2021 Class 6A State Tournament Preview

<table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ff636b;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 2 Del City</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Head coach Lenny Hatchett</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">19-4 (9-3)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Last title: 1980</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>You can throw anything at Del City -- even a reclassification. After giving up an exceptional pair of seniors last season, Hatchett and the Eagles have managed to reload this season, playing almost error-free in the back half of the season to get back to the state tournament in their first year in the current stint in 6A. Now the leader of a lanky, athletic and skilled group, [player_tooltip player_id="745370" first="Keyondre" last="Young"] is the <em>guy</em> for the Eagles, but that has not stopped [player_tooltip player_id="938846" first="Javeon" last="McCalister"] and [player_tooltip player_id="938853" first="Sherrod" last="Davis"] from playing important roles as senior leaders, themselves. [player_tooltip player_id="1068562" first="Brandon" last="Garrison"], Jaedon Foreman, [player_tooltip player_id="981287" first="Terry" last="McMorris"] and Damarious Vealy headline a better-than-good underclassmen corps, and with the weapons at Hatchett’s disposal, Del City has as good a chance as anybody.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #6aa35b;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 13 Edmond Santa Fe</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Head coach Troy Lallemand</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">15-7 (14-6)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Last title: 2005</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Lallemand has put together an excellent sophomore campaign at Santa Fe to earn his way back to the State Tournament. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="745367" first="Colby" last="Onyekuru"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1015838" first="Joe" last="Adams"] lead the way for the Wolves, with Onyekuru playing a point-forward, guard your one or five front-man role for Santa Fe. Helping Onyekuru in the front-court are the gifted Shettron brothers, Talyn and Tabry, along with Willie Watkins. In the back-court, Adams, junior [player_tooltip player_id="964492" first="Michael" last="Reeves"] and sharpshooting sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="981278" first="Jayden" last="Cincotta"] lend the Wolves two-way skills.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #bf6d6d;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 6 Putnam City North</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center; height: 21px;">Head coach Ryan Wagner</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center; height: 21px;">12-3 (11-2)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center; height: 21px;">Last title: 2018</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Twin forwards Jeff and [player_tooltip player_id="745377" first="Josh" last="Nwankwo"] have led this team in the absence of [player_tooltip player_id="965255" first="Jeremiah" last="Johnson"] to continued success during its three-up, three-down playoff run. [player_tooltip player_id="1015828" first="Kole" last="Johnson"] leads the floor for the Panthers at the one, and he plays an exceptional role in putting the ball in the hands of scorers with elite precision. Joining Johnson in the back-court, Dean Mandrell and Phil Jackson can pass, score on their own, play at the rim, but most importantly, <em>defend.</em> Rounding out Norths’ affairs is senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="938863" first="Kayhon" last="Russell"], an athletic utility man that helps the Panthers all over the floor.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #b35050;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 5 Owasso</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Head coach Brian Montonati</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">17-3 (13-3)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Last title: never</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>This team has everything. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="938859" first="Trent" last="Ellison"] takes a big piece of the pie when it comes to scoring, but he also is an impressive passer, and his favorite target is senior post [player_tooltip player_id="1015853" first="Kyler" last="Mann"], a fantastic scorer and walking double-double. Senior guard-forward [player_tooltip player_id="1015854" first="Bryce" last="Journee"] and junior center [player_tooltip player_id="955380" first="Caden" last="Fry"] both have great size and athleticism, and they either can take over in the scoring category. B.J. Armstrong and Aaron Potter help Ellison on the perimeter, with Armstrong playing primarily as a drive-and-kick facilitator and Potter knocking down triples.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #92cc6e;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 4 Norman North</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Head coach Kellen McCoy</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">18-4 (15-2)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Last title: never</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>You can expect any team coached by McCoy to be prepared to make a run for hardware. The Timberwolves are the only team that can boast a win against first-ranked Edmond Memorial, and to manage 18 wins in the toughest conference in the state, this team has done more than one thing right; JJ White is a big part of that success. The senior point guard can get by just about anybody, but he can also create his shot at the perimeter. Seniors forwards [player_tooltip player_id="938870" first="Kayden" last="Carter"] and [player_tooltip player_id="745372" first="Caelin" last="Hearne"] have each been exceptional in their own right, with Carter playing almost unstoppable in the pick-and-roll and Hearne slashing, hitting mid-rangers and striking from deep. As they proved Jan. 8, when they’re hot, the T-Wolves can play with anybody.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #677099;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 3 Edmond North</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Head coach Scott Norris</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">18-5 (15-4)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Last title: 2017</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Some teams just seem to have all of the weapons. Perhaps the most athletically-gifted player in the state, [player_tooltip player_id="745358" first="Dalante" last="Shannon"] headlines that group of weapons, but he does much more than just jump around the rim. The senior guard can run the point, find shooters, drive, and hit shots from the mid-range and beyond, but it never hurts to have plenty of outlet options. One of those is [player_tooltip player_id="938851" first="Josh" last="Price"], and any time he catches the ball in the corner, you’re surprised if he <i>doesn’t </i>make it. Also in the back-court, [player_tooltip player_id="745382" first="Joell" last="Wilson"] and Cameron Lee can score, defend and create their own shot, at times, as Wilson has been known to take over. Like Price, senior swingman [player_tooltip player_id="938852" first="Sam" last="Walker"] is almost automatic from the catch. In the paint, seniors [player_tooltip player_id="745386" first="Abraham" last="Aghasedo"] and Layton Moore and freshman Dylan Warlick are the primary producers for the Huskies, with Aghasedo and Warlick swapping at the five to give opposing teams no relief.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #d97171;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 1 Edmond Memorial</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Head coach Shane Cowherd</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">15-1 (13-1)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Last title: 2013</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Pedulla is a name you never want to hear in the post-season; Cowherd may be the only one you’d want to hear less. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="745355" first="Sean" last="Pedulla"] has had one of the most exceptional careers in Bulldog history, and with the weapons he has this season, the gold ball is Edmond Memorial’s to lose. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="954194" first="JV" last="Seat"], who has been notching double-doubles since he was a freshman; his brother, junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="958417" first="Gabe" last="Seat"], routinely hits shots from 25 feet; senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="745381" first="Keyshon" last="Spotwood"] can defend just about anybody; and forwards Tate Mazza and [player_tooltip player_id="1010309" first="Will" last="Cain"] can defend, board and kick-out to shooters. Cowherd’s players know their roles, play defense, and find ways to win games, point, blank, period.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #b8a967;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>No. 10 Broken Arrow</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Head coach Beau Wallace</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">14-7 (9-6)</td> <td style="width: 33.333333333333336%; text-align: center;">Last title: 1997</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>It has been a year worth remembering as Broken Arrow has returned to the state tournament. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="958390" first="Anthony" last="Allen"] gets a lot of the attention for the Tigers, and rightfully so. He has spectacular athleticism, can create his own shot and can defend. However, Broken Arrow’s production is far from one-dimension. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="745361" first="Tyler" last="Pinder"] is about as fast as you can find, and he has a high iQ, an obviously deadly combination. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"], a do-it-all scoring guard splits with Pinder in the back-court to create opportunities for himself and others. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1015831" first="Jaiell" last="Talley"] and center [player_tooltip player_id="1039764" first="Simon" last="Blair"] help Allen in the interior to score, and a hint: if you plan to watch Broken Arrow this weekend, keep your eyes on Talley to catch opposing teams sleeping on the back-door lob.</p>