie vs. Durant, 4 p.m.
Game 4: McAlester vs. Deer Creek, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Oral Roberts
Championship game, noon

CLASS 4A
At Shawnee
Thursday
Game 1: Berryhill vs. Heritage Hall, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Anadarko vs. Tecumseh, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Hilldale vs. Byng, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Weatherford vs. Oologah, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner. 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 5 p.m.

CLASS 3A
Thursday
At Edmond Memorial
Game 1: Marlow vs. Jones, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Henryetta vs. Metro Christian, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Salina vs. Plainview, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Verdigris vs. Spiro, 6:30 p.m.

At Shawnee
Friday
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

CLASS 2A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Game 1: Dale vs. Fairview, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Silo vs. Hennessey, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Ketchum vs. Tushka, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Oktaha vs. Wister, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Shawnee
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

Putnam City West promoted linebackers coach Rocky Martin to head football coach on Friday.

Putnam City West didn’t look far to find its new head football coach.

The school promoted linebackers coach Rocky Martin to head coach on Friday to fill the void of John Jensen, who was removed from the position last month.

This will be the first head coaching job for Martin, who has an interesting resume.

His coaching career began at Cherry Creek (Colo.) High School, his alma mater, in 2002-03 then became an assistant at the University of Akron from 2004-07.

After that, he spent two seasons as an assistant at Irving Middle School in Norman before joining the PC West staff in 2010.

As a player for Colorado State, Martin went to four bowl games, starting on the 2000 squad that went to the Liberty Bowl and finished the season ranked 14th.

Like his predecessor, Martin plans to keep his players active in areas beyond the football field.

“We recognize that we are working with students first and athletes second. Our student-athletes will be held to the highest standards in the classroom and the community,” Martin said.

“I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life and excited to work in a new role with this great group of students. I’m ready to go.”

There will be an expectation of Martin to ultimately produce victories for the long-struggling football program. Jensen, who remains at the school as athletic director, was removed as head coach because principal Buster Meeks wanted the program to go “in a new direction,” despite a consistent growth in participation and support under Jensen. The Patriots have won three games in the last five seasons.

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

Shawnee's Taylor Cooper (10) has signed with Oral Roberts. PHOTO BY MATT BARNARD, TULSA WORLD

There’s lots of news coming out about Oral Roberts’ womens basketball program today.

First, a source confirmed that coach Jerry Finkbeiner, who has been with the program since 1996, will be introduced as Utah State’s next coach at an 11 a.m. press conference Thursday.

Finkbeiner won three straight NAIA national titles from 1994-96 at Southern Nazarene in Bethany. The news of his departure was first reported by the Tulsa World late Tuesday.

Also breaking Wednesday was that sophomore Jenni Bryan will transfer from Oklahoma State to ORU. Bryan, from Coweta, was granted a release by the Cowgirls, coach Jim Littell said in a text, and a source confirmed she’d join the Golden Eagles.

One of the folks in the Oklahoma City area most directly impacted by all of this is Shawnee senior forward Taylor Cooper, who signed with ORU in November.

Cooper was the Golden Eagles’ only high school signee for the class of 2012, and she picked ORU over offers from bigger schools.

From an outsider’s perspective, it seems to me Finkbeiner and Co. intended to build the future of their program around her. And the future certainly appears bright because the Golden Eagles just wrapped up a third consecutive 20-plus win season.

But will Cooper stick with ORU? She has developed a close relationship with assistant coach Misti Cussen, who is a possible candidate to succeed Finkbeiner.

Cooper was on our Super 5 team for 2012 after helping lead Shawnee to an unbeaten season and the Class 5A state championship. She averaged 13.2 points and 6.1 rebounds as a senior.

She said then that she picked ORU largely because of the coaches, who she said “reminded me of my parents.”

Only time will tell what Cooper will decide, but should she ask for and be granted a release, it would be a big blow to the ORU program, a program that has been through a whirlwind couple of days.

Bishop McGuinness coach Tondrell Durham has been mentioned by sources as a candidate for the Edmond Santa Fe job.

EDMOND — Edmond Public Schools will recommend the hiring of boys basketball coaches for Edmond Santa Fe and Edmond North to the school board Tuesday morning, district athletic director Mike Nunley said.

Edmond Santa Fe is hiring its third-ever boys basketball coach after Shawn Schenk was dismissed in late March.

Schenk was Santa Fe’s coach for six seasons. Last month, the Wolves advanced to the 6A semifinals.

Bishop McGuinness coach Tondrell Durham, Douglass’ Terry Long and Mount St. Mary’s Lenny Hatchett have all been mentioned by sources as candidates for the Edmond Santa Fe job.

Durham’s Irish squad won the Class 5A state championship last month. It was Durham’s fifth title with the school since he became coach in 2001.

Long won his third consecutive 4A title last month at Douglass, while Hatchett has been Mount St. Mary’s coach since 2004.

For Edmond North, it will be the school’s fourth boys basketball coach in four seasons. Quinn Wooldridge, who was hired last summer, resigned to become head coach at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany earlier this month.

Edmond North athletic director Tom Snider said then long-term stability would be one of the main criteria in hiring Wooldridge’s replacement.

Coyle athlete Magnus Scott will soon decide whether to run track at Arkansas or Kansas State.

Coyle athlete Magnus Scott is nearing a decision on where he’ll run track in college after a weekend visit to Arkansas.

Scott said Sunday that he will soon choose between Arkansas and Kansas State.

“It was good,” Scott said of his visit to Fayetteville. “They really want me. I’m going to go home, talk to my parents about it and go from there.”

Scott also has interest in playing football wherever he goes to college, and said Arkansas coaches were much more open to that than Kansas State’s were.

“He said if I really wanted to play, he didn’t mind,” Scott said, while adding that until Arkansas hires a football coach to replace Bobby Petrino, he won’t know for sure if it’s possible.

As a senior on the gridiron, Scott accounted for 35 total touchdowns as Coyle made the playoffs for the first time in school history. Scott rushed for 1,923 yards and averaged nearly 13 yards per carry.

Arkansas is a traditional power in track, and isn’t too far from Scott’s home. Both of those factors will play into his decision, he said.

Stillwater's Jesse Vester will likely begin his college football career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

STILLWATER — I ran into Jesse Vester at the Oklahoma State spring game Saturday. Vester, a standout receiver from Stillwater High School, double signed with OSU and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on signing day back in February.

Vester was still working on getting qualified academically in February, and he told me Saturday that he hasn’t quite gotten there yet.

He said he’s close to qualifying, but will in all likelihood begin his college career at NEO, stay there a semester and join the Cowboys next spring.

Vester (5-foot-10, 180 pounds), the kick returner on The Oklahoman‘s All-State team, scored 15 touchdowns and had 1,125 receiving yards as a senior.

Harrah girls basketball player Sara Rogers died Tuesday after a car accident.

Funeral services for Sara Rogers, the 16-year old Harrah basketball player who died after a car accident earlier this week, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Harrah High School gymnasium.

Those attending the ceremony are being asked to wear Harrah or Duke clothing, because those were Rogers’ favorite teams.

Rogers was pulling out of Harrah’s Sonic Drive-In when she was hit by another car at around 4 p.m. Tuesday. She was taken by helicopter to OU Medical Center, where she died of her injuries.

The team coaches have at No. 1 in the state, Tulsa Union, is at No. 15 in ESPN’s rankings.

Norman North had an impressive showing last week at the Palmetto Cup, a national soccer tournament in South Carolina, but couldn’t compete for the tournament championship because the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association only allowed it to play three games in the tourney.

One of North’s three wins in the Palmetto Cup was a 1-0 victory over Irmo (Columbia, S.C.), which entered the tournament ranked No. 1 by ESPN.

Norman North is 10-0 on the season entering tonight’s home game against Bishop McGuinness.

Senior Brandon Little Axe leads North with 16 goals this season.

Douglass sophomore Deondre Clark, back center, gives the family another sought-after recruiting prospect, this one on the football field.

The first official scholarship offer is on the table for Douglass sophomore defensive end Deondre Clark.

Oklahoma State extended an offer on Thursday, Douglass coach Willis Alexander said.

Clark played a significant amount as a freshman on Douglass’ Class 4A state championship team in 2010, and started at both defensive end and tight end as a sophomore.

He finished the season with 75 tackles, 18 sacks and 16 quarterback hurries, as well as 12 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

Clark has a busy summer planned, with stops at a variety of major-college camps and elite combines.

Clark, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, is the younger — but much bigger — brother of Douglass basketball star Stephen Clark, a 5-foot-11 junior who has more than 20 scholarship offers, including OSU.

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

Foot Locker Foundation and DoSomething.org partnered to honor students who demonstrate academic excellence and show their strength of character and devotion to their sports and communities.

Helms plays field hockey, soccer and runs track. She founded Knitting for Troops, a project where she uses scarf proceeds to create care packages for Oklahoma soldiers stationed overseas.

Twenty minutes into its first game, senior leader Bryan Sanchez tore both of his ACLs.

“It was pretty tough on him,” said coach Jeff Lovett. “It was tough on the entire team. He was a senior, the captain and he had a great year for us last year.”

Sanchez’s injury was especially tough on him because his brother, junior Blake Sanchez, is the Bulldogs’ starting goalie.

“They were excited about playing together this year,” Lovett said.

Lovett said senior Jared Glenn has stepped up and provided leadership for the team. Glenn leads the team in goals.

Memorial is 2-4 this season entering Tuesday’s game at unbeaten U.S. Grant, but one loss was in a shootout, one was in overtime and another was by one goal in regulation.

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

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

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

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

Allison Worsham, right, is one of four Deer Creek soccer seniors who have signed to play in college. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO

EDMOND — Deer Creek’s girls’ soccer team learned a lot about itself in a humbling out-of-state tournament appearance last weekend.

The Antlers, who host Carl Albert on Tuesday, lost all three of their games at the Heart of America Classic in Kansas City, Mo., but senior Madison Smith said the games were good for her team.

“I thought we did good for the most part against the teams we played,” Smith said.

The tournament features several of the top girls’ soccer teams in middle America. For Deer Creek, it was a chance to play tougher competition.

The Antlers entered the tournament having won each of its last three games 10-0.

“(We learned) the levels of experience on the team,” Smith said. “There’s some pretty wide gaps; we have some freshmen trying to step into important roles.”

At the top, though, Deer Creek has lots of talent and experience. Smith has signed to play college soccer at Oklahoma, and fellow seniors Roman Edwards (Tulsa), Allison Worsham (Oklahoma City) and Maddie Windham (Oklahoma Baptist) will also play at the next level.

The Antlers were the Class 5A runner-up a year ago, and now their focus is squarely on finishing the job in 2012.

“I think all of the seniors have that desire,” Smith said. “I think last year we lacked that, and sometimes that’s how you lose championships — you have talent but not that desire. But now we have that extra hard work on top of everything. We’re coming together pretty good.”

Tuesday, the Antlers will face Carl Albert, which started the season slow but has won four straight games.

“I’m competitive and I want to win terribly bad,” Smith said of Tuesday’s game.

Pete Papahronis, who coached Guthrie to back-to-back boys state championships in 2008 and 2009, is moving over to coach girls basketball at the school.

Guthrie will start a search for a new boys coach immediately, a release form the school said.

The boys went 17-11 this season, making the semifinals of the 5A tournament.

Papahronis coached Guthrie’s boys for nine seasons, leading the Bluejays to five state tournament appearances.

Papahronis takes over for Terry Carris, who resigned earlier this year after five years in his latest stint at Guthrie.

Carris had taken the Bluejays to the 1985 and 1986 state tournaments during his first stint at Guthrie.

Douglass basketball standout Te'era Williams, left, and her mother, Lenora Love, right. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Douglass’ Te’era Williams got a release from her Grambling State letter of intent after all.

Grambling State athletic director Percy Caldwell reversed the previous denial and informed Williams and her mother, Lenora Love, in an email Friday morning.

Last week, the Douglass basketball standout was denied the release she requested after coach Donnita Rogers was fired in March.

Williams signed with Grambling State in November. After her release was denied, Williams began visiting junior colleges. She wouldn’t have needed a release to play at the junior-college level.

But if she wanted to begin her NCAA Division I hoops career at any other school besides Grambling State in the fall, she needed the release she was granted Friday.

Now, Williams is left hoping that a Division I school still has a scholarship available for her. She said last month she was interested in Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Wichita State.

Williams was The Oklahoman’s Little All-City Player of the Year after averaging 27.3 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals per game as a senior, when she led Douglass to its first state tournament appearance in 20 years.

Millwood's Quira Demery, right, will play college basketball at Tennessee Tech,. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

Millwood senior basketball standout Quira Demery signed with Tennessee Tech, which plays NCAA Division I basketball in the Ohio Valley Conference, on Thursday.

Demery led Millwood to the Class 3A state championship as a senior, averaging15.9 points per game through the season.

In the state tournament, Demery averaged 16.7 points, including a 21-point, 11-rebound performance in the Falcons’ title-game win over Prague.

Demery’s performance helped Millwood snap a three-year streak of runner-up finishes.

Former Bridge Creek star Ryan Spangler, The Oklahoman's 2011 Super 5 Player of the Year, was granted his release from Gonzaga and plans to visit OU this weekend.

Former Bridge Creek star Ryan Spangler has been released from his scholarship at Gonzaga and will visit Oklahoma this weekend, he said.

The Spokane Spokesman-Review reported that Spangler had been granted his release on Wednesday with hopes of transferring closer to home. Spangler said he had informed a few schools of his release, including OU, Tulsa, Oral Roberts and Arkansas.

“I just feel like I needed to be closer to my family,” said Spangler, The Oklahoman’s Super 5 Player of the Year in 2011. “OU is my first stop. I’m going to fly in Friday to visit OU, then fly out Sunday. I’ve heard a lot of good things about coach (Lon) Kruger and his staff. They have two scholarships open, and they seem pretty excited to talk with me.”

Spangler, a 6-foot-8, 232-pound forward, appeared in 22 games as a true freshman last season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in a reserve role.

He had one of his better games with four points and eight boards in the NCAA Tournament win over West Virginia. He would be required to sit out next season at a Division I program, and would have three years of eligibility remaining.

“I just look at that as a positive,” he said. “It’s just a year for me to get better and mature.

“I felt like I had a great freshman year, and I got way better. I wish I could have played more, but that’s just part of it when you’re a freshman.”

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

Edmond North soccer player Britani Soesbee is injured. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

Edmond North’s girls soccer team, which has won two straight Class 6A state titles, has won four straight matches to open district play entering Tuesday’s contest at Yukon.

North is playing without senior midfielder Britani Soesbee, a USAO signee who is injured and will be out another couple weeks, Flanders said.

Thursday, the Huskies will head to Kansas City, Mo., to play in the Heart of America Classic, which will feature several top teams from eight different states.

“It will be a great bonding experience,” said Edmond North coach Theresa Flanders. “It comes at the right time — in the middle of district, right as we’re trying to start peaking. It’s a great time for coaches and players to come together.”

Edmond North opens Thursday at 6:45 against Ray-Pec (Peculiar, Mo).

The Huskies are one of six Oklahoma teams competing in the Classic, along with Norman North, Deer Creek, Jenks, Tulsa Bishop Kelley and Tulsa Union.

Deer Creek opens Thursday at 4:45 p.m. against Lee’s Summit (Mo.), while Norman North begins Friday at 3:45 p.m. against Lee’s Summit West.

Deer Creek quarterback Joel Blumenthal was invited to visit Arkansas State. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Deer Creek quarterback Joel Blumenthal was invited to visit Arkansas State and watch the Red Wolves’ spring game Saturday, but he’ll have to miss the visit because he’s taking the ACT that day. He said he hopes to reschedule soon.

Blumenthal visited Tulsa with linebacker teammates and fellow juniors Austin Loomis and Kooper Ruminer last Saturday.

Arkansas State, which is entering its first season under coach Gus Malzahn, didn’t have any Oklahomans on last year’s roster, but there has been an increased effort to recruit the state. Heritage Hall defensive lineman Quintaz Struble signed with Arkansas State in February.

Blumenthal (6-foot-2, 175 pounds), who as a junior threw for 20 touchdowns and rushed for six, doesn’t have any offers yet but his interest is picking up.

Edmond Santa Fe sophomore quarterback Justice Hansen will attend the Red-White game in Norman on Saturday. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

EDMOND — Edmond Santa Fe junior defensive back Khari Harding and sophomore quarterback Justice Hansen will both attend Oklahoma’s annual Red-White spring game Saturday in Norman.

Harding announced that Sooners’ co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel invited him to the game on Twitter. Hansen confirmed his invite in a text message to The Oklahoman.

Harding, who had 71 tackles and three interceptions as a junior for the Wolves, has six offers — Arkansas, Arkansas State, Houston, Indiana, Kansas State and Wyoming.

Hansen had a breakout sophomore season and appears to be one of the top Oklahoma prospects of the class of 2014. He threw for 2,558 yards and 25 touchdowns, and rushed for 529 yards and eight scores, in leading the Wolves to the Class 6A quarterfinals and a 10-2 record.

Hansen has offers from Missouri and Arkansas.

Douglass' Te'era Williams was the Little All-City Player of the Year after leading the Trojans to their first state tournament in 20 years. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Douglass senior basketball standout Te’era Williams was denied a release from her letter of intent by Grambling State, her mother said.

Williams, who signed with Grambling State in November, requested the release in March after coach Donnita Rogers was fired. Lenora Love, Williams’ mother, said they are appealing Grambling’s denial but are also looking at junior colleges as a backup plan, starting with a Tuesday visit to Carl Albert State College in Poteau.

Williams wouldn’t need a release from Grambling to play at a junior college, and could transfer anywhere after one year.

Williams was The Oklahoman’s Little All-City Player of the Year after averaging 27.3 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals per game as a senior, when she led Douglass to its first state tournament appearance in 20 years.

Heritage Hall’s baseball team made the semifinals last year and had most of its starters returning.

But an ambitious schedule and some uneven performances at the plate early in the season led to an under .500 record going into last weekend’s I-40 Classic.

But the Chargers put it all together, beating Class B No. 4 Lookeba-Sickles, Bethany, Class 4A No. 6 Weatherford and No. 2 Anadarko to win the tournament.

The Chargers (12-9) did it with four complete-game performances, including junior Tyler Huber’s no-hitter in a 4-3 win over Lookeba-Sickles.

Chad Nelson nearly no-hit Weatherford, allowing just a bloop single in a 3-2 win.

Freshman Ryan Huber got the win in an 8-2 victory over Bethany and Nathan Bowker went the distance against Anadarko in a 5-4 championship-game win.

“Our pitching has been strong all year but we’re just now starting to swing the bats as well,” Heritage Hall coach Pat Wasson said.

Among those bats coming on strong is Barry J. Sanders, who started in a bit of a slump but has heated up lately.

The Chargers are scheduled to play at Casady at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Londaryl Perry teaches his history class at Northeast Academy. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

This is the final post in a five-part blog series, continuing the life story of Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry, The Oklahoman’s Little All-City Coach of the Year.

Perry was profiled in Tuesday’s newspaper, but his life story is too fascinating to be held to one story. This blog post will focus on Perry’s military career. Here is the full blog schedule:

Tuesday: Perry’s basketball career

Wednesday: More on Perry’s mother and two brothers

Thursday: Perry’s first coaching job

Friday: Perry’s military career

Saturday: The state of Perry’s family today

****************************************************

At age 34, Londaryl Perry received word that another uncle had died because of drugs.

His uncle James, who had no insurance and had been a drug addict for most of his life, didn’t have an overdose. The drugs just finally took a toll on his body.

“This particular uncle, even though he was on drugs, he was probably the happiest druggie and alcoholic you’d ever meet,” Perry said. “He was always happy and he was going to make you smile.”

Perry was in Iraq for the second time, this time as a civilian contractor, when his cousin told him about James’ death.

The family was scrambling around, trying to find a way to pay for funeral and burial costs. They had decided to cremate him and not have a funeral because they didn’t have enough money.

Perry told his cousin to get with a funeral service and tell him how much it costs. He offered to pay for everything, on the condition that a letter he wrote would be read at the funeral.

The family agreed, and Perry wrote a letter pleading for his family to change. Getting off drugs was part of it, but Perry also wanted his family to be closer.

Now that Perry is back in Oklahoma City, he makes sure they live up to it. Every family holiday is spent at Perry’s home, with around 40 people there each time — including Perry’s mother.

She claims to be clean, but no one is really sure whether to believe her or not. She lives with one of Perry’s younger brothers.

“She’s 53, but she’s 21 in her head,” said Jermey Perry, Londaryl’s youngest brother who is 25 now.

“She doesn’t like talking about (the past). She knows she did wrong.”

Londaryl describes his relationship with his mother as “cordial.”

“We have conversations,” he said. “We speak, but it’s just different (than a normal mother-son relationship).

“If she’s not on drugs, what did she do to get off them? I don’t know. Because the whole time I was raising my brothers, she was still on them.

“I don’t know what her motivation was or is to get off drugs. … It’s fortunate that she’s still alive because of how long she was on drugs.”

But still, Perry said there is no bitterness about how he was treated as a child. He still wants his family to be close, and that’s why he tries to get everyone together on holidays.

“We try to get our family together because our family is not close-knit,” Perry said. “We try to have those times where we come together and try to enjoy each other.”

Quinn Wooldridge, who was hired last summer, resigned to become head coach at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany. Wooldridge will replace Mark Arthur, the school’s athletic director who has been basketball coach for 20 years.

Wooldridge was a men’s basketball assistant at Oklahoma City University before taking the Edmond North job, and was previously McAlester’s head coach from 2003-2005.

Edmond North athletic director Tom Snider said Wooldridge’s departure is disappointing because the boys basketball program, which was 5-18 this season, needs stability.

“(Before he was hired), one of the main things we talked about was getting stability with this program,” Snider said. “But, life happens, as they say.”

Snider said he hopes to have a new coach hired before the May school board meeting, and that long-term stability will again be one of the main criteria in making a hire.

“It was hard to go down there and tell those kids that this has happened again,” Snider said. “The kids were really disappointed.”

Northeast girls coach Londaryl Perry went to Iraq twice. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

This is Part 4 in a five-part blog series, continuing the life story of Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry, The Oklahoman’s Little All-City Coach of the Year.

Perry was profiledled in Tuesday’s newspaper, but his life story is too fascinating to be held to one story. This blog post will focus on Perry’s military career. Here is the full blog schedule:

Tuesday: Perry’s basketball career

Wednesday: More on Perry’s mother and two brothers

Thursday: Perry’s first coaching job

Friday: Perry’s military career

Saturday: The state of Perry’s family today

****************************************************

At age 28, Londaryl Perry joined the Army.

Perry had been an assistant coach at Putnam City West since he graduated from Central Oklahoma, but the student loan debt he was carrying became too much.

He was sent to Iraq in October 2003 — seven months after the war there began.

Perry was stationed at the Baghdad International Airport and worked with secure, encrypted telecommunications.

“We were getting bombed every. Single. Night,” Perry said of his time at the airport. “It became like clockwork; we’d get bombed somewhere around midnight, and then again between 5 and 6 in the morning.”

Fortunately, Perry didn’t lose any friends in Iraq.

After his tour in Iraq was completed, he stayed in the Army until 2007. Much of his time was spent playing for a military basketball team.

His last day in the Army was President’s Day in 2007. Almost immediately after that, he became a private military contractor, and returned to Iraq about seven months later.

“It was very different, being a civilian contractor vs. being a soldier,” Perry said. “Both experiences were very rewarding.”

As a contractor, Perry was responsible for putting Electronic countermeasures (ECMs) on vehicles, which send out radio pules and jam radio signals to stop insurgent’s bombs.

He said his job as a civilian contractor was “a little more rewarding,” because he knows he saved the lives of American military personnel. He worked more with the Marines and the Navy during his second trip to Iraq.

“We had a lot of instances where it was proven to have worked,” Perry said of the ECMs.

He spent a little over a year in Iraq the second time before he returned home to both reunite with his family and get back into coaching, which he missed.

Large East
Taylor Cooper, Shawnee
U’Knique Gaines, Tulsa East Central
Jodi Glover, Fort Gibson
Devaughn Gray, Tulsa Washington
Lashanda Green McAlester
Kelsee Grovey, Shawnee
Madison Mercado, Sapulpa
Lanesha Middleton, Stillwater
Caitlyn Spurgeon, Vinita
Miranda Taylor, Claremore
Coaches: Carl Treat, Stillwater; Matt Sweeney, Oologah

Large West
Kylie Boggess, Piedmont
Ashley Clark, Midwest City
Alie Decker, Edmond Memorial
Daisha Gonzaque, Edmond Santa Fe
Rasheeda Kabba, Westmoore
Toni Smith, Del City
Kati Sullivan, Anadarko
Courtney Walker, Edmond Santa Fe
Antoinet Webster, Western Heights
Te’era Williams, Douglass
Coaches: Jeff Mahoney, Elgin; Dandy Peeler, Edmond Memorial

Small East
Courtney Backward, Salina
Kelsey Barnwell, Kansas
Megan Brown, Howe
Hayley Bryan, Copan
Courtney Cowan, Kansas
Pete Douglas, Oktaha
Charitee Evans, Red Oak
Shanna Harrison, Adair
Kenzie Solberg, Chandler
Brooke Watkins, Prague
Coaches: Brandon Lindly, Wright City; Mike Buntin, Verdigris

Small West
Jamie Brown, Chattanooga
Lexie Brown, Hammon
Casi Cornell, Thomas
Kori Fast, Fairview
Jordan Garner, Amber-Pocasset
Bailey McBride, Chattanooga
Lacey Paulk, Washington
Katelyn Richardson, Calumet
Jordynn Van Pelt, Snyder
Shayla Williams, Northeast
Coaches: Cherie Myers, Okarche; Kirk Harris, Marlow

Northeast coach Londaryl Perry's first coaching job was at Putnam City West under Mike Nunley. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

This is Part 3 in a five-part blog series, continuing the life story of Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry, The Oklahoman’s Little All-City Coach of the Year.

Perry was profiled in Tuesday’s newspaper, but his life story is too fascinating to be held to one story. This blog post will focus on his first coaching job, when he was an assistant boys coach at Putnam City West under Mike Nunley. Here is the full blog schedule:

Tuesday: Perry’s basketball career

Wednesday: More on Perry’s mother and two brothers

Thursday: Perry’s first coaching job

Friday: Perry’s military career

Saturday: The state of Perry’s family today

****************************************************

At age 24, Londaryl Perry got his first coaching job.

He became a boys assistant coach under Mike Nunley at his alma mater, Putnam City West.

Nunley became another important friend and mentor for Perry.

“When I first spoke with Mike, I just had a feeling that this man is somebody special,” Perry said.

For his part, Nunley knew pretty quick that Perry was a natural coach.

“What he had was a passion for teaching kids the game of basketball,” said Nunley, now the athletic director for Edmond Public Schools.

Nunley remembers that kids were drawn to Perry, and just generally wanted to be around him. Perry still has that appeal to kids today at Northeast, where he regularly gets hugs as he walks through the school halls.

But what really impressed Nunley was Perry’s attitude.

“Early on, we had a parent meeting,” Nunley said. “Someone was unhappy.”

Nunley remembers Perry looking at him and putting his hand out, palm side up.

“Coach Nunley, most people are looking for a handout,” Perry told him before twisting his hand.

“I’m looking for a handshake.”

That outlook was especially impressive considering Perry’s difficult background.

“He had every right to not be a positive member of society,” Nunley said. “There was nothing. But he never used it as a crutch or an excuse.”

Perry said Nunley taught him patience, and also gave him the opportunity to learn how to be a coach.

“Sometimes, he would just walk out of practice and let me take over,” Perry said. “He would put me there to take control and get the feeling of being a coach.”

Nunley remains a mentor for Perry today. Early in this — his first — season with the Northeast girls, he called Nunley when he had trouble getting through to his team.

The girls weren’t responding to Perry’s aggressive approach; Nunley said Perry was so good at basketball, that he sometimes struggled to communicate with those who weren’t as talented.

“The game was so easy to him,” Nunley said. “He was Russell Westbrook before Russell Westbrook.”

But he also had to learn that girls sometimes need a different sort of leadership.

“I told him he needed to treat all of those girls as if they were his daughters,” Nunley said.

Once he started looking at it from that perspective, things improved.

“I can not talk to Mike for several months, and when I do it’s a great conversation,” Perry said. “He’s a great man and mentor.”

Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

This is Part 2 of five-part blog series, continuing the life story of Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry, who I featured in Tuesday’s newspaper.

Today, I’ll focus more on Perry’s relationship with his mother and two brothers. Here is the full blog schedule:

Tuesday: Perry’s basketball career

Wednesday: More on Perry’s mother and two brothers

Thursday: Perry’s first coaching job

Friday: Perry’s military career

Saturday: The state of Perry’s family today

****************************************************

At age 13, Londaryl Perry almost decided life was too much.

“Who gives a damn about me?” Perry thought as he briefly considered suicide.

“Who cares if I live or die?”
He watched his uncle die with his own eyes after a drug overdose. His father died after overdosing on heroin.

But the continuing nightmare was the home life with his mother, who regularly called him a “bastard” and “ugly.”

Yes, Londaryl Perry’s mother wasn’t just dismissive and unattentive. She displayed a genuine disdain for her oldest son.

Londaryl’s mother has claimed for years that she was raped as a 16-year old, which is how she became pregnant with him.

“She says she wasn’t sexually active (when he was conceived),” Londaryl said. “My mother has never changed that story after all these years, that he raped her.”

Because he shares some physical features with his father, Londaryl believes much of the anger his mother showered him with is because of the alleged rape.

“I feel like I was a reminder of him, and all that hatred was taken out on me,” Londaryl said. “To know you’re born out of that, and to be treated like that …

“I was like, ‘What do I do?’”

Even though his mother’s addiction resulted in her often neglecting his two younger brothers, they never got the insults that Londaryl did.

“For both of my little brothers, it was different,” Londaryl said. “She cherished them, and she resented me.”

Perry’s wife Shana, who he’s known since he was in the eighth grade and dated throughout high school, remembers coming home with Perry after a game one night.

There was a house full of addicts, getting high with Londaryl’s mother.

He kicked all of his mother’s friends out of the house, and the two began arguing.

Perry’s mother picked up his basketball, clutched it between her hands and said she was so upset that, “I wish I had a rock this big that I could smoke.”

“You think of home as being a safe place, and it wasn’t for him,” Shana Perry said.

Still, he made sure to come home every day to look after his brothers. After a two-year career at Seminole State junior college, he walked on to Central Oklahoma’s basketball team. A short while later, he decided he’d had enough of his mother’s treatment of his brothers.

No food in the house, a lack of clothing. It had to stop. Shana, now principal at Del Crest Middle School, and Londaryl had just gotten married and were both in college to become teachers.

Londaryl and Shana, now the principal at Del Crest Middle School in Del City, were both in school to become educators.

“The conversation we had was about how we are both wanting to be educators so we can make a difference in children’s lives,” said Shana Perry. “Here are his brothers that need someone to make a difference for them right now.”

The difference they made was substantial. Clifford, then 13-years old, and Jermey, then 10, suddenly lived with adults who cared about them. Who asked questions about what they were up to, and made sure they were fed and clothed.

“As kids, we would just leave for seven or eight hours at a time,” said Jermey Perry, now 25-years old. “She was more worried about her friends than us.”

Both of Londaryl’s brothers are now married with careers and children.

Jermey Perry admits he’d “probably be in jail” without Londaryl and Shana taking custody.

After Londaryl Perry graduated from UCO in 1998, he took a job as an assistant coach at Putnam City West under Mike Nunley, who is now the athletic director for Edmond Public Schools.

Nunley thinks Londaryl Perry did more for Clifford and Jermey than keep them out of jail.

“He didn’t save them from a life of crime,” Nunley said, “He saved them from death.”

Nunley remembers things being very difficult for Londaryl as he tried to be both a parent and a brother to the two kids.

“It was super challenging,” Nunley said. “One of his brothers played for us, and that was really hard on Londaryl. He had huge expectations for him; he wanted his brother to experience the success that he did.

“He wore every single hat. He was his big brother, his coach and his father figure.”

Christiansen and Edmonds will be joined by the likes of James Woodard from Edmond Memorial, Norman’s Rico Hogan, El Reno’s Conner Haydon and Mount St. Mary’s Justin Wagner for the Large West.

The Washington pair of Cal Andrews and Jesse Nixon will play for the Small West, along with Centennial guard Da’Sean Carolina.

The games will be played July 26 at Oral Roberts’ Mabee Center. The Small School game will tip off at 7 p.m. with the Large School game at 8:30.

OCA Boys Basketball All-State Rosters

Large West
Conner Haydon, El Reno; D’Andre Wright, Lawton Eisenhower; Jared Griffin, Duncan; James Woodard, Edmond Memorial; Tyler Melton, Anadarko; Justin Wagner, Mount St. Mary’s; Quinton Paras, Lawton MacArthur; Matt Christiansen, Bishop McGuinness; Joe Edmonds, Bishop McGuinness; Rico Hogan, Norman.
Coaches: Butch Roberts, Norman North; Matt Bailey, Deer Creek.

Large East
J.C. Hartzler, Tulsa Union; Sedrick Johnson, Tulsa Union; Tate O’Grady, Byng; Jake Bullard, Vinita; Ramon Benson, Bartlesville; Kaleb Porter, Tulsa East Central; Dejoun Sanders, Shawnee; Jacob Bittle, Bixby; Ehron Ponds, Tulsa Edison; Cody Crase, Jenks.
Coaches: Tony Roach, Vinita; Mark Vancuren, Owasso.

Small West
Austin Thrash, Cheyenne-Reydon; Jesse Nixon, Washington; Cal Andrews, Washington; Rhett Radcliff, Forgan; Ryan Radcliff, Forgan; Derek Gabriel, Pioneer; Corbin Byford, Velma-Alma; Garrett Butler, Burlington; Gavan Steinmetz, Fort Cobb-Broxton; Da’Sean Carolina, Centennial.
Coaches: Todd Kerr, Forgan; Scott Raper, Centennial.

Small East
Quinton Threadgill, Haworth; L.J. Ross, Victory Christian; John Lazenby, Glencoe; Brendon Johnson, Varnum; C.J. Cole, Sperry; Johnathon Buckley, Kellyville; Kolby Johnson, Caddo; Chance LeBlanc, Preston; Dwight McElroy, Chouteau-Mazie; Caleb Smith, Weleetka.
Coaches: Joel Dickerson, Wright City; Lance Kight, Sperry.

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

Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry during the Class 2A state tournament. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

I wrote a story for Tuesday’s newspaper about Northeast girls basketball coach Londaryl Perry, who was raised in a home with a drug-addicted mother and his two younger brothers. When Perry was 21-years old, he took his mother to court and was given custody of his two brothers. Both of them now have careers, wives and children.

Perry’s childhood was extremely difficult, and his life story goes well beyond what was in Tuesday’s newspaper article. I decided to continue Londaryl Perry’s story in a five-part blog series. I’ll release a new blog each day focusing on a different aspect of Perry’s fascinating, often chilling, life story.

Today, I’ll write about his basketball career and how hoops, in many ways, saved his life. Here is the list of the blogs I’ll release each day:

Tuesday: Perry’s basketball career

Wednesday: More on Perry’s mother and two brothers

Thursday: Perry’s first coaching job

Friday: Perry’s military career

Saturday: The state of Perry’s family today

****************************************************

At age 8, Londaryl Perry was introduced to basketball.

His family bounced around Oklahoma City from apartment to apartment, and in the summer before his third-grade year, he was playing with some kids at a park.

One other boy asked Londaryl to play on his summer league team, the Colts.

“We would just go out there and play, and I just kept playing,” Londaryl said.

He had natural talent and loved the game, but basketball was also a welcome distraction from a miserable home life with a mother who not only ignored her oldest son, but showed genuine disdain toward him.

She made fun of him in front of her friends, mocking the clothes he wore and calling him awful names.

The one family member Londaryl remembers really showing him affection and love was his uncle Jerome, who also lived in Oklahoma City and now lives in Denton, Texas.

“I remember him coming to me one day, telling me how he didn’t think his mom loved him because she was doing drugs and she was never there for him,” Jerome Perry said.

“Like a lot of little kids, he always wanted to make his mom proud. But she never took out time for him.”

She didn’t even take out time to watch him play basketball. In a hoops career that lasted through four years of college, Londaryl’s mother saw him play exactly twice, and she had to be dragged there both times by other parents.

“Even when he was a little boy, he was a great basketball player,” Jerome Perry said.

“I used to always try to tell his mom, ‘You need to go see him; your son is great out there,’ but she was too busy worrying about getting high and doing drugs.”

Perry didn’t realize a college basketball career was possible until he was 16 and a junior at Putnam City West.

One day, PC West coach Dick Balenseifen walked down the hall with Perry and handed him a letter from a junior college in Kansas.

“What is this for?” Perry asked his coach.

“This is the middle of my junior year, and I had no idea I could go to college and play basketball,” Perry said. “I never even thought I could.”

Through that point in high school, Perry’s grades were bad. He was never ineligible during basketball season, but made C’s, D’s and F’s otherwise.

“I was ignorant to everything,” Perry said. “My environment that I grew up in was totally different than those other kids around me.”

From that point on, though, Perry’s grades improved dramatically while he continued to shine on the hardwood.

Perry played AAU ball between his junior and senior year. His team, the Oklahoma Trotters, went to AAU nationals at Wake Forest and did well, making it to the top 10.

He was playing in the same tournament as guys like Allen Iverson, Joe Smith, Jeff Capel and Jerry Stackhouse.

After one game, Perry was surrounded at his locker by college recruiters, who began asking him questions. But when they asked about his grades, Perry became defensive and told them to leave him alone.

“I told them they were wasting their time, because I don’t have the grades to go to college,” Perry said. “I had this high moment, being surrounded like that, and then I hit a low.”

As a senior, Perry averaged 20.5 points per game and earned a spot on The Oklahoman’s Big All-City team. But still, his early grade issues likely cost him an opportunity to play Division I basketball.

He went to Seminole State College, where he played for two seasons.

Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, he came home to Oklahoma City and worked every day at a tree service.

He would work from early in the morning until 5 p.m. each day, and then take college courses in the evenings.

“By doing that, I had no basketball in the summer and I gained weight,” Perry said. “Because of that, a lot of my options went away.”

Perry remembers one Division I coach coming to Seminole and saying that, because he had gained weight, it didn’t look like he cared about basketball.

According to Perry, word spread from that point and his options for big-time hoops after junior college became very limited.

So he walked on at Central Oklahoma, where he eventually earned a scholarship. He graduated from UCO in 1998.

“When I look back on it, it was a blessing,” Perry said, because he was able to take custody of his brothers and help raise them.

A few years later, when he was in the Army, Perry joined a military basketball team. He got to travel all over Europe playing basketball. In 2006 his team, the Wiesbaden Eagles, won the Army-Europe community-level basketball tournament. Here is a Stars and Stripes story on the championship game victory, during which Perry scored 31 points. There is also a photo of him playing with the article.

****************************************************

Finally, when I Googled “Londaryl Perry,” I came across this highlight video on YouTube that his son posted. The video shows highlights of Perry playing basketball in high school and college, so enjoy.

Deer Creek junior LB Kooper Ruminer visited Kansas this weekend. PHOTO PROVIDED

Deer Creek junior linebacker Kooper Ruminer went to the Dallas Nike Football SPARQ Combine on March 24 and impressed, earning a spot on the 24-man All-Combine team.

As a result, Ruminer has

seen his recruiting stock increase. He went on an unofficial visit to Kansas this weekend, and will visit Tulsa next weekend.

Ruminer, who still is awaiting his first offer, recorded 136 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior, earning a spot on The Oklahoman’s Big All-City team.

Ruminer isn’t the only Antlers junior getting serious attention from college recruiters. Quarterback Joel Blumenthal and linebacker Austin Loomis will also both attend Tulsa’s spring game next weekend.

Blumenthal took an unofficial to North Texas this weekend. He doesn’t have any offers yet, but said North Texas seems to be the closest team to offering.

Loomis, who recorded 121 tackles as a junior, has been contacted by many Ivy League schools and plans to visit Yale for its junior day. Like Ruminer and Blumenthal, Loomis is still waiting on his first offer.

Centennial boys basketball coach Scott Raper danced with the school mascot, among other things, during the team's Class 3A boys basketball state championship celebration on Friday.

To celebrate their repeat as Class 3A boys basketball champions, the Centennial players didn’t want to simply repeat the embarrassment of coach Scott Raper that they enjoyed last year.

They wanted to surpass it.

So rather than shaving their coach’s head, like they did to celebrate last year’s state title, they made him wear a dress — while they shaved his head.

“This is what the kids asked for,” said Raper, who has been Centennial’s head coach since the school opened in 2007. “They did what we asked for, so I wanted to do this for them.”

The Bison were highly ranked all season, but lost during the regional playoffs, which sparked their title run. Raper said it was important for the team to forget about what it accomplished last season and focus on the task ahead.

“We wore our championship rings for about the first four games of the season,” Raper said. “And then I said, ‘That’s it. I don’t want to see another ring. Last year is over with.’”

If the Bison pull off the three-peat next season, what will Raper have to do then?

“I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me,” Raper said with a grin, adding that he would donate $250 to the school’s food bank if the team wins a third title.

NOTE: Video of the event will be posted the blog soon as well.

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

John Jensen will no longer coach the Putnam City West football team, but he does plan to stay with the school as athletic director.

John Jensen’s tenure as Putnam City West’s football coach ended this week after five seasons.

Jensen said will stay on as the school’s athletic director going forward. Jensen’s teams went 3-47, though the program routinely grew in numbers and support over his five years.

But ultimately, it wasn’t enough.

“They wanted to go a different direction. They want to win games,” Jensen said. “I think we all want to win games, and we all want what’s best for Putnam City West football. If that means finding a new coach, then that’s what needs to be done.”

A press release issued by the school district was to the same effect.

“Putnam City West principal Buster Meeks says Jensen’s sincere desire to improve students’ lives and strengthen the school have been important, but that new direction is necessary to move the football program forward,” the release said.

Meeks will accept applications through April 30, with the hope of filling the position by early May. The application process can be handled online at www.putnamcityschools.org/jobs.

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

Former Millwood football coach Don Willis has been selected as Centennial's next head coach.

Don Willis is returning to Oklahoma City after eight years in Texas.

The former Millwood coach has been chosen as Centennial’s new head coach. He was at Millwood for 22 years, including nine as the head coach, leading the Falcons to three consecutive Class 2A titles from 2000-02.

He won at least seven games in each of his nine seasons, compiling a 91-27 record overall. He left in 2004 to take a job in Texas.

Willis replaces Mark Ryan, who moved on after a difficult battle with health issues last season.

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

All-Conference
First Team
Ashley Clark, Midwest City
Alie Decker, Edmond Memorial
Carolee Dillard, Midwest City
Taylor Ely, Norman
Bri Kuestersteffen, Norman North
Toni Smith, Del City

Second Team
Brittany Alavinejad, Westmoore
Serithia Hawkins, Southmoore
Sydney Hill, Edmond Memorial
Mariah Jackson, Del City
Kayla Tucker, Southmoore

Third Team
Bethany Cox, Norman
Jami Hensley, Westmoore
Rasheeda Kabba, Westmoore
Amanda Patterson, Moore
Haley Woodard, Norman North

Honorable Mention
Dionna Collins (Del City), Piper Kalthoff (Del City), Jenny Roy (Edmond Memorial),
Alyssa Hand (Edmond Memorial), Jasmine Gaddis (Midwest City), Jasauen Beard (Midwest City), Adrianna White (Midwest City), Reagan Widener (Midwest City),
Tori Thomas (Norman North), Kabria Harkey (Westmoore),

No player in the state has racked up offers over the last month like Edmond Santa Fe’s Khari Harding.

Tuesday, the defensive back added another when Indiana extended Harding an offer. Wednesday morning, he added Houston to his ever-growing list. Harding now has offers from Arkansas, Arkansas State, Kansas State and Wyoming. Kansas State was the first school to offer Harding on March 1.

Harding had 71 tackles and three interceptions as a junior.

His uncle, Rodney Harding, was a defensive lineman at Oklahoma State in the 1980s.

Monday, it was Gavin LaValley coming up big for Carl Albert against Chickasha.

Tuesday, it was Taylor Hawkins’ turn.

The Oklahoma signee was 4 for 4 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs in the Titans’ 16-0 win.

Alex Polston, an Oklahoma State signee, added a grand slam as Carl Albert bounced back from Monday night’s loss to Shawnee.

Class 5A No. 2 Carl Albert improved to 4-0 in District 5A-2 play. The Titans step outside of district play Friday when they play at No. 4 Guthrie at 4 p.m.

Carl Albert’s Gavin LaValley had a big day at the plate Monday.
The sophomore homered three times in a 15-4 win over Chickasha, then belted another in his first at bat against Shawnee in the nightcap.
The Titans dropped the second game 3-1.
LaValley had five RBIs in the opening win, while Taylor Hawkins and Alex Polston also added home runs.
Shawnee’s Tim Perkins limited the damage after LaValley’s second-inning home run tied the game 1-1. Perkins went the distance and the Wolves scored two in the fifth to pull out the win.
The loss was No. 3 Carl Albert’s first of the season. No. 4 Shawnee is 7-4.

Kevin Kelly said he won't return as Blanchard girls' basketball coach next season. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Blanchard girls basketball coach Kevin Kelly and superintendent Jim Beckham agree: Kelly hasn’t been fired and hasn’t resigned.

But Kelly told The Oklahoman on Monday that the Blanchard administration has opened his position up for applications.

The Lions were 23-4 in 2011-12, Kelly’s fourth season, during which the team went on an 18-game win streak and made a Class 4A area tournament appearance.

Beckham said he can’t comment on personnel issues, but that Kelly has not been dismissed and hasn’t quit.

Kelly, 32, is still teaching at Blanchard and echoed Beckham’s statement that he hasn’t been fired, but said he was called into the superintendent’s office shortly after the Lions’ season-ending loss to Cushing.

“I was told that expectations were not met, and they were opening my job up,” Kelly said.

Beckham wouldn’t confirm or deny if that conversation took place.

Kelly, originally from Plano, Texas, has spent six years at Blanchard; the last four as the girls’ head coach. Kelly went 72-35 during that run. Blanchard has not sent a girls’ basketball team to the state tournament in the five-on-five era.

Kelly was named the Canadian Valley Conference’s Coach of the Year for the last two seasons, and will coach the Middle West team at the Oklahoma Girls’ Basketball Coaches Association All-State games on June 2 in Weatherford.

“I’ve had parent complaints about me being too tough on the kids,” Kelly said. “I challenged them not only basketball-wise, but mentally and physically.

“I’ve been there six years, and (parents) have complained that whole time. I coach with tough love. When it comes down to it, I’m a young guy with old-school values. Sometimes parents don’t see it that way.”

During the 2011-12 season, Kelly’s team made headlines for its 18-game winning streak, which lasted from late December until back-to-back playoff losses that ended its season.

The Lions’ season-ending defeat was the toughest to swallow. Blanchard led Cushing by 7 points with 45 seconds left, but lost 40-39 in regulation.

“I’ll never get over how we lost our last basketball game,” Kelly said. “I’ll move on from it, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over that one.”

Kelly, who played college basketball at Southeastern Oklahoma State, said he is currently looking for another girls basketball head coaching job in Oklahoma.

“I like coaching girls,” Kelly said. “I heard on TV the other day, and I’ve been telling myself this a lot lately, ‘Don’t do what you want to do; do what you’re meant to do.’ I think I’m meant to coach girls basketball somewhere.”

at Jenks
Tulsa Kelley vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Kelley vs. Deer Creek, 4 p.m.
Jenks vs. Deer Creek, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
at Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow vs. Deer Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Memorial vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 4 p.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 6:30 p.m.

at Jenks
Jenks vs. Edmond Memorial, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Kelley vs. Moore, 4 p.m.
Jenks vs. Moore, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
at Broken Arrow
Tulsa Memorial vs. Deer Creek, 9 a.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Moore, 11:30 a.m.

at Jenks
Tulsa Kelley vs. Edmond Memorial, 9 p.m.
Jenks vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 11:30 p.m.

East No. 4 vs. West No. 4, 2:30 p.m.*
East No. 3 vs. West No. 3, 5 p.m.*

East No. 2 vs. West No. 1, 2:30 p.m.*
East No. 1 vs. West No. 1, 5 p.m.*
Sites for these games will be determined by finish of Broken Arrow and Jenks in pool play.

Defensive Players of the Year: Jordan Thomas, Edmond Memorial, and Cornell Neal, Midwest City

Offensive Players of the Year: Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial, and Rico Hogan, Norman

Coach of the Year: Shane Cowherd, Edmond Memorial

Newcomer of the Year: Terrell Savala, Edmond Memorial

First Team
James Woodard, Edmond Memorial
Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial
A.J. Holland, Del City
T.J. Noel, Midwest City
Rico Hogan, Norman
Cornell Neal, Midwest City

Second Team
Brett Cannon, Del City
Terrell Savala, Edmond Memorial
Connor Madole, Norman
Jordan Thomas, Edmond Memorial
Tripp Fuller, Westmoore

Third Team
Dorian Gigger, Moore
Chris Hobgood, Moore
Steffon Herd, Del City
Trey Ayala, Westmoore
Jamal Mosely, Del City

Honorable Mention:
Sam Kaplan, Norman North
Jourdan Bean, Southmoore
Maurice Davenport, Moore
Kyle Lakin, Westmoore
Beau Palmer, Westmoore
George Kittle, Norman
Daniel Harper, Norman
Keith Glover, Del City
Deonte Long, Del City
Devin Bockhaus, Midwest City
Daryck Jones, Midwest City
Torey Noel, Midwest City
Kesean Brown, Midwest City
Reggie Sloan, Edmond Memorial
Aaron Young, Edmond Memorial

Douglass’ Stephen Clark’s game morphed this season when he was asked to take on more of the scoring load instead of distributing the ball as much.
Clark’s game flourished, helping the Trojans to a third consecutive Class 4A title.
Thursday, Clark was honored with the Gatorade Oklahoma Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
The 5-foot-10 junior guard averaged 29 points 13 assists and five rebounds per game.
He scored 40 points in Douglass’ championship-game win over Anadarko.
Clark is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, which will be announced later this month.
The award also takes into consideration off-the-court activities. Clark mas maintained a 3.88 GPA and has volunteered for multiple groups as well.
Clark is the first junior to win the award in Oklahoma since Putnam City’s Xavier Henry did in the 2007-08 season. Henry followed it up with a second award as a senior.
Other recent state award winner include Bridge Creek’s Ryan Spangler, Putnam West’s Tyler Neal and Oklahoma Christian School’s Blake Griffin.

Clark will be playing for a US junior team that will compete in Mannheim, Germany, from April 3-14 in an event with teams from 15 other countries, including Argentina, Australia, China, Serbia and Spain.

Because it is not directly tied to the Olympic team or an Olympic-sanctioned event, the families must pay travel costs due to NCAA recruiting rules.

The fundraiser service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Voice of Praise Baptist Church at 2200 Culbertson Dr., in Oklahoma City. The church’s pastor, Rev. Tony F. Wise, will be joined by guest speaker Rev. Teron V. Gaddis, a pastor and teacher at Greater Bethel Baptist Church.

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

Anadarko’s Tanner Dearman has already signed with Howard College, one of the top junior college baseball programs in the country, but he received a big-time Division I offer earlier this week when Wichita State came through.
Dearman hit .489 with 25 stolen bases and scored 66 runs as a junior.
It’s already been an eventful year for Dearman, who was a key piece in the Warriors’ run to the Class 3A football title.
Dearman had 403 receiving yardsm 199 rushing yards, 45 tackles and nine interceptions as a senior.
Anadarko is currently No. 2 in the OKRankings.com Class 4A baseball coaches rankings.

OKLAHOMA TENNIS COACHES RANKING
CLASS 6A
Boys
1. Edmond North
2. Jenks
3. Tulsa Union
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Broken Arrow
6. Tulsa Kelley
7. McGuinness
8. Enid
9. Muskogee
10. Edmond Santa Fe

Girls
1. Jenks
2. Edmond North
3. Enid
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Tulsa Kelley
6. Broken Arrow
7. Tulsa Union
8. McGuinness
9. Bixby
10. Owasso

CLASS 5A
Boys
1. Metro Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Carl Albert
4. Oklahoma Christian
5. Cascia Hall
6. McAlester
7. Shawnee
8. Durant
9. Duncan
10. Ardmore

Girls
1. Duncan
2. Heritage Hall
3. Cascia Hall
4. Tulsa Washington
5. Tahlequah
6. Ardmore
7. Deer Creek
8. Carl Albert
9. Shawnee
10. Altus

CLASS 4A
Boys
1. Anadarko
2. Ada
3. Henryetta
4. Byng
5. Clinton
6. Elk City
7. Oologah
8. St. Mary
9. Seminole
10. Okmulgee

Girls
1. Ada
2. Metro Christian
3. Elk City
4. Perry
5. Midway  
6. Byng
7. Beaver
8. Seminole
9. Oklahoma Christian
10. Anadarko

Edmond Memorial's James Woodard signed with Tulsa in November, and he's closely watching to see who the program hires as its next head coach.

Edmond Memorial senior James Woodard isn’t currently planning to seek a release from his letter of intent with the Tulsa basketball program. But he’s keeping an eye on things with the Golden Hurricane.

TU fired head coach Doug Wojcik on March 11, and the replacement process is ongoing. Woodard has been in contact with Lawton Eisenhower forward D’Andre Wright about the situation.

Both have signed letters of intent, but could be granted their release from the commitment because of Wojcik’s firing.

“I’m keeping a close eye on it to see if they make any decisions soon, because if not, I’ll have to start making my decisions,” Woodard said. “I talked to (Wright) last week. We met with the athletic director (Ross Parmley). We’re trying to get all the information we can, so we can see if we need to stay or try to find another school.

“As of now, I’m still going to TU. I’m just waiting to see what they decide on in the next few weeks and go from there.”

Lawton Eisenhower coach Bruce Harrington said Wright is also waiting and watching. Wright, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds in helping the Eagles reach the state tournament.

Woodard, a 6-foot-3 wing, led Memorial with 14 points and seven rebounds per game as the Bulldogs finished as the Class 6A runner-up to Tulsa Union.

The next letter of intent signing period for basketball opens April 11, at which time, several other scholarships will begin to be filled. There’s always some shuffling when coaches leave and players go to other schools, so the domino effect could cause some currently filled spots to come open as well.

It’s a hectic time, and very stressful for a kid caught in the middle of it. For those who are interested, here’s a link to a Tulsa World story from Sunday detailing a few potential candidates at Tulsa.

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

Casady’s Casey Roberts was named first-team All-Southwest Preparatory Conference while two teammates were also honored.
Jason Shelley also made the All-SPC team while Graham Bennett earned honorable mention honors.
Roberts averaged 11.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 4.1 assists for the Cyclones.
Shelley led Casady with 11.3 points per game, while added 8.8 rebounds.
Bennett averages 8.0 points and 10.4 rebounds.

Edmond Santa Fe senior right-hander Ty Hensley started the team’s Spring Break trip to Arizona off with a bang Monday night.
Hensley threw five no-hit innings, striking out 13 as the Wolves beat Apollo (Ariz.) 11-0.
With spring training also going in in Arizona, it gave many big league teams a chance to see Hensley up close. More than 40 scouts and even a few general managers took in Hensley’s performance.
He also impressed at the plate, with a solo home run and another hit.
Hensley is signed with Ole Miss but is expected to be an early draft pick this summer.

The Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association announced its six All-State teams Friday after a week of tryouts.

The three OGBCA All-State games, which are scheduled for Saturday, June 2 at Weatherford High School, will feature small, middle and large schools.

LARGE SCHOOL ROSTERS

WEST

Courtney Walker (Edmond Santa Fe); Alie Decker (Edmond Memorial); Ashley Clark (Midwest City); Antoinet Webster (Western Heights); Sydney Hill (Edmond Memorial); Elyse Hight (Bishop McGuinness); Toni Smith (Del City); Daisha Gonzaque (Edmond Santa Fe); Adrianna White (Midwest City); Toni Cheadle (Carl Albert).

Coaches: Paul Bass (Edmond Santa Fe); Karri Sears (Del City).

EAST

Kelsee Grovey (Shawnee); Madison Mercado (Sapulpa); Taylor Cooper (Shawnee); Devaughn Gray (Tulsa Washington); U’Knique Gaines (Tulsa East Central); LaNesha Middleton (Stillwater); Miranda Taylor (Claremore); Chelsie Keys (Muskogee); Lashanda Green (McAlester); Taylor Hurd (Jenks).

Coaches: Richard Bassett (Grove); Doyle Roland (Muskogee).

MIDDLE SCHOOL ROSTERS

WEST

Quira Demery (Millwood); Te’era Williams (Douglass); Lacey Paulk (Washington); Kati Sullivan (Anadarko); Jennifer Williams (Clinton); Madison Ward (Cache); Courtney Robinson (Blanchard); Amalea Hunter (Woodward); Kylie Boggess (Piedmont); Ashlyn Carroll (Chisholm).

Coaches: Kevin Kelly (Blanchard); Kirk Harris (Marlow).

EAST

Kelsey Barnwell (Kansas); Caitlyn Spurgeon (Vinita); Jodi Glover (Fort Gibson); Kenzie Solberg (Chandler); Courtney Cowan (Kansas); Brooke Watkins (Prague); Courtney Backward (Salina); Megan Ritter (Jay); Ashleigh Hutchings (Berryhill); Kardriunna Young (Idabel).

Coaches: Matt Sweeney (Oologah); Rick Ott (Inola).

SMALL SCHOOL ROSTERS

WEST

Jaime Brown (Chattanooga); Lexie Brown (Hammon); Casi Cornell (Thomas); Nikki Hager (Sayre); Jordan Garber (Amber-Pocasset); Haley Halcomb (Pond Creek-Hunter); Kori Fast (Fairview); Bailey McBride (Chattanooga); Jessica Penner (Corn Bible); Katelyn Richardson (Calumet); Lindsey Smith (Big Pasture); Hannah Stevens (Turner); Rylie Swanson (Alva); Jordynn VanPelt (Snyder); Shayla Williams (Northeast).

Coach: Terry Fellenstein (Corn Bible).

EAST

Pete Douglas (Oktaha); Megan Brown (Howe); Haley Bryan (Copan); Darian Black (Frontier); Tiffany Young (Frontier); Anna Eslinger (Ripley); Tiffeny Layton (Kiowa); Cydney Dillard (Central Sallisaw); Charitte Evans (Red Oak); McKenzie Cranford (Tonkawa); Hannah Thomas (Oklahoma Union); Shelley Swicegood (Colcord); Whitney Brown (Oktaha); Landry James (Talihina); Taylor Benson (Oklahoma Union).

Coaches: David Tinkler (Latta); Scott Lowe (Central Sallisaw).

Second team
106: Cody Logan, Yukon
113: Jordan Armstrong, Edmond North
120: Josh Breece, Edmond North
126: Parker Bohannan, Yukon
132: Frank Smith, Choctaw
138: Kaylob Klingler, Choctaw
145: Mason Stowers, Edmond Santa Fe
152: Taylor Gore, Putnam City
160: Hunter Smith, Edmond North
170: Cason Montgomery, Yukon
182: Walter Smith, Edmond Santa Fe
195: Andrew Brumage, Choctaw
220: Ragan Land, Edmond North
285: Lantz Parks, Yukon

The Edmond Santa Fe girls basketball team was ranked No. 10 in the country by USA Today. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Edmond Santa Fe’s girls have been No. 1 in Oklahoma all season. Now, they are a top-10 team nationally.

USA Today has the Wolves at No. 10 in their latest girls basketball Super 25 rankings.

Santa Fe finished the 2011-12 season with a 28-0 record and a second straight Class 6A state championship, won last weekend in a 44-41 victory over Edmond Memorial.

Girls All-Metro Athletic Conference
Most Valuable Player: Courtney Walker, Edmond Santa Fe
Offensive Player of the Year: Layton Hurley, Choctaw
Defensive Player of the Year: Daisha Gonzaque, Edmond Santa Fe
Newcomer of the Year: Da’Jah Coffey, Putnam North
Coach of the Year: Karlie Free, Edmond North

First Team
Whitney Dunn, Mustang
Daisha Gonzaque, Edmond Santa Fe
Layton Hurley, Choctaw
Kaitlyn Peterson, Edmond North
Courtney Walker, Edmond Santa Fe

Second Team
Haley Brown, Yukon
Da’Jah Coffey, Putnam North
Cameerah Graves, Edmond Santa Fe
Tamara Lee, Edmond Santa Fe
Jayden Oliver, Putnam City

All-Suburban Conference Girls
Most Valuable Player: Kelsee Grovey, Shawnee
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalyn Jackson, Deer Creek
Newcomer of the Year: Taylor Cooper, Shawnee
Coach of the Year: Wendi Wells, Shawnee

First team
Kylie Boggess, Piedmont
Gioya Carter, Carl Albert
Ashley Gibson, Deer Creek
Antoinet Webster, Western Heights
Micaela Yu, Shawnee

Second team
Ashley Almond, Piedmont
Toni Cheadle, Carl Albert
Bailey Mack, Harrah
Melinda Murillo, Guthrie
Sheronica Swindle, Western Heights

Third team
Lauren Collyer, Harrah
Sierra Hamilton, Chickasha
Haley Hill, El Reno
Mikaela Murillo, Guthrie
Sarah Parker, Piedmont

All-Suburban Conference
Most Valuable Player: Carlbe Ervin, Carl Albert
Defensive Player of the Year: Raymond Little, El Reno
Newcomer of the Year: Cameron Peters, Piedmont
Coach of the Year: Pete Papahronis, Guthrie

First team
Garrett Hermanski, Deer Creek
Conner Haydon, El Reno
Dejoun Sanders, Shawnee
Jacobi Davis, Chickasha
Kai Callins, Guthrie

Second team
Tim Tullis, Western Heights
Cameron Peters, Piedmont
Rashaad Copeland, El Reno
Leland Palmer, Noble
Colin Jennings, Harrah

Third team
Darrain Winston, Carl Albert
Dondre Brookins, Carl Albert
Collin Bricker, Piedmont
Joel Blumenthal, Deer Creek
Dillion Mooreland, Shawnee

All-Defensive Team
Darrain Winston, Carl Albert
Shron Parker, Guthrie
Adrion Williams, Piedmont
Jose Bonilla, El Reno
Anthony Clark, Deer Creek

All-Metro Athletic Conference
Coach of the Year: A.D. Burtschi, Putnam City
Player of the Year: Joe Summers, Putnam North
Offensive Player of the Year: David Bush, Putnam City
Defensive Player of the Year: Omega Harris, Putnam West
Newcomer of the Year: Justin Jones, Edmond Santa Fe

First team
David Bush, Putnam City
Aaron Anderson, Edmond Santa Fe
Tavionne Pennon, Putnam West
Shaquille Morris, Edmond Santa Fe
Ronnie Boyce, Putnam City

Second team
Omega Harris, Putnam West
J.R. Simon, Putnam North
T.J. Jones, Putnam North
Zach Laurie, Mustang
Tyler Lester, Choctaw

Third team
Justin Jones, Edmond Santa Fe
Kevin House, Putnam West
Ed Baker, Edmond North
Rodney Teal, Putnam North
Orlando Goldsmith, Putnam City

Honorable mention
Choctaw: Carson Clay, Reggie Wright
Edmond North: David Montgomery, Blake Ruben
Mustang: Levi Lum, Robert Shaw
Putnam City: Dexter Dean, Richmarr Smith
Putnam West: Deonte Ogles

6A

EDMOND SANTA FE VS. EDMOND MEMORIAL, 1:45 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Edmond Santa Fe

I honestly wouldn’t be completely shocked if Edmond Memorial pulled this one off. The Bulldogs are playing at a high level right now, but after the way Courtney Walker and the Wolves came back in the semifinal win over Midwest City, it’s impossible for me to pick against Santa Fe.

5A

SHAWNEE VS. TULSA EAST CENTRAL, 6 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Shawnee

After watching the beginning of Tulsa East Central’s semifinal win over McAlester, I really thought the Cardinals had what it takes to beat the Wolves. But then, leading scorer and rebounder Bria Pitts tore her ACL. In all likelihood, I would have picked Shawnee either way, but I definitely have to pick the Wolves now. Shawnee finishes up an unbeaten season and wins its first-ever girls’ basketball state title in a close one.

4A

ANADARKO VS. FORT GIBSON, 12:15 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Anadarko

Lakota Beatty is not only one of the state’s top juniors, but one of Oklahoma’s best players. Now that Anadarko finally got past Vinita, I expect the Warriors to take down the defending champions.

3A

MILLWOOD VS. PRAGUE, 7:30 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Prague

I picked Prague before the state tournament started, and they’ve done nothing to force me to change the pick, However, after Millwood’s semifinal win over Kansas, I gave serious consideration to switching this pick to Arnelia Spears’ Falcons. But ultimately, I have to stick with my original instinct. The Red Devils bring it home.

2A

NORTHEAST VS. FAIRVIEW, 2 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Northeast

The Northeast-Snyder semifinal had me glued to Twitter while simultaneously trying to pay attention to the Edmond Memorial-Sapulpa game I was covering. Nothing against Fairview, but it’s really too bad that game wasn’t the state title game. In his first year at the helm, Northeast’s Londaryl Perry, a former Putnam City West standout himself, has done one of the best coaching jobs in the state this year with the Vikings, regardless of Saturday’s outcome. Northeast beat Fairview in an area final, and I think they do it again.

* Nothing terribly surprising in Class 6A. The Edmond schools and Midwest City are clearly the three best teams in Class 6A, and I think we’ll get Edlam in the title game on Saturday.

* Give it up to Nikki McCann’s Mustang team. They were overmatched Thursday against Sapulpa, but getting to the state tournament with this young team is a big accomplishment. McCann has the proud Bronco girls’ basketball program headed back in the right direction, and with juniors Kendall and Mallory Brothers and freshman Bailey Flynn, this team will be good next year and should be back in the state tournament.

* Anadarko vs. Vinita in the Class 4A semifinals. That should be fantastic. Vinita has beaten the Warriors out in the first round the last three years, so Anadarko will enter this one with some extra motivation. But Caitlyn Spurgeon, who scored 33 in Thursday’s win over Jay, is a tough matchup. This game tips off at 1:30 p.m. at State Fair Arena.

* Te’era Williams’ career at Douglass ends with a disappointing loss, but that shouldn’t take away from the season she had. I mean this as no disrespect to the other Trojans players, but without Williams, Douglass wouldn’t have sniffed the state tournament. She’s a great talent, and I fully expect her to have a fine career at Grambling State.

* Like Mustang, you have to admire the job Amanda Tims did in her first year as coach at Piedmont. The Wildcats were in their first state tournament since 2001, and got a tough first-round matchup with No. 1 Fort Gibson. Piedmont loses Kylie Boggess for next season, but brings back very talented juniors Ashley Almond and Sarah Parker.

* Mount St. Mary almost got a win in their first state tournament game ever. Even with the heartbreaking loss, the Rockets’ state tournament appearance itself is a huge success. Mount St. Mary moved up to Class 4A and started three sophomores and a freshman, but still made it and almost won a game. That’s a testament to coach Rory Hamilton and the job he’s done. Expect the Rockets to be back in contention next season.

* I admit I was surprised when I saw the Kansas-Chandler score. It’s impressive that the Lions were that close to knocking off the favorites.

* Sulphur’s first state trip since 1923 started well, with a 45-43 win over Salina. Now it gets a tough semifinal matchup with No. 2 Prague, which was my state champion pick.

* Millwood will have its hands full with Kansas, but I like the Falcons to win it and get to their fifth straight state championship game.

* I’m perfectly happy to be in Tulsa for the big schools tournaments, but I really, really wish I could see tomorrow’s Northeast-Snyder Class 2A semifinal game. The defending state champs against the Vikings, who, in Londaryl Perry’s first season, have looked like the team to beat, at least in my opinion. Northeast beat Amber-Pocasset 74-46 Thursday, which I was a little shocked by. I expected the Vikings to win (they were my state pick, after all,) but not like that.

6A

EDMOND SANTA FE VS. MIDWEST CITY, NOON

Jason’s pick: Edmond Santa Fe

The Bombers are a tough team, and it’s too bad this can’t be the championship game. But I think the Wolves will be just too tough.

EDMOND MEMORIAL VS. SAPULPA, 7:30 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Edmond Memorial

The Bulldogs are hot right now. We get a third Edlam matchup between Santa Fe and Memorial for the 6A championship.

5A

SHAWNEE VS. CARL ALBERT, 10:30 A.M.

Jason’s pick: Shawnee

Carl Albert is a good team, but Shawnee is a great team. Kelsee Grovey, Taylor Cooper and the Wolves pick up another win on their way to the state title.

TULSA EAST CENTRAL VS. MCALESTER, 6 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Tulsa East Central

Cardinals are too athletic, talented and experienced to lose this one.

4A

FORT GIBSON VS. PERKINS-TRYON, 10:30 A.M.

Jason’s pick: Fort Gibson

Defending champs take care of business and get back to the title game.

VINITA VS. ANADARKO, 1:30 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Anadarko

Warriors finally best Caitlyn Spurgeon and Vinita to earn title game berth.

3A

SULPHUR VS. PRAGUE, 6 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Prague

The Red Devils were my state champion pick, and I’ll stick with them.

KANSAS VS. MILLWOOD, 7:30 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Millwood

Kansas got all it wanted from Chandler, and Millwood is even better. The Falcons advance to their fifth straight state title game with a close win.

2A

NORTHEAST VS. SNYDER, 6 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Northeast

Snyder has great talent, is well-coached and has experience. But there’s just something about this Northeast team that I like. The Vikings win on their way to the state title.

THOMAS VS. FAIRVIEW, 7:30 P.M.

Jason’s pick: Thomas

Terriers knocked off No. 1 Snyder in the area final and then beat Tonkawa in the quarterfinals. Thomas rides momentum to the title game.

* You have to feel terrible for Kate Andrews. The Bishop McGuinness senior had a really rough final high school basketball game. She had three first-half fouls, picked up her fourth less than a minute into the third quarter and sprained her ankle in the fourth. Andrews had a fantastic career and this game shouldn’t take away from that.

* The Carl Albert-Bishop McGuinness game was fun to watch and entertaining, but both teams really struggled shooting the ball. Or maybe both teams were just really good on defense. Either way, there wasn’t a lot of scoring. The Titans shot 28 percent from the field, and the Irish shot 30 percent.

* Carl Albert coach Tim Price on his team’s struggles to score this season: “We’ve had our struggles scoring throughout the year, so we’re not going to be able to outscore somebody when a game gets to the mid-50s. We’ve got to keep the score down and battle.” Mission accomplished on Thursday, but will the Titans be able to do the same Friday against Shawnee?

* Carl Albert is playing in its eighth straight girls state tournament, but is advancing to the semifinals for the first time since 2009. The Titans lost close games the last two seasons in the first round.

* Shawnee has been my pick to win Class 5A since the beginning of the season, and I saw nothing Thursday to change my mind, although a matchup with Tulsa East Central could be interesting. The Wolves didn’t look great early against Claremore, but I think that is more of a testament to the Zebras’ effort.

* Shawnee senior guard Kelsee Grovey is one of the best players in the state, regardless of class. The things she does on defense change the game and makes her team win. She doesn’t necessarily light up the box score, but if I was starting a team, she’d be one of the players I’d want on it. The last time she guarded Carl Albert’s Gioya Carter, Carter was severely limited. Will Grovey be able to do it again?

* Speaking of superlatives, Del City’s Karri Sears is one of the best coaches around. She got more out of this Del City team than I think a lot of people expected, and for that she deserves to be recognized. The Eagles lost players to injuries, played a tough schedule and suffered some tough losses, but when it came playoff time, Sears got her team to the state tournament and almost won Thursday. I would argue that if Del City hadn’t gotten in foul trouble as quickly as it did in the third quarter, it just might have beaten McAlester.

* Del City senior Toni Smith wrapped up her terrific career with a 16-point, 12-rebound effort against McAlester. Now she moves on to Fresno State.

* I’d never seen McAlester guard LaShanda Green play until Thursday, but I mentioned her as a player to watch in our 5A tournament preview video. She impressed me on Day 1. It will be interesting to see how she performs Friday against a much tougher Tulsa East Central team.

* Tulsa East Central was a machine Thursday. If it is indeed Shawnee vs. Tulsa East Central in the championship game, that could be big-time good.

* Altus was 6-15 a year ago, and finished this year 17-10 and with a state tournament berth. That’s what I’d call a very successful turnaround season.

Large East
113: Gunnar Woodburn, Claremore; 120: Calib Freeman, Claremore; 126: Josh Walker, Tulsa Union; 132: Lukas Etchison, Muskogee; 138: Patrick O’Brien, Tulsa Edison; 145: Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville; 152: Zack Dobbins, Coweta; 160: Ian Hammon, Sand Springs; 170: Kyle Crutchmer, Tulsa Union; 182: Shelby Krout, Ponca City; 195: Caleb Cotter, Sapulpa; 220: Paul Wilson, Stillwater; 285: Travis Morgan, Stillwater; Coach: H.M. Chapman, Claremore.

Large West
113: Fernando Tapia, Altus; 120: Lloyd Crownover, Yukon; 126: Kyle Garcia, Choctaw; 132: Jemuel Duran, Southeast; 138: Jazer Duran, Southeast; 145: Matt Wilhite, Altus; 152: Jamie Shawver, Del City; 160: Garrett Henshaw, Yukon; 170: Vincent Opuiyo, Western Heights; 182: Nolan Boyd, Deer Creek; 195: Hunter Long, Noble; 220: Landry Chappell, Guthrie; 285: Evan McGee, Ardmore; Coach: Kevin Kelly, Duncan.

Small East
113: Jett Shell, Sallisaw; 120: Connor Cline, Blackwell; 126: Jamaree Swan, Perry; 132: Matt Manley, Perry; 138: Cory Vann, Inola; 145: Kyle Knight, Cushing; 152: Cameron Kirk, Pawhuska; 160: Cole Courtney, Blackwell; 170: Bo Gibson, Berryhill; 182: Nathan Dowell, Newkirk; 195: Kolbi Phillips, Vinita; 220: Logan Byrd, Stilwell; 285: Jeff Byrd, Sallisaw; Coach: Gene Bennett, Newkirk.

Small West
113: Eric Perry, Hobart; 120: Tyler Tompkins, Newcastle; 126: Trent Cantu, Tuttle; 132: Aaron Hane, Piedmont; 138: Steven Fernandez, Newcastle; 145: Don Ervin, Weatherford; 152: Sterling Hawkins, Tuttle; 160: Cody Smith, Kingfisher; 170: Garrison McCauley, Comanche; 182: Austin Hodge, Little Axe; 195: Hunter Winkle, Piedmont; 220: Sir Walter Lynn, Little Axe; 285: Wayne Hartfield, Kingfisher; Coach: Brian Collins, Snyder.
 

As Edmond Santa Fe prepares to open the CLass 6A state tournament Thursday, the Wolves’ Courtney Walker was named the Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Going into Thursday’s state tournament opener against Tulsa Union (2 p.m., Mabee Center), Walker is averaging 17.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.6 assists for the 25-0 Wolves.

The Texas A&< signee is currently ranked as the No. 33 recruit in the nation on Hoopgurlz ESPNU 100.

Walker is the first to receive the award from Santa Fe. The award honors not only athletic excellence but character and academic achievement as well. Walker is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, which will be announced later this month.

Recent state winners included Ashley Clark (Midwest City), Richa Jackson (Midwest City), Kevi Luper (Adair), Alyssia Brewer (Sapulpa), Angel Goodrich (Sequoyah Tahlequah) and Stephanie McGee (Howe, twice).

The Oklahoma City RedHawks announced the schedule for the Majestic Roofing High School Baseball Series, which will feature 19 games at RedHawks Field at Bricktown.
The series opens Friday with a doubleheader. Shidler will play Mulhall-Orlando at 4 p.m., followed by Elgin vs. Wister at 7 p.m.
The series ends March 31 when Purcell plays Lindsay beginning at 5 p.m.
Admission to the games is free to the public.
The ballpark will also host the fall baseball state championship games Oct. 4.

High school baseball at the Brick:
March 9: Shidler vs. Mulhall-Orlando, 4 p.m.; Elgin vs. Wister, 7 p.m.
March 10: Cashion vs. Crescent, 2 p.m.; Destiny Christian vs. Calumet, 5 p.m.
March 13: Geary vs. Hobart, 7 p.m.
March 15: Enid vs. Pauls Valley, 4 p.m.; Putnam North vs. Yukon, 7 p.m.
March 16: Anadarko vs. Clinton, 4 p.m.; Timberlake vs. Pioneer, 7 p.m.
March 17: Davenport vs. Stroud, 11 a.m.; Tulsa Edison vs. Beggs, 2 p.m.; Union City vs. Moss, 5 p.m.
March 20: Catoosa vs. Lone Grove, 7 p.m.
March 22: Washington vs. Tushka, 7 p.m.
March 24: El Reno vs. Midwest City, 5 p.m.
March 27: Tuttle vs. Comanche, 4 p.m.
March 29: Chandler vs. Bethel, 7 p.m.
March 30: Marlow vs. Davis, 7 p.m
March 31: Purcell vs. Lindsay, 5 p.m.

The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced its 2012 class of inductees into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame this week. The induction ceremony and banquet will take place at 6:30 p.m. July 22 at the Southern Hills Marriott in Tulsa.

The inductees:
David Brese, Durant
Laura Clay, Westmoore
Nate Harris, Tulsa Washington
Richard Lemler, Stillwater
Jim Mathews, Wewoka
L.J. Powell, Chickasha
Mike Tyson, Thomas
C.L. “Cotton” Wade, Norman
Jim Walling, Earlsboro
Ted Younts, Ardmore
Distinguished service: George Hauser, Southwestern Oklahoma State

For Class 4A-2A, all championship games will be played at State Fair Arena on Saturday. Class 4A boys and 3A girls will remain at outer locations for Friday’s semifinals. All other classes will play at the Big House Friday and Saturday.

Class 6A
Girls at Oral Roberts Mabee Center
Edmond Santa Fe. Vs. Tulsa Union, 2 p.m.
Muskogee vs. Midwest City, 3:30 p.m.
Sapulpa vs. Mustang, 7 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Jenks, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
Muskogee/Midwest City winner vs. Edmond Santa Fe/Tulsa Union winner, noon
Sapulpa/Mustang winner vs. Edmond Memorial/Jenks winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 1:45 p.m.

Boys at Skiatook
Tulsa Edison vs. Putnam City, 2 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Bixby, 3:30 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Bartlesville, 7 p.m.
Tulsa Union vs. Lawton Eisenhower, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At Mabee Center
Tulsa Edison/Putnam City winner vs. Edmond Memorial/Bixby winner, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:45 p.m.

Class 5A
Girls at Sapulpa
Carl Albert vs. Bishop McGuinness, 2 p.m.
Shawnee vs. Claremore, 3:30 p.m.
Del City vs. McAlester, 7 p.m.
Tulsa East Central vs. Altus, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At Mabee Center
Carl Albert/Bishop McGuinness winner vs. Shawnee/Claremore winner, 10:30 a.m.
Tulsa East Central/Altus winner vs. Del City/McAlester winner, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 6 p.m.

Boys at Catoosa
Del City vs. Guthrie, 2 p.m.
Tulsa East Central vs. Ardmore, 3:30 p.m.
Carl Albert vs. El Reno, 7 p.m.
Bishop McGuinness vs. Tulsa Central, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At Mabee Center
Tulsa East Centra/Ardmore winner vs. Del City/Guthrie winner, 9 a.m.
Carl Albert/El Reno winner vs. McGuinness/Tulsa Central winner, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, noon

Class 4A
Girls at Choctaw
Douglass vs. Anadarko, 2 p.m.
Fort Gibson vs. Piedmont, 3:30 p.m.
Perkins-Tryon vs. Mount St. Mary, 7 p.m.
Vinita vs. Jay, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At State Fair Arena
Fort Gibson/Piedmont winner vs. Perkins-Tryon/Mount St. Mary winner, 10:30 a.m.
Vinita/Jay winner vs. Douglass/Anadarko winner, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 12:15 p.m.

Boys at Carl Albert
Tulsa McLain vs. Roland, 2 p.m.
Cascia Hall vs. Vinita, 3:30 p.m.
Anadarko vs. John Marshall, 7 p.m.
Douglass vs. Piedmont, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At Carl Albert
Anadarko/John Marshall winner vs. McLain/Roland winner, 6 p.m.
Douglass/Piedmont winner vs. Cascia Hall/Vinita winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
At State Fair Arena
Championship, 5:45 p.m.

Class 3A
Girls at Yukon
Verdigris vs. Prague, 2 p.m.
Millwood vs. Adair, 3:30 p.m.
Sulphur vs. Salina, 7 p.m.
Kansas vs. Chandler, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At Yukon
Sulphur/Salina winner vs. Verdigris/Prague winner, 6 p.m.
Kansas/Chandler winner vs. Millwood/Adair winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
At State Fair Arena
Championship, 7:30 p.m.

Boys at Southern Nazarene University
Victory Christian vs. Kingfisher, 2 p.m.
Washington vs. Sperry, 3:30 p.m.
Keys (Park Hill) vs. Centennial, 7 p.m.
Millwood vs. Haskell, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At State Fair Arena
Keys (Park Hill)/Centennial winner vs. Millwood/Haskell winner, noon
Washington/Sperry winner vs. Victory Christian/Kingfisher winner, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 10:30 a.m.

Class 2A
Girls at Oklahoma City University
Thomas vs. Tonkawa, 2 p.m.
Snyder vs. Colcord, 3:30 p.m.
Northeast vs. Amber-Pocasset, 7 p.m.
Fairview vs. Oktaha, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At State Fair Arena
Northeast/Amber-Pocasset winner vs. Snyder/Colcord winner, 6 p.m.
Thomas/Tonkawa winner vs. Fairview/Oktaha winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 2 p.m.

Boys at State Fair Arena
Northeast vs. Oktaha, 2 p.m.
Preston vs. Carnegie, 3:30 p.m.
Hennessey vs. Watonga, 7 p.m.
Pioneer vs. Haworth, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
Northeast/Oktaha winner vs. Preston/Carnegie winner, 9 a.m.
Hennessey/Watonga winner vs. Pioneer/Haworth winner, 9 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 9:15 p.m.

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

No. 1 Snyder (22-3): Cyclones, the defending champions, were upset by Thomas in area final but bounced back to clinch state berth Saturday.

No. 2 Northeast (24-2): Junior T’ona Edwards leads Northeast, which earned state berth in coach Londaryl Perry’s first season at the helm.

No. 3 Oktaha (29-0): Coach Chester Pittman seeks his third state championship in his 23 years as Oktaha coach.

No. 4 Amber-Pocasset (29-1): Panthers were unbeaten until area final loss to Oktaha, but rebounded with win Saturday for state berth.

No. 5 Tonkawa (27-1): Suffered first setback of the season in area final loss to Colcord, but beat Dale on a buzzer-beater Saturday to advance.

No. 6 Fairview (26-2): A semifinal team last season, Fairview hopes to win its first state title since 1974.

No. 7 Thomas (23-2): A semifinal team last year, Thomas seeks its seventh-ever state title. The Terriers upset No. 1 Snyder in Friday’s area final.

No. 13 Colcord (18-6): Improvement throughout the season is shown by win over Adair on Feb. 10. Colcord opened the year with 33-point loss at Adair.

No. 1 Kansas (23-2): Last year’s runner-up, the Comets seek their fourth-ever state championship.

No. 2 Prague (25-1): Three four-year starters lead the Red Devils, who were a semifinal team in 2011.

No. 3 Sulphur (25-1): Young team returned four starters from last year. Bulldogs seeking first-ever state title.

No. 4 Millwood (21-6): Last year’s Class 2A runner-up suffered first loss since Jan. 21 in area final vs. Sulphur, but rebounded by beating Davis to advance.

No. 5 Salina (21-6): Returned all five starters from last year’s team and are in the state tournament in Tony Rosebrough’s first year as coach.

No. 6 Verdigris (23-5): Mike Buntin leads the Cardinals to the state tourney in his first season as coach.

No. 8 Adair (20-7): Warriors return to the state tournament for the seventh straight season.

No. 10 Chandler (21-7): Senior Kenzie Solberg has the Lions dreaming of their first state championship since 1933.

Douglass senior Te'era Williams led the Trojans to their first state tournament since 1992. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Here is your Class 4A girls’ basketball state tournament field.

No. 1 Fort Gibson (26-1): Defending state champions’ only loss came on Dec. 30 to 5A No. 2 Tulsa East Central in the Tournament of Champions finals.

No. 2 Anadarko (25-1): Only loss this season is to 5A’s top-ranked team, Shawnee. Warriors have lost to Vinita in the first round of the last three state tournaments.

No. 3 Vinita (24-3): Arkansas Tech signee Caitlyn Spurgeon leads Hornets back to state tournament for fifth straight year.

No. 7 Perkins-Tryon (23-5): Move up in class didn’t stop Perkins-Tryon, a 3A semifinal team in 2011, from earning 4A state berth.

No. 9 Piedmont (21-7): Wildcats’ are led by senior Kylie Boggess and juniors Sarah Parker and Ashley Almond. This is coach Amanda Tims’ first season.

No. 13 Jay (19-9): Lost by two points to No. 1 Fort Gibson in regional final, but bounced back, winning three games in the last three days to earn state berth.

No. 16 Mount St. Mary (20-6): Rockets advance to first-ever state tournament in coach Rory Hamilton’s fifth year.

UR Douglass (16-11): Trojans started their run with an upset at Cushing, then beat the Tigers again Saturday. It is Douglass’ first state tournament appearance since 1992.

Shawnee, with sisters McKenzie, left, and Taylor Cooper, are unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in Class 5A. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

After Saturday’s final area games, the field is set for next week’s Class 5A girls’ basketball state tournament in Tulsa.

Here are the qualifiers:

No. 1 Shawnee (26-0): Wolves lost Tulsa signee Caitlyn Ramirez to preseason ACL tear, but fellow D-1 signees Taylor Cooper (ORU) and Kelsee Grovey (Tulsa) have led Shawnee to unbeaten record and clear favorite status in Class 5A.

No. 2 Tulsa East Central (25-3): Cardinals appear to be the top challenger to favorite and top-ranked Shawnee.

No. 4 Carl Albert (21-5): OU commit and junior Gioya Carter headlines the Titans, who enter the state tourney on a five-game winning streak.

No. 5 Del City (18-8): Fresno State signee Toni Smith leads the Eagles, who have labored through injuries and inconsistency but topped No. 3 Deer Creek in area final for state berth.

No. 6 Bishop McGuinness (21-6): 2011 champs started season slow and were upset by Durant in regional final, but bounced back and beat No. 3 Deer Creek on Saturday for chance to defend title.

No. 10 Altus (17-9): Lost close game to No. 5 Del City in regional final but won two straight for state berth one year after going 6-15.

No. 12 McAlester (19-7): Had five-game win streak snapped by Carl Albert in area final, but made state by beating Grove on Saturday.

No. 15 Claremore (14-12): Entered postseason with losing record, but only lost by 1 point to No. 4 Carl Albert in playoffs. Upset Tulsa Kelley on Saturday for berth.

Sydney Hill, right, and Edmond Memorial qualified for the state tournament by upsetting No. 2 Midwest City. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO

After Saturday’s final area games, the field is set for next week’s Class 6A girls’ basketball state tournament in Tulsa.

Here are the qualifiers:

No. 1 Edmond Santa Fe (23-0): Defending state champions are led by Texas A&M signee Courtney Walker and are the clear favorite.

No. 2 Midwest City (26-1): Bombers lost to Edmond Memorial in area final, but got back on track with win over Putnam City North for state berth.

No. 3 Jenks (21-6): Trojans earn first state tournament berth since 2007.

No. 4 Edmond Memorial (20-5): Bulldogs upset No. 2 Midwest City in area final for state berth. Five losses are twice to Santa Fe, twice to Midwest City and once to 5A No. 1 Shawnee.

No. 5 Sapulpa (19-7): Chieftains are in the state tournament for the first time since 2008.

No. 8 Muskogee (20-6): Roughers bring 11-game win streak into the state tournament.

No. 10 Tulsa Union (16-11): Redskins’ only playoff loss was 2-point setback to No. 5 Sapulpa in regional final. Union topped Bartlesville for state berth.

No. 11 Mustang (17-10): Nikki McCann’s first season as the Broncos’ coach will end in the state tournament. Mustang topped Choctaw on Saturday to earn berth.

Bishop McGuinness' Elyse Hight goes between Deer Creek's Shae Scheffler, left, and Jayln Jackson during the Irish's win Saturday in Norman. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

NORMAN — Early in the season, Bishop McGuinness girls coach Shawn Clark told freshman Gabby Grubb he didn’t need her to be great … yet.

“March is when I need you,” Clark told her.

Grubb came off the bench to score a career-high 18 points Saturday at Norman High School in the Irish’s 64-49 win over No. 3 Deer Creek.

Bishop McGuinness (21-6) now advances to the Class 5A state tournament, where it will defend its 2011 championship.

“It’s awesome,” Grubb said of Saturday’s game. “The team just really pulled it together and played our best.”

Saturday’s win paints a stark contrast to where this team was just two and a half months ago.

On Dec. 16, McGuinness played the Antlers in the Deer Creek Festival and lost 53-38. Senior forward Elyse Hight scored 30 of her team’s points that night.

Hight still led the team Saturday with 20 and 10 rebounds, but she got much more help than she was getting early.

The senior said part of her team’s growth throughout the year had to do with her 10-game absense in the middle of the year with a hip injury.

“A lot of girls had to step up, and I think that helped us,” Hight said. “It helped a lot of girls get their confidence up.”

Not the least of which was Grubb, who has been waiting all year for an opportunity like she got Saturday.

And largely because of her contribution, the Irish will get a shot at back-to-back titles.

“It feels like everything is coming together,” Hight said. “They’d better be ready for us at state.”

But one thing really stood out about Goodman: Her free-throw shot. It would be hard for me to describe, so just watch the video below. (Ignore the first free-throw; I was in bad position to see her motion.)

After the game, I asked Goodman about it. She said that’s just how she’s always shot free throws. Goodman, for the season, is about a 68 percent free-throw shooter.

Frontier plays Copan in the Class A semifinals on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at State Fair Arena.

Okarche’s girls made 14 of 19 free throw attempts in Thursday’s 48-36 Class A quarterfinal win over Stonewall.

Stonewall, by comparison, got to the line just four times, making all of them.

“That was our plan,” said Okarche coach Cherie Myers. “We wanted to attack them; we thought we could have some success doing that in the lane.”

Freshman post Madison Lee, who led all scorers with 17, made eight of her 10 free throw attempts.

CHATTANOOGA’S MCBRIDE HAS KNEE SCARE

Chattanooga senior Bailey McBride tore her meniscus as a freshman, and the left knee has given her occassional problems ever since.

During the third quarter of Thursday’s Class A quarterfinal 33-27 win over Seiling, McBride fell to the floor, clutching the left knee.

McBride left the game, was looked at by the team doctor and returned when it was determined that she had hyperextended it.

“When it happened, I was scared,” said McBride, who finished with 3 points. “But I calmed down a little bit and realized that if I want to win the gold ball, I have to get through it.”

KIOWA’S ARMSTRONG HURTS KNEE, CARRIED OFF COURT

Kiowa junior Jordan Armstrong, who entered the state tournament averaging 7 points and 7 rebounds per game, had to be carried off the court late in the second half of Thursday’s 52-48 loss to Frontier after suffering what coach Wade Daniel said was a hyperextended knee.

Armstrong scored three points and did not return.

CHATTANOOGA’S BROWN FOULS OUT LATE

The top-ranked Chattanooga girls lost their leading scorer to fouls late in Thursday’s 33-27 Class A quarterfinal win over Seiling, but the loss of Jaime Brown actually made little difference.

Even though Chattanooga was clinging to a single-digit lead, Brown, a post player who averages 18.8 points per game, was probably about to come out of the game anyway, coach Marty McBride said.

“At that point, it was gonna be keep away and free throws, so she was about ready to come out anyway,” McBride said. “It really wasn’t an issue.”

Brown finished Thursday’s game with 10 points.

Edmond Santa Fe defensive back Khari Harding picked up his first offer Thursday, from Kansas State.
“It’s great,” Harding said. “It feels like all the hard work and the effort you put in is finally starting to pay off.”
Harding will visit Manhattan for the Wildcats’ junior day this weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Harding said. “‘I’m just going to check out the facilities, see what campus life is like and get to know the coaches.”
Harding had 71 tackles and three interceptions as a junior.
His uncle, Rodney Harding, was a defensive lineman at Oklahoma State in the 1980s.
Khari Harding said Oklahoma State–and Oregon State–send him correspondence regularly.
He said he’s yet to hear from OU.

The exciting shot shouldn’t have counted, though.

According to Mike Whaley, the OSSAA’s director of officials, if there is less than 0.3 second remaining, a player cannot take possession of an inbound pass and take a shot.

A shot with less than 0.3 seconds remaining off an inbound pass can only count if it is the result of a tip-in.

Late in the fourth quarter, Chattanooga was clinging to single-digit leads and it appeared the incorrect call could be a difference if Seiling managed to retake the lead.

A controversy was averted, though, when Chattanooga won by six points, 33-27.

Yukon defensive coordinator Steve Chard is expected to be named the head coach at Enid on Thursday.

Enid is expected to hire Yukon defensive coordinator Steve Chard as its new head coach, sources confirmed to The Oklahoman.

The Enid School Board called a special board meeting for 12:15 p.m. Thursday, with the vote to approve or disapporove the hiring of a football coach listed on the agenda.

Chard has been the Yukon defensive coordinator the last three seasons, helping the Millers to three consecutive playoff appearances.

Chard’s move to Enid, which was first reported by the Oklahoma High School Sports Express, will be his second head coaching job. He was the head coach at Chickasha from 2005-08. Before that, he spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Owasso, and also worked as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Deer Creek, where he helped the Antlers to the 2000 Class 3A state championship.

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

Hall will replace Steve Huff, who left Midwest City in January to take a job at College Station (Texas) High School. Hall’s hiring still needs to be approved by the school board later this month. Hall was 17-7 in two seasons with the Hornets, winning a state championship in his first season in 2010. Prior to that, Hall spent seven seasons at Star Spencer, going 57-28 and winning the 2009 Class 4A title.

Under Huff, the Bombers were 60-12, making the playoffs in each of his six seasons. Four times, Midwest City was undefeated during the regular season.

Small-school state tournament brackets

Class A Boys
At State Fair Arena
Thursday
Glencoe vs. Weleetka, 2 p.m.
Merritt vs. Velma-Alma, 3:30 p.m.
Cheyenne vs. Sterling, 7 p.m.
Okarche vs. Wright City, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
Cheyenne/Sterling winner vs. Glencoe/Weleetka winner, noon
Okarche/Wright City winner vs. Merritt Velma-Alma winner, 9 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 8:45 p.m.

Class B Boys
Thursday
At Carl Albert
Fargo vs. Arnett, 7 p.m.
Lomega vs. Burlington, 3:30 p.m.
Varnum vs. Kinta, 2 p.m.
Forgan vs. Hammon, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At State Fair Arena
Forgan/Hammon winner vs. Lomega/Burlington winner, 6 p.m.
Fargo/Arnett winner vs. Varnum/Kinta winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 3:15 p.m.

Class A Girls
Thursday
At Southern Nazarene
Okarche vs. Stonewall, 2 p.m.
Chattanooga vs. Seiling, 3:30 p.m.
Frontier vs. Kiowa, 7 p.m.
Turner vs. Copan, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At State Fair Arena
Okarche/Stonewall winner vs. Chattanooga/Seiling winner, 10:30 a.m.
Frontier/Kiowa winner vs. Turner/Copan winner, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 1:30 p.m.

Class B Girls
Thursday
At Choctaw
Red Oak vs. Timberlake, 2 p.m.
Hammon vs. Arnett, 3:30 p.m.
Corn Bible vs. Lomega, 7 p.m.
Balko vs. Deer Creek-Lamont, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At State Fair Arena
Red Oak/Timberlake winner vs. Hammon/Arnett winner, 9 a.m.
Corn Bible/Lomega winner vs. Balko/Deer Creek-Lamont winner, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7 p.m.

Hennessey coach Shannon Watford hugs running back Ivan Moreno after the Eagles won their second straight Class 2A state championship in December. Watford is leaving Hennessey to become Purcell's coach. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Shannon Watford didn’t have a great day Wednesday, when he told his Hennessey players he was leaving to become Purcell’s football coach.

“It’s been the toughest decision of my career,” Watford said. “Not because I didn’t want to go to Purcell, but because of not wanting to leave Hennessey because of what we’ve been able to do here.

“I’ve had a lot of players hugging and crying in my office today.”

Watford, who led Hennessey to back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 2010 and 2011, will replace Mike Wilson, who retired after 12 seasons as the Dragons’ coach. Wilson was 98-43 during his time at Purcell.

While the decision was tough, Watford knows it was the right one. He is from Tuttle, still lives there and has made the 1 hour, 15-minute drive to Hennessey every day for the past five years.

“It was time to get close to home,” Watford said. “Purcell is a wonderful town in a great location. The program is one that has been successful and will continue to be successful.”

The job also will allow Watford to reunite with Don Schneberger, Purcell High School’s principal and an assistant coach at Tuttle when Watford played there.

Purcell has been to the playoffs the last 11 years, and is coming off a 9-2 season in 2011.

Senior guard Kelsee Grovey and Shawnee look poised for a run at the Class 5A state championship. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE

Here is the second edition of my large-school girls’ basketball power poll.

Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail.

1. Edmond Santa Fe (6A, 22-0)
Edmond Santa Fe did nothing to deserve a drop in ranking. The defending 6A champion Wolves’ schedule hasn’t been very tough — their smallest margin of victory this season is 15 — so when they get challenged it will be interesting to see how they respond. But there is no reason to believe Santa Fe would have an off night, and it remains the odds-on favorite to bring home the gold ball again.
Record vs. this poll: 2-0
Last week: No. 1
Next up: Regionals vs. U.S. Grant, Thursday, 8 p.m.

2. Shawnee (5A, 23-0)
The Wolves wrapped up a perfect regular season and are Class 5A’s clear No. 1 team. Big wins this season over Edmond Memorial, Carl Albert and Deer Creek allow Shawnee to edge Midwest City again at No. 2 in this power poll.
Record vs. this poll: 3-0
Last week: No. 2
Next up: Regionals vs. Noble, Thursday, 8 p.m.

3. Midwest City (6A, 23-0)
Midwest City got impressive back-to-back wins over Westmoore and Del City last week. The Bombers are peaking at the right time and are Edmond Santa Fe’s chief competition in Class 6A. No reason at this point to expect anything other than a Santa Fe-Midwest City rematch in the Class 6A tournament championship game.
Record vs. this poll: 3-0
Last week: No. 3
Next up: Regionals vs. Moore, Thursday, 8 p.m.

4. Tulsa East Central (5A, 22-3)
The Cardinals wrapped up their season with an impressive 14-point win at Tulsa Washington. Two of the Cardinals’ losses were to out-of-state teams in a season-opening tourney in Tennessee, and the other came to Jenks on Jan. 20. But East Central has also beaten Jenks this season.
Record vs. this poll: 1-1
Last week: No. 4
Next up: Regionals vs. Tulsa Central, Thursday, 8 p.m.

5. Edmond Memorial (6A, 17-5)
All five of Edmond Memorial’s losses are to teams ranked higher than it in this power poll (Twice to Santa Fe, twice to Midwest City, once to Shawnee). Memorial and Midwest City are lined up for a possible third game in areas.
Record vs. this poll: 1-5
Last week: No. 5
Next up: Regionals vs. Putnam City West, Thursday, 8 p.m.

6. Deer Creek (5A, 20-3)
The Antlers bring a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs. Deer Creek seems to be peaking at the right time and seems poised for a run at state.
Record vs. this poll: 2-1
Last week: No. 7
Next up: Regionals vs. Ardmore, Thursday, 8 p.m.

7. Muskogee (6A, 17-6)
The Roughers’ two-spot jump is the biggest of the week. Muskogee finished the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, including an overtime win over Jenks last week. Muskogee also has wins over Tulsa Union and Bixby, and has beaten Sapulpa twice.
Record vs. this poll: 1-1
Last week: No. 9
Next up: Regionals vs. Westmoore (at Bixby), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

8. Carl Albert (5A, 18-5)
The Titans had to rally from a halftime deficit to beat Western Heights in their regular-season finale. Carl Albert often goes through shooting dry spells, which cost it in home losses to Deer Creek and Shawnee. The Titans got a break in their playoff position, though, and are still expected to be a state tournament team.
Record vs. this poll: 0-2
Last week: No. 8
Next up: Regionals vs. Capitol Hill, Thursday, 8 p.m.

9. Jenks (6A, 18-5)
The Trojans finished their regular-season with a dud — a 22-point loss at Broken Arrow. Jessica Washington still isn’t 100 percent healthy, and Jenks brings a two-game skid into its playoff opener. Record vs. this poll: 2-3
Last week: No. 6
Next up: Regionals vs. Sand Springs, Thursday, 8 p.m.

10. Bishop McGuinness (5A, 18-5)
The Irish has lost just twice since Dec. 17 and finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. The defending 5A champs got off to a rough start this season with several new starters and a new coach, but looks like a strong contender to return to the state tournament.
Record vs. this poll: 0-2
Last week: No. 10
Next up: Regionals vs. Guymon, Thursday, 8 p.m.

Okarche was down by nine points at halftime and gradually chipped away at Dewar’s lead.

The Warriors trailed by one with under a minute to go and went for a last shot, which missed. But Vogt grabbed the rebound, attempting a putback and was fouled. She sunk both free throws and Okarche (22-6) won its 11th straight game.

Vogt led Okarche with 18 points Saturday.

Both teams now advance to the area tournament at Sand Springs. Okarche plays Copan on Friday at 6:30, and the winner of that game advances to the Class A state tournament.

If Okarche loses Friday, it still has one more shot at state Saturday in a 6:30 game Saturday.

Doctors discovered that Miller also had pneumonia Friday, and that afternoon her lungs filled with fluid and collapsed, according to a Tulsa World report.

OSSSA executive director Ed Sheakley said postponing Saturday’s district game at Haskell to Monday was considered, but ultimately decided against.

My good friend Kelly Hines of the Tulsa World covered the game Saturday, and wrote a great story off Vian’s emotional 63-52 win.

“Whitney would have been proud of them,” Vian coach John Mays told the World after the game. “She was a fighter. She was a scrapper.

“There never was anything pretty about (how she played), but she was just a hustler and a hard worker. That was kind of what we did tonight.”

Miller’s best friend and cousin, Deidra Smith, wore Miller’s No. 3 jersey and scored 10 points for Vian (10-10) Saturday.

Haskell officials took a collection from the crowd to help Miller’s family with funeral costs.

Vian advances to play a regional on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Morris.

Del City point guard Brett Cannon broke his wrist after attempting a slam dunk in pregame warmups before Saturday's loss to Midwest City.

DEL CITY — Just minutes before Del City’s regular-season finale against rival Midwest City — and days before the team’s playoff opener — the Eagles lost their floor general.

Eagles’ starting point guard Brett Cannon, a sophomore, went up for a slam dunk during pregame warm-ups, missed and fell backward.

Cannon tried using his hands to break the fall, but broke his wrist on impact. He was taken to this hospital and didn’t play in the Eagles’ 68-55 loss to Midwest City.

Del City coach Tim Stogsdill said hours after the game that Cannon might need surgery, but that won’t be clear until the swelling goes down.

Ball handling duties were split between seniors A.J. Holland and Jamal Moseley, who aren’t used to playing point guard, and Del City found itself down 21-10 after the first quarter.

“It threw a little wrinkle in it,” Del City coach Tim Stogsdill said of his offense. “Especially when you’re playing a team like Midwest City that wants to pressure and trap. … With the way they play, they expose that. Brett does a good job handling the ball for us.”

Del City found its rhythm in the second quarter and was down by just four points at halftime.

But the Bombers came out with intensity to start the second half and retook control.

Sophomore Kesean Brown led Midwest City (18-5) with 18 points, and junior Cornell Neal added 16. Holland led Del City (17-6) with 16.

Midwest City hosts Norman North on Friday at 8 p.m. in a regional to open the Class 6A playoffs.

Bombers coach DeWayne Bradley said he’s happy his team won and, more importantly, didn’t suffer any injuries itself.

“Winning against your rival at their place is always big,” Bradley said. “But I’m really grateful we got out of here and everybody’s OK.”

Del City (17-6) wasn’t so fortunate. Stogsdill said point guard duties will continue to be split between Holland and Moseley as the No. 2 Eagles begin the Class 5A playoffs by hosting Durant in a regional on Friday at 8 p.m.

“The team is very confident we will make a run,” Stogsdill said. “Don’t count us out yet.”

Now, after Saturday’s 56-33 win over rival Del City, the Bombers (23-0) are looking towards another state tournament run.

Midwest City, ranked No. 2 in Class 6A, opens regional play at home Thursday at 8 p.m. against Moore.

“You’ve got to play back to back in the state tournament, so this was a really good experience for us,” said Bombers coach Art Bode.

Midwest City won the state championship in 2010, and took an undefeated record into last season’s title game before losing to Edmond Santa Fe.

“At this rate, I think it’s very likely that we’ll go (to state),” said senior Ashley Clark, who led all scorers Saturday with 12 points.

“But we’ll have to continue to play well as a team and improve each game.”

Del City (15-8) opens Class 5A regionals Thursday at home against Southeast.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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