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Chris Evans
Posted Jan 19, 2009
This is a big week for the Class 5A state champs, Guthrie BlueJays. Suppose it is for the Carl Albert Titans, Tulsa Washington Hornets, and the Ardmore Tigers, too. After all, the mini state tournament is here and the winner of this tourney in the last two years has won the big dance, in March.
This week begins the last tournament week for Oklahoma high school basketball teams, until the play-off's hit later next month, with over 30 tournaments. Perhaps, the biggest tournament of them all will be the Carl Albert Titan Classic.
What other tournament features the top four teams in one class that played in the state tournament last year? Oh, and throw in the state's largest class 4th (Union), 8th (Midwest City), and 12th (Del City) ranked teams along with small school power Millwood and you see why it's the best.
Guthrie got wins over Ardmore, Tulsa Union, and Midwest City to capture the '08 title Titan Classic and the previous season Carl Albert won all three games on their home floor to win the '07 title en route to their school's only state championship.
Guthrie will begin the tourney with a 1:00 p.m. Thursday start with Millwood, a team that has struggled so far this year with more losses then wins. However, the Falcons were stopped a season ago from winning three state titles in a row and are expected back to the Big House looking for their 14th state championship to add to the trophy case.
Ardmore's (9-2) two losses came on back-to-back games with the Jays in the finals of the Ardmore Tournament and Burkburnet, TX. The Tigers, averaging 67 points, have already won a tourney this season in Bartlesville, opens the first round with Midwest City (2:30). The Bombers are led by senior guard Marcus Nelson, who were defeated in the second round of state to the eventual champs (Memorial).
Ardmore, who lost in the first round of last years state tournament, may have another opportunity at the Jays in the second round. The Jays have defeated Ardmore four times in the past two seasons. If not, Midwest City looks for revenge with their loss to the Jays in the finals (49-48).
The bottom half of the bracket may be the strongest side highlighted with Carl Albert (9-2) and T. Union (7-2). The Titans only losses have come from top ranked teams in Guthrie and Jenks and are led by senior forward Harrison Dupont.
Union, who returns two starters from a state tournament team, won the JQH Holiday Hoopla and took two wins in the prestigious Tournament of Champions, in December.
One of the two losses for the Redskins came to the hands of Booker T. (56-54) on a semi-final televised game in the TOC. The only other loss came to arch rival Jenks last week.
The Hornets (5-2) were runner-ups a season ago in 5A bring back three starters and a deep bench for head coach Shea Seals. The Hornets two losses have come from the hands of 6A state champion T. Memorial and Jenks, which both teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in the current 6A rankings.
The Hornets open play with the Del City Eagles, who are 9-3 and are a very defensive minded team for head coach Allen Dukes.
In the end, you have seven teams that were in the state tournament a season ago together, on one court for one weekend. Well, until this March, anyway.
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