6A Deeper Than Ever

<p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <p>For a little over a decade, Class 6A has been a class that has featured dominant teams with some of the best players in the state playing for those teams. Since 2010, we’ve seen multiple teams go undefeated on their way to a title or be led to the gold ball by a great collection of talent. Every now and then you’ve seen Cinderella pull off an upset like in 2016 when PC West stunned Trae Young, Lindy Waters and Norman North. But you’ve also had teams like 2015 Mustang, 2017 Edmond North and 2019 Booker T Washington where it wasn’t a matter of IF they would win the title, but by how much?</p> <p>This year is a little different. In fact, it’s incredibly different compared to last decade of 6A basketball. With a little over a month away from the state tournament in Norman, the landscape of 6A basketball is just as murky as ever. We’ve had over two months of basketball and you can’t pinpoint a favorite in this bunch. Several teams have been ranked #1 throughout the season and other teams have rightful claims for that spot.</p> <p>In this post, we take a look at 12 teams that not only could make it to the state tournament, but it’s not impossible to suggest they’ll be raising the gold ball in March. And it goes without saying, but only eight teams make it to state. There are going to be some good teams left out and trying to predict a state champ in Class 6A this year is about as tough as it’s going to be to win that 6A gold ball.</p> <p><strong><em>(Records As Of Tuesday Afternoon)</em></strong></p> <h5><strong>BOOKER T WASHINGTON (15-1)</strong></h5> <p>You can make the argument that out of all the teams on this list, Booker T Washington is the best of the best and the favorite heading into the playoffs. They have the best record, they have some impressive wins and can get another one on Tuesday night at home against Jenks. And they have one of the state’s best players with 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1164879" first="Aaron" last="Potter"], who has plenty of help around him. It’s been talked about plenty how awful last season was for the Hornets and they’ve completely turned things around. The only thing left for them to do is to go after another state championship.</p> <h5><strong>BROKEN ARROW (12-4)</strong></h5> <p>The Tigers had won seven straight before losing twice last week on the road to Booker T Washington and then in double overtime to Jenks. BA has another big game tonight at home against Owasso. The Tigers have one of the best seniors in Oklahoma with guard [player_tooltip player_id="958390" first="Anthony" last="Allen"] and two breakout juniors with [player_tooltip player_id="1360350" first="Connor" last="Dow"] and Ethan Ellison. The Tigers are just like several of the other contenders where they could end up winning the state title later this year or if they lose to Owasso, have a three-game losing streak late in the regular season. BA will be right there with everyone else in March.</p> <h5><strong>EDMOND MEMORIAL (14-3)</strong></h5> <p>The perennial powers from Edmond Memorial are once again in contention and that should surprise nobody considering 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="954194" first="JV" last="Seat"] has been leading the way. We’re going to learn a lot about the Bulldogs over the next two weeks as their next three games are against three teams also on this list. Granted, the Bulldogs are going to be very rested going into the playoffs. They only have four more regular season games before taking a break with regionals beginning at the end of February. The Bulldogs haven’t won a title since 2013 and they’re itching to bring home another gold ball.</p> <h5><strong>EDMOND NORTH (13-4)</strong></h5> <p>We knew before the season that Edmond North was going to be an interesting team to watch considering some of the young talent that the Huskies have. However, we’re interested to know how many expected Edmond North to immediately become contenders this season and that’s what the Huskies are. Led by sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="1332074" first="Dylan" last="Warlick"], who’s been one of the breakout stars of this season, you have to take this Edmond North team very seriously. The Huskies have a favorable schedule down the stretch and should end up with a very high seed going into the playoffs. </p> <h5><strong>JENKS (14-3)</strong></h5> <p>Jenks was one of the expected teams coming into this season to be not only a contender but potentially a favorite, especially on the east side. The Trojans have lived up to that preseason hype and are one of the teams in the mix to make a run to Norman in March. Led by their senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id="958389" first="Ben" last="Averitt"] and [player_tooltip player_id="955379" first="Chase" last="Martin"], the Trojans have put together some impressive wins and have been tested in close games. They’ve gone to overtime in five games this season, including a double overtime win over Broken Arrow last week. The Trojans will be tested again on Tuesday night when they travel to Booker T Washington.</p> <h5><strong>MOORE (13-4)</strong></h5> <p>In early January, Moore had dropped three games in a row and they bounced back in a big way to close out the month. They’ve won five straight, including winning the John Nobles tournament and beating Mustang last week. The Lions have a superstar in the making with 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1367215" first="Chiante" last="Tramble"] and the young playmaker is trying to lead the Lions to a rare state tournament berth. Moore will be tested over the next week against other contenders like Norman North and Edmond Memorial. If the Lions are ready for the bright lights, they’ll keep that winning streak going. </p> <h5><strong>MUSTANG (13-4)</strong></h5> <p>It’s been a tough week or so for Mustang but you still have to consider them one of the top teams in Class 6A based on their whole body of work. They started 13-1 but have lost their last three games and the schedule gets tougher this week with a road game against Norman North and at home against Edmond Memorial. However, the Broncos have to be considered one of the top teams going into the playoffs, no matter what happens this week. With 2022 sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="955384" first="Ethan" last="Scott"] and 2023 two-sport superstar [player_tooltip player_id="967377" first="Jacobe" last="Johnson"], Mustang has the firepower to cause some damage in March. </p> <h5><strong>NORMAN NORTH (10-6)</strong></h5> <p>On paper, Norman North should be one of those contenders with a big target on their back considering the talent they have. They have one of the best 2022 players with [player_tooltip player_id="955382" first="Kevin" last="Overton"] and one of the best 2023 players with [player_tooltip player_id="965255" first="Jeremiah" last="Johnson"]. However, the Timberwolves have been up and down this season. But with those two leading the charge, this team could end up making a title run and I don’t think it would surprise many people. This week will be big for the T’Wolves as they have games against fellow contenders Mustang and Moore on Tuesday and Friday respectively. </p> <h5><strong>OWASSO (11-6)</strong></h5> <p>Remember the start of this article where we mentioned there wasn’t a heavy favorite like other years? Well if [player_tooltip player_id="1164879" first="Aaron" last="Potter"] doesn’t transfer to Booker T Washington, maybe the Rams are that heavy favorite. Despite the loss of Potter, the Rams are still in the mix and one of the top teams in the Tulsa area. 2022 forward [player_tooltip player_id="955380" first="Caden" last="Fry"] has been one of the best post players in the state. The Rams have some good wins over the last month over fellow contenders and will be tested once again on Tuesday night as they travel to take on Broken Arrow in another Frontier Conference showdown.</p> <h5><strong>PUTNAM CITY NORTH (11-2)</strong></h5> <p>Putnam City North is once again in the mix as head coach Ryan Wegner has again put the Panthers into a position where they can end up punching a ticket to the state tournament. And the Panthers are in a familiar position as Owasso. They lost one of the best players in the state with [player_tooltip player_id="965255" first="Jeremiah" last="Johnson"] after he transferred to Norman North. Despite that, 2023 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1068574" first="Zander" last="Baker"] has stepped up and has become a breakout star this season for the Panthers. They’ll be challenged down the stretch against fellow state tournament contenders and we’ll learn more about them then. </p> <h5><strong>PUTNAM CITY WEST (13-4)</strong></h5> <p>Every season, a few teams from the west side get "sent east" for regionals and are considered east side teams for the first two weeks of the playoffs. Putnam City West is one of those teams and it might end up paying off for the Patriots with them hosting a regional against three other Tulsa-area schools. The Patriots are young and have a bright future with several sophomores and freshmen making a big impact for them this season. They got off to a red-hot start to begin this season but have been slowed up with a few losses and Covid-related cancellations over the last few weeks. </p> <h5><strong>UNION (8-8)</strong></h5> <p>And the final team on the contender list is perhaps the most confusing team to figure out. Union has some of the best prospects in the state but they also have an 8-8 record. They’ve knocked off a top team like Booker T Washington but have also lost three out of their last four coming into this week. With stars like 2023 forward [player_tooltip player_id="1068563" first="Trent" last="Pierce"] and 2024 forward [player_tooltip player_id="1343195" first="Chris" last="Mason"], the Redhawks have the firepower to make a run to Norman. But will this young team pull it together to play consistent basketball for three weeks during the playoffs? That’s the biggest key for Union moving forward.</p>