Have we reached the ‘too late’ status?
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
This is going to sound like a post of nothing but gripes and complaints. It’s not meant to be. I had a tremendous time at the Mabee Center at Oral Roberts last weekend for the Class 5A-6A championships.
But on the day where it should have been that ‘one shining moment,’ for teams, it fell flat. Almost beyond flat. No games had any flow, and the Booker T. boys had to almost single-handedly salvage championship Saturday with their celebration and singing.
The two biggest things I was wondering as the day turned to evening to night to late night were: 1. Is it time for a shot clock? 2. Why are these games starting so late?
The answer to No. 1 is no, it just felt like that way on this night. There’s just that danger zone. If anyone has ever talked to me at a game, I always say one thing. If it’s the fourth quarter, I either want it by 3 or 20. You get that 6-12 point margin and the losing team always (rightfully so) thinks they’re in it. Make a shot, timeout, foul, repeat.
If it’s close, you play tight defense and try to get back in it. If it’s a blowout, you work more on your execution than on prolonging the game. But that middle ground, yep, we’ve all been there.
And what we saw Saturday night was insane. Here are some stats from the 5A girls final won by McAlester against Tulsa East Central.
Free throws: McAlester (16-35); TEC (19-37). 72 total FTs shot.
Fouls: McAlester 18, TEC 25. A total of 43 fouls.
So that made an 8:45 final between Putnam City and Midwest City start right around oh, about 9:20 or so. But that wasn’t any better, and the Pirates barely did anything after their 68-59 win and the clock was right around 11:30.
Free throws: Putnam City (24-37); Midwest City (19-37). 74 total FTs shot.
Fouls: Putnam City 22, Midwest City 25. A total of 47 fouls.
I don’t know, it just sucked the air right out of the building and the celebrations were more of ‘it’s finally over’ than a raucous display of emotion on the court.
The start times are suspect, though. What’s the point of waiting until 8:45 for a tipoff? I just don’t get it. It makes sense at State Fair because there are six finals, and you have to get them in when you can. But with only four finals, why the big break and late start?
Finals were scheduled for 1 p.m., 2:45, 7 p.m. and 8:45. But one thing you couldn’t control or predict is having two OKC-area teams playing in your 8:45 final. Scott Wright and myself each got home around 2 a.m. (3 a.m. with Daylight Savings Time).
Regular season games are getting later and later as well. Who benefits from this? If there’s a real reason for it, I’ll back off. But having HS kids at their gyms until at least 10 p.m. on most game nights (or later if they’re on the road), just seems counterproductive for what you’re trying to do.
This more of an open-ended question to you guys: Is the current format working? And if it’s not, what would you do to change it?
State champions
Boys
6A: Putnam City
5A: Booker T. Washington
4A: Douglass
3A: Millwood
2A: Pawnee
A: Garber
B: Roff
Girls
6A: Midwest City
5A: McAlester
4A: Cache
3A: Kansas
2A: Dale
A: Okarche
B: Boynton
6A-5A: Look back and ahead…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Class 6A Boys Championship
Midwest City vs. Putnam City, 8:45 p.m.
For Scott Wright’s coverage of PC’s 48-42 OT win against Edmond Santa Fe, go here. For my coverage from the Santa Fe perspective, go here.
For Scott Wright’s coverage of MWC’s 50-47 win against Putnam West, go here.
6A Girls
Midwest City vs. Norman, 2:45 p.m.
For Robert Przybylo’s coverage of Norman’s 69-50 win against Edmond North, go here. For Ryan Aber’s coverage of MWC’s 45-37 win against Santa Fe, go here.
5A Boys
Booker T. Washington vs. Tulsa Memorial, 1 p.m.
For Scott Wright’s and Ryan Aber’s combined coverage on BTW’s win against Tulsa East Central and Tulsa Memorial’s win against Claremore, go here.
5A Girls
McAlester vs. Tulsa East Central, 7 p.m.
For Robert Przybylo’s coverage of McAlester’s win against Tulsa Memorial and TEC’s win against Booker T., go here.
See ya Saturday and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @BPrzybylo for all the updates from the Mabee Center.
Saturday’s Schedule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Splitting us up Saturday. Scott Wright and myself will be camped out at the Mabee Center while Ryan Aber, Justin Harper and Matt Patterson will be livin’ it up at State Fair Arena.
Here’s your schedule:
At Mabee Center
6A Boys (8:45): Midwest City vs. Putnam City
6A Girls (2:45): Midwest City vs. Norman
5A Boys (1 p.m.): Booker T. vs. Tulsa Memorial
5A Girls (7 p.m.): Tulsa East Central vs. McAlester
At State Fair Arena
4A Boys (5:45): Douglass vs. McGuinness
4A Girls (2 p.m.) Harrah vs. Cache
3A Boys (12:15): Millwood vs. Hugo
3A Girls (7:30): Millwood vs. Kansas
2A Boys (9:15): Pawnee vs. Talihina
2A Girls (10:30 a.m.): Dale vs. Pawnee
Mabee Center: Day 2 (first session)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
5A girls: Tulsa East Central 53, Tulsa Washington 38 – final. TEC vs. McAlester for the gold ball.
6A BOYS: MIDWEST CITY 50, PUTNAM WEST 47 – FINAL. Putnam City vs. Midwest City for the gold ball.
6A boys: Midwest City 48, Putnam West 45 – 17 secs #OKPreps
6A boys: Midwest City 46, Putnam West 43 – 1:08 4th #OKPreps. MWC ball after PCW turnover
MIDWEST CITY 44, PUTNAM WEST 42 – 2:16 LEFT.
6A boys: Midwest City 40, Putnam West 37 – 4:46 left 4th #OKPreps
MIDWEST CITY 36, PUTNAM WEST 32 – END 3RD
Love watching Xavier McClish play.
1:23 – Patriots come out smokin’ and have taken a 32-30 lead on the Bombers midway through the third. Amric Fields is playing a heckuva game so far.
MIDWEST CITY 30, PUTNAM WEST 24 – HALFTIME
Right now, MWC looks like it’s just a smidge better than the Patriots at just about everything. I’m way behind on stats (because Scott Wright is covering it) so I have no idea who is doing what, sorry.
12:50 – The Bombers ‘bombing’ away with a 21-13 lead early in the second. Raining 3s right now for MWC, impressive display.
12:49 – OK, I can start paying attention now. Midwest City 16, PCWest 13 at the end of the 1st.
12:43 – Back here for another 6A boys game as Midwest City is up 11-8 here with 2:31 left in the first quarter against Putnam West. Be keepin’ ya posted here and on Twitter.
5A girls: McAlester 42, Tulsa Memorial 39 – Final.
PUTNAM CITY 48, EDMOND SANTA FE 42 – OT FINAL
Wait, I’ve given the teams two more pts for some reason. Putnam City 48, Edmond Santa Fe 42 – #OKPreps. Idiot. It was good, got a little caught up in that one. Fun stuff, don’t know why I gave ‘em extra pts, deserve it for the effort though. Too busy shooting video to do the simple thing and look at the scoreboard.
10:31 – Putnam City 50, Santa Fe 44 – OT Final. PC’s Tre Payne steals the ball and scores and the Pirates get a chance to defend their title. Wow, what a way to start.
6A boys – Putnam City 44, Santa Fe 42 – 31.8 OT #OKPreps. PC turns it over, Wolves ball
OT – 1:51 left- Santa Fe 40, Putnam City 40 – 6A boys #OKPreps
OT – 6A boys – Santa Fe 40, Putnam City 40 #OKPreps. Raney misses shot in final seconds.
Josh Richardson ties it up. 40-40 with 31.3 left. OKPreps – 6A boys
40-38 PC with 1:10 left.
6A boys: Putnam City 40, Santa Fe 34 – 4:40ish left 4th #OKPreps. Largest lead for PCO
PUTNAM CITY 33, SANTA FE 32 – END 3RD
RonQuis Lewis is showing up today for the Pirates. This should be a fun fourth.
9:46 – With 3:26 left in the third quarter, it’s Santa Fe 30, Putnam City 29. Mahlon Jones continuing to pour it on here, with 16 points. He looks like the most comfortable player on the floor right now.
9:42 – With 4:35 left in the third, Santa Fe 26, PC 25. It’s getting good, fellas. Starting to see crisp execution by the teams, not nearly as tentative as they were in the first half.
9:32 – Halftime with Putnam City leading 20-19 against Edmond Santa Fe. Couple of big outings by Dominique Raney and Mahlon Jones.
Raney has 10 points for the Pirates as does Jones for the Wolves.
Clunky first quarter but things got rolling nicely in the second quarter, leaving me to believe we’re about to have some fun here in the next 16 minutes.
9:05 – Midway through the first quarter of Edmond Santa Fe and Putnam City, tied 4-4. I’m camped out all day here at the Mabee Center (with Scott Wright and eventually Ryan Aber), so we’ll have all the goods on what happens in Class 6A and 5A.
Interesting the way it worked out with 5A being all east side and 6A being all west side.
OCA All-State Swimming…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
OCA All-State Swimming
The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced the members of the 2010 OCA All-State swim meet Wednesday. The meet will be Monday, July 26, at 6 p.m. at a site to be determined. Coaches have not been announced.
Boys
West
Drew Thomas, Altus; Daniel Robbins, Altus; Dan Houck, Norman North; Typ Whinnery, Deer Creek; Logan Testi, Deer Creek; Dakota Wheeler, Westmoore; Narayan Naik, Heritage Hall; Mitchell Selby, Harding Charter Prep; Nick Welch, Edmond Memorial.
East
Clayton Harris, Stillwater; Andrew Zapata, Stillwater; James Dobson, Jenks; Tom Seidel, Jenks; Jordan McDow, Tulsa Union; Nick Edmoundson, Bixby; Alan Smith, Pryor; Brandon Geisler, Fort Gibson; Ryan MacMillan, Oologah.
Girls
West
Anna Megli, Enid; Amee Pena, Bishop McGuinness; Lizzy Whitbeck, Bishop McGuinness; Katie Sabatino, Edmond North; Crista Riggs, Edmond Santa Fe; Jordan Brewer, Edmond Santa Fe; Autumn Thomas, Putnam City North; Danille Pena, Bishop McGuinness; Aimee Creger, Mustang.
East
Darci Thomas, Stillwater; Rachel Fieldsend, Stillwater; Michelle Glass, Jenks; Courtney Miller, Jenks; Deann Davis, Tulsa Union; Cassie Freeling, Fort Gibson; Melissa Srok, Fort Gibson; Meredith Thornton, Bixby; Liz Kucera, Tulsa Kelley.
State Pairings: 5A-6A…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Class 6A
Boys
Thursday
At Skiatook
Norman North vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 2 p.m.
Putnam City vs. Jenks, 3:30 p.m.
Muskogee vs. Putnam City West, 7 p.m.
Midwest City vs. Edmond Memorial, 8:30 p.m.
Girls
At Catoosa
Midwest City vs. Tulsa Union, 2 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman, 3:30 p.m.
Edmond North vs. Norman North, 7 p.m.
Putnam City North vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 8:30 p.m.
Class 5A
Boys
At Mabee Center
Tulsa Washington vs. Western Heights, 2 p.m.
El Reno vs. Claremore, 3:30 p.m.
Tulsa East Central vs. Ardmore, 7 p.m.
Tulsa Memorial vs. Lawton MacArthur, 8:30 p.m.
Girls
At Sapulpa
Carl Albert vs. McAlester, 2 p.m.
Tulsa East Central vs. Lawton MacArthur, 3:30 p.m.
Tulsa Memorial vs. Western Heights, 7 p.m.
Deer Creek vs. Tulsa Washington, 8:30 p.m.
State Pairings: 4A-2A…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Class 4A
Boys
Thursday
At Oklahoma Christian Univ.
Cache vs. Bishop McGuinness, 2 p.m.
Fort Gibson vs. Star Spencer, 3:30 p.m.
Douglass vs. Woodward, 7 p.m.
Tulsa McLain vs. Broken Bow, 8:30 p.m.
Girls
At Oklahoma City U.
Clinton vs. Harrah, 2 p.m.
Vinita vs. Anadarko, 3:30 p.m.
Cache vs. Muldrow, 7 p.m.
Fort Gibson vs. Weatherford, 8:30 p.m.
Class 3A
Boys
Thursday
At Moore HS
Cascia Hall vs. Plainview, 2 p.m.
Hugo vs. Mt. St. Mary’s, 3:30 p.m.
Millwood vs. Verdigris, 7 p.m.
Seq.Tahlequah vs. Holdenville, 8:30 p.m.
Girls (Corrected)
At Choctaw
Prague vs. Tishomingo, 2 p.m.
Millwood vs. Seq-Tahlequah, 3:30 p.m.
Kansas vs. Perry, 7 p.m.
Morris vs. Adair, 8:30 p.m.
Class 2A
Boys
Thursday
At Norman HS
Watonga vs. Haworth, 2 p.m.
Pawnee vs. Lincoln Christian, 3:30 p.m.
Mangum vs. Talihina, 7 p.m.
Dale vs. Hulbert, 8:30 p.m.
Girls
At State Fair Arena
Washington vs. Christian Heritage, 2 p.m.
Dale vs. Newkirk, 3:30 p.m.
Konawa vs. Snyder, 7 p.m.
Oktaha vs. Pawnee, 8:30 p.m.
Class 2A Area Pairings…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here ya go.
Class 2A Boys
At Stillwater
Thursday
Pawnee vs. Crescent, 3 p.m.
Tonkawa vs. Pioneer-PV, 8 p.m.
Friday
Chisholm vs. Dale, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At SWOSU
Thursday
Washington vs. Sayre, 3 p.m.
Healdton vs. Cordell, 8 p.m.
Friday
Mangum vs. Watonga, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Coweta
Thursday
Preston vs. Fairland, 3 p.m.
Yale vs. Oktaha, 8 p.m.
Friday
Lincoln Christian vs. Hulbert, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At McAlester (SE Expo)
Thursday
Christian Heritage vs. Silo, 3 p.m.
Davis vs. Wister, 8 p.m.
Friday
Haworth vs. Talihina, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
Class 2A Girls
At Stillwater
Thursday
Oklahoma Bible vs. Crescent, 1:30 p.m.
Fairview vs. Wellston, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Pawnee vs. Dale, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At SWOSU
Thursday
Walters vs. Apache, 1:30 p.m.
Healdton vs. Snyder, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Washington vs. Watonga, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Coweta
Thursday
Preston vs. Quapaw, 1:30 p.m.
Oklahoma Union vs. Wyandotte, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Newkirk vs. Oktaha, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At McAlester (SE Expo)
Thursday
Christian Heritage vs. Central Sallisaw, 1:30 p.m.
Wewoka vs. Crowder, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Konawa vs. Savanna, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
Class 3A Area Pairings…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here ya go.
Class 3A Boys
At Moore
Thursday
Kingfisher vs. Purcell, 3 p.m.
Northeast vs. Bridge Creek, 8 p.m.
Friday
Mt. St. Mary’s vs. Millwood, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Ada HS
Thursday
Perry vs. Okemah, 3 p.m.
Centennial vs. Plainview, 8 p.m.
Friday
Bethel vs. Holdenville, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Bixby
Friday
Cascia Hall vs. Adair, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
(When Areas III and IV are updated, I’ll post)
Class 3A Girls
At Moore
Thursday
Northeast vs. Marlow, 1:30 p.m.
Alva vs. Sulphur, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Prague vs. Millwood, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Ada HS
Thursday
Stroud vs. Henryetta, 1:30 p.m.
Perry vs. Okemah, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Bethel vs. Tishomingo, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Bixby
Thursday
Victory Christian vs. Morris, 1:30 p.m.
Verdigris vs. Cascia Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Adair vs. Beggs, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Muskogee CC
Thursday
Hugo vs. Keys (Parkhill), 1:30 p.m.
Vian vs. Heavener, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Kansas vs. Sequoyah-Tahlequah, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
Class 4A Area Pairings…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here ya go.
Class 4A Boys
At Midwest City
Thursday
John Marshall vs. Piedmont, 3 p.m.
Anadarko vs. Perkins, 8 p.m.
Friday
Bishop McGuinness vs. Woodward, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Yukon
Thursday
Cache vs. Weatherford, 3 p.m.
Bethany vs. Blanchard, 8 p.m.
Friday
Douglass vs. Newcastle, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Skiatook
Thursday
Vinita vs. Wagoner, 3 p.m.
Oologah vs. Metro Christian, 8 p.m.
Friday
Tulsa McLain vs. Wagoner, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At ECU (Ada)
Thursday
Stilwell vs. Poteau, 3 p.m.
Mannford vs. Roland, 8 p.m.
Friday
Star Spencer vs. Broken Bow, 8 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
Class 4A Girls
At Midwest City
Thursday
Clinton vs. Cushing, 1:30 p.m.
Elk City vs. Perkins, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Bishop McGuinness vs. Anadarko, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Yukon
Thursday
Douglass vs. Blanchard, 1:30 p.m.
Elgin vs. Newcastle, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Cache vs. Weatherford, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At Skiatook
Thursday
Jay vs. Berryhill, 1:30 p.m.
Miami vs. Wagoner, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Vinita vs. Fort Gibson, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
At ECU (Ada)
Thursday
Stilwell vs. Roland, 1:30 p.m.
Roland vs. Okmulgee, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Broken Bow vs. Harrah, 6:30 p.m. (Winner advances to state)
