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By: Chris Evans
Posted Feb 25, 2009
The much awaited boys play-off run begins this Friday for the large schools (5A-6A).
All 32 teams in each class makes the
play-off's and all teams enter with a 0-0 record and face a win, or go home
first game. The 32 teams are split up into an East side and West side.
Guthrie enters as the No. 1 overall seed on the West side and face the Noble Bears in the second game Friday evening. Guthrie defeated the Bears 64-44, inside Guthrie High School, after just leading by five at halftime.
The most intriguing match-up will be between the 8 and 9 seeds in Southeast and Lawton Mac in the first game with a 6:30 tip time. Southeast comes back to Class 5A after spending a short time in Class 4A. The Spartans have been to six consecutive state tournaments and were winners of the 5A gold ball in 2004 and 2005. Last season the Spartans lost in the 4A title game to McGuinness (80-63).
Walter Brewer is now in his 14th season as the head coach of the Spartans and looks for his 6-1 senior Darrell Traylor to help carry this Spartan team in the post season. Traylor is one of two starters that return from last
year's 18-9 ball club.
Lawton Mac's head coach Kevin Harrington has spent 26 seasons on the bench coaching and may have the Highlanders playing their basketball. Mac will enter GHS gymnasium on a four game winning streak.
Point guard Jarrod Purser (5-10) is the lone returning starter, but the Highlanders like to get up and down the floor with their athletic guards.
The BlueJays are the favorite and that is no secret, but Southeast or Lawton Mac will be a good challenge for the Jays. Guthrie have gotten wins over No. 2 (Carl Albert), No. 6 (Shawnee), and No. 10 (El Reno) in the last two weeks.
The two Friday winners will meet 7:00, Saturday evening, for the regional championship. The regional champion is just then one win away from the state tournament next week in the area tournament. Meanwhile, the runner-up must win the next two games next week in the area tourney to advance to state.
Triple Play Sports 105.1 FM and GuthrieSportsPage.com will have the call of the game between Noble and Guthrie.
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Guthrie Bluejays Head Coach: Pete Papahronis Team Record: 21-2 Team Ranking: 1st Record vs Top 10 teams: 8-1 Last 10 games: 8-2 and on four game win streak Key Wins: Union, NW Classen, Ardmore , El Reno (twice), Carl Albert (twice), and Puntam City West |
Noble Bears Head Coach: Kenny Smith Team Record: 4-17 Team Ranking: None Record vs Top 10 teams: 0-8 Last 10 games: 3-7 and on two game losing streak streak Key Wins: Western Heights and Harrah |
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Southeast Spartans Head Coach: Walter Brewer Team Record: 15-7 Team Ranking: 12th Record vs Top 10 teams: 2-6 Last 10 games: 6-4 and on two game win streak Key Wins: Millwood and Northeast |
Lawton MacArthur Highlanders Head Coach: Kevin Harrington Team Record: 14-9 Team Ranking: 15th Record vs Top 10 teams: 0-5 Last 10 games: 6-4 and on four game win streak Key Wins: Edmond North and Altus (twice) |
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