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Two state tournament teams could collide at Ardmore High School on Saturday.
But before the Tigers play for a potential regional championship against Class 5A state semifinalist El Reno, they have to beat Noble in the first game of the west regional on Friday.
Western Heights completes the bracket and will play El Reno on Friday in the earlier game. Ardmore (12-11) is coming off a 73-53 win over McAlester on Senior Night last week to close the regular season.
Of the regional group, the only common opponent for Ardmore this season was Western Heights, and that was in an early-season scrimmage in which both teams were without key players.
Western Heights enters Friday’s game 6-15. El Reno is 17-6, and Noble is 8-14.
“It was really early in the season, so it was hard to tell what everyone has there,” Ardmore coach Mark Wilson said of the team’s scrimmage against Western Heights. “They’re young, but depending on the personnel, they have really talented kids. They’ve had eligibility issues, but when they have everybody, they’re tough.”
One team that’s tough regardless of who’s on the floor is El Reno. The Indians are the highest ranked team in west regional 2, with a signature win over Carl Albert, 55-52. El Reno also has wins over Noble and Western Heights this season.
The Indians are back in Ardmore after a 2-1 stint in the Ardmore Holiday Festival in December. Their only loss there was against eventual tournament champion Putnam City West.
“I’ve seen them play since then, and they play pretty hard,” Wilson said. “They have three or four guys that can score. If we get there, it’ll be a pretty good matchup.”
The regional championship is Saturday at 8 p.m. Both the winner and runner-up of the regional advance to the area tournament.
Deer Creek awaits Ardmore girls
At Edmond on Thursday, Ardmore’s girls team gets the challenge of host Deer Creek, the No. 3 team in 5A.
The Antlers have won 10 straight entering the regional tournament. Ardmore coach Harold Brown said what Deer Creek lacks in depth they make up for in versatility, with post players that are equally as adept at handling the ball as the guards.
“We’re going to try to use our guards’ quickness and make sure we block out and rebound,” Brown said. “They have versatile posts that can bring the ball down the court. It’s not necessary for us to go for steals as it is for us to keep their girls under control and not let them go past.
“One thing we’re doing is trying to keep the players that play the hardest on the court at all times,” Brown said. “To keep rhythm and continuity throughout the game.”
Brown said the addition of freshman guard Mychshyea Taylor in the backcourt alongside senior leading scorer Gabby Agers has “definitely added to the defense as well as the offense.” The Tigers will again try to rely on full-court pressure to score the upset in the elimination game.
Erik K. Horne
221-6522
Two state tournament teams could collide at Ardmore High School on Saturday.
But before the Tigers play for a potential regional championship against Class 5A state semifinalist El Reno, they have to beat Noble in the first game of the west regional on Friday.
Western Heights completes the bracket and will play El Reno on Friday in the earlier game. Ardmore (12-11) is coming off a 73-53 win over McAlester on Senior Night last week to close the regular season.
Of the regional group, the only common opponent for Ardmore this season was Western Heights, and that was in an early-season scrimmage in which both teams were without key players.
Western Heights enters Friday’s game 6-15. El Reno is 17-6, and Noble is 8-14.
“It was really early in the season, so it was hard to tell what everyone has there,” Ardmore coach Mark Wilson said of the team’s scrimmage against Western Heights. “They’re young, but depending on the personnel, they have really talented kids. They’ve had eligibility issues, but when they have everybody, they’re tough.”
One team that’s tough regardless of who’s on the floor is El Reno. The Indians are the highest ranked team in west regional 2, with a signature win over Carl Albert, 55-52. El Reno also has wins over Noble and Western Heights this season.
The Indians are back in Ardmore after a 2-1 stint in the Ardmore Holiday Festival in December. Their only loss there was against eventual tournament champion Putnam City West.
“I’ve seen them play since then, and they play pretty hard,” Wilson said. “They have three or four guys that can score. If we get there, it’ll be a pretty good matchup.”
The regional championship is Saturday at 8 p.m. Both the winner and runner-up of the regional advance to the area tournament.
Deer Creek awaits Ardmore girls
At Edmond on Thursday, Ardmore’s girls team gets the challenge of host Deer Creek, the No. 3 team in 5A.
The Antlers have won 10 straight entering the regional tournament. Ardmore coach Harold Brown said what Deer Creek lacks in depth they make up for in versatility, with post players that are equally as adept at handling the ball as the guards.
“We’re going to try to use our guards’ quickness and make sure we block out and rebound,” Brown said. “They have versatile posts that can bring the ball down the court. It’s not necessary for us to go for steals as it is for us to keep their girls under control and not let them go past.
“One thing we’re doing is trying to keep the players that play the hardest on the court at all times,” Brown said. “To keep rhythm and continuity throughout the game.”
Brown said the addition of freshman guard Mychshyea Taylor in the backcourt alongside senior leading scorer Gabby Agers has “definitely added to the defense as well as the offense.” The Tigers will again try to rely on full-court pressure to score the upset in the elimination game.
Erik K. Horne
221-6522
