YOUR 5-MINUTE GUIDE TO THE CLASS 4A TOURNAMENT
BOYS The Oklahoman’s championship picks
Jacob Unruh: Heritage Hall. It’s hard to pick against a team that’s won more than 40 straight games and features superstar Trey Alexander. But a rematch with Kingfisher should be epic and will be a tossup. Adam Kemp: Kingfisher. With playmakers all over the floor in Jett Sternberger, Trey Green, Matt Stone and Bijan Cortes, Kingfisher can mix and match at multiple positions to avenge its 2018 loss to
Heritage Hall.
Three players to watch
Trey Alexander, So., Heritage Hall: One of the most electric players in the state, Alexander was at his best in the 2018 state tournament, scoring 27 points in the championship victory. Patrick Garrett, Sr., John Marshall: The man in the middle, Garrett is an athletic forward who averages a double-double and is a shot-blocking machine for the Bears.
Trey Green, Sr., Kingfisher: A physical forward signed with Oklahoma Baptist who can work down low for the tough points or step outside and drain the 3, Green plays his best on the biggest stage.
Historic matchup
When John Marshall takes on Tulsa Central in the state quarterfinals, fans will be treated to two of the best inner-city programs Oklahoma offers.
Combined, the two programs have almost triple the amount of state appearances than the rest of the field as John Marshall has gone 23 times and Tulsa Central has been an astounding 58 times.
Despite all those trips to
Big House, this is only the fourth time the two schools will have met in the tournament, with John Marshall winning the prior three.
GIRLS The Oklahoman’s championship picks
Jacob Unruh: Classen SAS. The Comets are young, fast and battletested, they feature freshmen stars Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Jordan Harrison and they have the most talent to survive a loaded field. Adam Kemp: Newcastle. A sleeper entering the tournament, Newcastle has the experience thanks to a tough schedule and firepower from Maddy North and Karley Johnson.
Three players to watch
Taylen Collins, Jr., Muldrow: A 6-foot-1 forward who averages eight rebounds, Collins has offers from Oklahoma State, Clemson, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Ohio State and Georgetown among others. Gabby Gregory, Sr., Holland Hall: An Oklahoma signee, Gregory is a remarkable scorer and leader. She’s one of four players in state history with more than 2,500 career points and 1,000 rebounds. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Fr., Classen SAS: A dynamic inside presence, Littlepage-Buggs has been huge in Classen’s resurgence, all while picking up major Division I interest from all over the country.
Murderers’ row
What happens when teams ranked No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 are placed on the same side of the bracket? Chaos.
Third-ranked Elgin opens with second-ranked Classen SAS. Top-ranked Muldrow gets No. 9 Holland Hall. The winners meet Friday. Whichever team survives will have earned a trophy, gold or silver.