Prep Spotlight: 6A-2A state tournament Preview

[Sam]

Hot off the presses just in time for the start of the State Tournament games later today.

Today it is a two parter.

Part 1: William Jennings breakdowns the top teams, sleeper teams and players to watch in every class.

Part 2: In this part William Jennings and myself pick an upset watch in every class along with our selections and winner for the state title game.

Follow the OUHoops Twitter account @OUHoops if you're interested in score and stat updates from games I'll be attending this weekend.

 

[brettromar]

So you both have PCO over Union.

hmmmmmmm

 

[rbi2]

No Way Ardmore gets to the Championship game without Nino Jackson.

 

[pillmanj]

For those in the know....Any chance Stratford makes the finals in 2A??? I want to see the Qualls kid play but can't come out today or tomorrow.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

No Way Ardmore gets to the Championship game without Nino Jackson.

There is a way...

They have a player in Trey Cohee that is one of the best in the state as a High School Senior (not a D1 guy, but elite player for this level)....They have some scrappy guards and forwards that provide solid pressure...and they have a guy in the middle to block shots...

Even without him they are solid and have a chance...i do agree it is unlikely unless Trey plays aggressive 100% of the time...problem is that he normally doesnt do this...usually both him and Nino take about half the game off and compliment each other well in that regard...

We will see what happens, but in practice yesterday they looked very loose and confident...

Obviously i'm bias here as an alum but really would like to see them have some success past the first round and also have some success without Nino...these guys deserve it, he gets a lot of notoriety but this team is strong without him...

 

[rbi2]

For those in the know....Any chance Stratford makes the finals in 2A??? I want to see the Qualls kid play but can't come out today or tomorrow.

Stratford has a tough side of the bracket. Watonga is probably the most athletic team in 2A other than Millwood. Watonga has possibly the best PG in 2A and most athletic white boy in 2A. They also have the depth and a number of good sized wings to throw at Qualls and make it tough for him to score. They also have the ability to score with Stratford so it comes down to who plays better defense and rebounds. If Stratford wins today, they will have to play two time defending runner-up Talihina. Talihina has the best 1-2 punch in 2A, in EagleRoad and Lockhart.

So to answer your question, there is a chance but it is very slim. They couldn't of got a tougher 1st 2 games. I got my money on Watonga-Millwood final.

 

[Sooner23]

Go Dogs! Take State!

 

[rbi2]

There is a way...

They have a player in Trey Cohee that is one of the best in the state as a High School Senior (not a D1 guy, but elite player for this level)....They have some scrappy guards and forwards that provide solid pressure...and they have a guy in the middle to block shots...

Even without him they are solid and have a chance...i do agree it is unlikely unless Trey plays aggressive 100% of the time...problem is that he normally doesnt do this...usually both him and Nino take about half the game off and compliment each other well in that regard...

We will see what happens, but in practice yesterday they looked very loose and confident...

Obviously i'm bias here as an alum but really would like to see them have some success past the first round and also have some success without Nino...these guys deserve it, he gets a lot of notoriety but this team is strong without him...

Yeah I understand. Cohee is a really good guard. You just expect Ardmore to be all Nino Jackson. Ardmore couldn't of asked for a better draw but Central-El Reno winner will be a tough matchup.

 

[pillmanj]

Stratford has a tough side of the bracket. Watonga is probably the most athletic team in 2A other than Millwood. Watonga has possibly the best PG in 2A and most athletic white boy in 2A. They also have the depth and a number of good sized wings to throw at Qualls and make it tough for him to score. They also have the ability to score with Stratford so it comes down to who plays better defense and rebounds. If Stratford wins today, they will have to play two time defending runner-up Talihina. Talihina has the best 1-2 punch in 2A, in EagleRoad and Lockhart.

So to answer your question, there is a chance but it is very slim. They couldn't of got a tougher 1st 2 games. I got my money on Watonga-Millwood final.

That is what I was afraid of

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Yeah I understand. Cohee is a really good guard. You just expect Ardmore to be all Nino Jackson. Ardmore couldn't of asked for a better draw but Central-El Reno winner will be a tough matchup.

yea, i think most that havent seen Nino play at Ardmore think he just dominates every game from tip to buzzer but that isnt his game...he disappears for minutes at a time and even then is able to make his mark on the game, IMO that is what is so impressive about him...once he learns how to use his motor all the time he can be nearly unstoppable...but saying that, since that is how he plays his teammates have been able to step up and make plays (unlike the Miami heat outside the big 3)...

There is no doubt the Central-El Reno matchup will be tough for them...tonight will be also even though it is the best possible draw other than Duncan...

If there is one thing about Ardmore history, it shows that they normally get beat out in the first round...we won 2 championships while i was there and i remember after we won the first game our coach was on cloud 9...

In the 2000's they went to 3 straight finals but couldnt bring home the gold ball, but those 5 instances are the only times Ardmore has made it out of the first round since the mid 80's when i first started following them...

 

[rbi2]

I loved watching the Ardmore teams with Lionel Brown and Jermaine Gresham. They were always fun to watch.

I'm not sure anyone can beat Booker T. but whoever comes out of the Ardmore vs. El Reno/Central bracket will be battle tested for sure.

The El Reno/Central game will be exciting to watch. I wish they would have all classes State Championships in OKC area.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

I loved watching the Ardmore teams with Lionel Brown and Jermaine Gresham. They were always fun to watch.

I'm not sure anyone can beat Booker T. but whoever comes out of the Ardmore vs. El Reno/Central bracket will be battle tested for sure.

The El Reno/Central game will be exciting to watch. I wish they would have all classes State Championships in OKC area.

Yea, Lionel and his guys could never get over that hump...and if Jermaine doesnt tear his ACL his senior year there is no doubt in my mind they would have won it all...he was an absolute beast in basketball...very skilled too, which most dont realize...he could have played at a place like OU and been a SF or undersized PF...

 

[bmd23]

Yea, Lionel and his guys could never get over that hump...and if Jermaine doesnt tear his ACL his senior year there is no doubt in my mind they would have won it all...he was an absolute beast in basketball...very skilled too, which most dont realize...he could have played at a place like OU and been a SF or undersized PF...

Beat who Southeast?? NO too many weapons.

 

[rbi2]

I could have definitely seen Gresham at OU and being a solid contributor. He could of played while he was here and been a solid back-up and starter if he didn't play football.

Here is my predictions:
6A-
Santa Fe over MWC in finals. Richardson and Co. are healthy and can beat anyone on a given night.
5A-
BTW over El Reno
A little biased with the ER pick but if they stay hot from 3 then BTW better look out.
4A-
Douglass over Bridge Creek
No one will stop that D-Train this weekend not even if they were in 6A.
3A-
Okemah over Centennial
Okemah has been #1 all year. Probably the most boring 3A State Tourney since I can remember.
2A-
Millwood over Watonga
Pawnee and Talihina can't make it 3 straight and the 2 most athletic teams play in the finals.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Beat who Southeast?? NO too many weapons.

Yes

 

[bmd23]

@edmond sooner NO way Southeast was dominant for 2 years similar to how Douglass is but with more weapons. Southeast had a lot of D1 players but none of them had the grades. Who was stopping the Vealy brothers?? James Coats the quickest pg in the state at the time? Healthy Jermaine or not Southeast had the better Team.

 

[rbi2]

That would of been a hell of a game. Ardmore would of had a tough match up with the Vealy Brothers and Coats but Gresham would of had his way against Southeast. Great game and would of loved to see it. I'd go with Southeast though.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Jermaine would have been a Senior for the 2006 season...which Southeast lost to Tulsa Central, so i stand by Ardmore being able to defeat either one in to win it all if they have Gresham...Ardmore lost in the first round of state that season without him...

Gresham was a freshman in 03 when they lost to John Marshall in the finals (Giddens/Liberty/Chambers) by 4 pts...

Gresham was a sophomore in 04 when they lost to Southeast by 4 (he had 17pts and 15 boards)...

Gresham was a Junior in 05 when they lost to Booker T in the Semi's (39 in the first round against John Marshall, 14 against Booker T)...

Didnt play one minute his Senior year...One can imagine the impact he would have had that season on a team that made State without him...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Gresham

 

[Sam]

Union beat PC
Stratford beat Watonga in ot
Bridge Creek cruiser by Piedmont.

Locust Grove leads 34-32 at the half over Tecumseh. I'm at this game and has the makings of a classic, fast paced and balanced scoring for both teams.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Union beat PC
Stratford beat Watonga in ot
Bridge Creek cruiser by Piedmont.

Locust Grove leads 34-32 at the half over Tecumseh. I'm at this game and has the makings of a classic, fast paced and balanced scoring for both teams.

Any news on the 5A finals yet?