Ten things to watch for in a big hoops weekend
The first big high school basketball tournament weekend of January is upon us, and there's no shortage of stellar action happening around the city.
Here are 10 things to watch for in the boys and girls tournaments:
Boys basketball
1. Loaded field at Putnam City Invitational. Five of the eight boys teams are ranked in the t op s even of t heir r espective class, including three of the top fi ve teams i n Class 6A. Putnam North ( No. 2), Edmond North ( No. 3) and Putnam West ( No. 5). Also ranked highly are Tulsa Union (6A No. 7) and Heritage Hall (4A No. 2).
2. Top-5 showdown imminent at McGuinness Classic? Class 6A top-ranked Edmond Memorial and No. 4 Del City ar e on opposite sides of the bracket. Although neither team has an easy path to the championship game, the two could be
on a collision course to meet in the finals.
3. Can Heritage Hall repeat?
Last season, Trey Alexander played stellar in helping the Chargers to a title at the Putnam City Invitational. Heritage Hall opens against Moore and would play either Edmond North or Northwest Classen with a win.
4. Jeremiah Johnson watch.
The sophomore guard at
Putnam North has started t he year wonderfully, and the Panthers will need him to continue playing well this weekend. If Putnam North tops Putnam City in its opener, it will have to beat the winner between Putnam West and Tulsa Union to make the championship game.
5. Can Choctaw surprise? The Yellowjackets are off to a strong start, its only loss coming by five points to No. 5 Putnam West. If Choctaw beats host McGuinness on Thursday, it will have to beat the winner between Deer Creek and Del City to advance to the championship.
Girls basketball
1. Classen SAS and Moore possible championship matchup. It'll take some looking ahead in the Putnam City Invitational but Darianna Littlepage-Buggs' Saints and Aaliyah Moore's Lions could be an outstanding championship matchup. Little page-Bug gs is backed by N noble tournament on fire. The Bobcats (6-0) have rushed to an undefeated start and have handily taken care of every opponent. Bridge Creek's average margin of victory is 11.6 points per game. Tecumseh has been the only team to test the Bobcats this season but Bridge Creek prevailed with a three-point overtime win to secure the Bethel tournament championship. Lainey Morrow led the way with a 30-point double-double.
4. Mount Saint Mary faces a challenging road in the Noble tournament. The Rockets will first have to fight their way past Noble and then possibly Blanchard, who bested them in the tournament last season. But the undefeated Rockets have two dominant 6-foot-2 athletes leading the way. Mount Saint Mary's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Kennedy Allison, and knockdown shooter Kaitlyn Pivniska, who also averages 3.5 blocks per game this season.
5. First game matchup of last year's championship. Putnam West and Tulsa Union decided the champion of the Putnam City Invitational last season, with Putnam West taking the crown on a last- second buzzer- beater. But the two won't decide the championship this year. Putnam West and Tulsa Union will face off in the first game.