Tournament MVP’s (Dec. 8-10)
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The first of several tournament weekends is in the books across Oklahoma and we saw some fantastic performances throughout the state. In this post, we take a look at some of the best performances from MVPs and top performers throughout the tournament weekend. Keep it locked into Prep Hoops Oklahoma on Monday when we debut a new series “What We Learned” for the first big week of high school hoops in the state. Top stories, performances and much more will be featured every Monday! For now, check out the best of the best.
Crossings Christian improved to 6-0 on the season after capturing the Christian Heritage tourney title. Sophomore guard Cal Furnish Cal Furnish 5’11” | PG Crossings Christian | 2025 State OK would capture MVP honors after averaging just over 21 points per game in the three days. The Knights have been dominant to start the season and Furnish has picked up right where he left off from last year following his breakout freshman season. Furnish’s range continues to extend beyond the perimeter. Crossings Christian now has over two weeks where they’ll practice and prepare for the Tournament Of Champions on December 28th in Tulsa. They open up the tournament against 6A powerhouse Edmond North in the first round.
Broken Arrow made quite the statement by dominating Mustang in the Bishop Kelley Invitational title game on Saturday night. Senior forward and OSU signee Connor Dow Connor Dow 6’6″ | SF Broken Arrow | 2023 State #252 Nation OK earned MVP honors and showed why he’s one of the top overall players in the state throughout the tourney. We caught Dow in person on Friday night when he caught fire in the first half, going for 20+ points in the first two quarters in a win over Edison. Dow had everything going for him on the offensive end. The Tigers have another big week this week where they can add to their resume as the top east side team in Class 6A. They’ll host Booker T Washington on Tuesday and travel to Jenks on Friday.
Dale dominated their own tournament, improving to 9-0 on the season and junior guard Dayton Forsythe Dayton Forsythe 6’3″ | PG Dale | 2024 State #206 Nation OK was once again the top performer in the tournament field. Forsythe has been one of the best scorers in the state for a while now but he’s becoming a more complete player and the stats are backing it up. In the three days, he averaged 24 points per game, 7 assists per game and 7 rebounds per game. The Pirates will host Luther on Tuesday, followed by Christian Heritage on Friday night. The Pirates, similar to Crossings will then start preparing for the Tournament Of Champions. They will open up the tourney in the first round against Union.
Holland Hall opened their 2022-2023 campaign last week in the Inola tournament. They would knock off Pryor, Coweta and then Tulsa-rival Victory Christian in the title game on Saturday. Senior combo guard Jadon Cool Jadon Cool 6’3″ | CG Holland Hall | 2023 State OK would lead the way with 24 points in the championship game against Victory. Cool is off to a great start and will be one of the more interesting guards to watch in the Tulsa area this season. He’s going to have outstanding production all year and he also benefits from having some help around him. Cool and the Dutch will be back action at home this week. They host Cascia Hall on Friday night before a Saturday afternoon game at home against Heritage Hall.
We’ve written this a few times already this season but if you haven’t already, buy stock on Nathan Hale right now before the prices absolutely sky rocket. They captured the Compass Winter Classic with a championship win over Yukon on Saturday night. Junior guard Kabron Lewis Kabron Lewis 6’2″ | CG Hale | 2024 State OK would average 26 points per game in the three days and was on absolute fire from beyond the arc on Saturday night. He would finish with 28 points in the title game and went 6-9 from three-point range. The Rangers are now 6-1 with their only loss coming in overtime to Memorial in the season opener. Nathan Hale has just one more game before the calendar flips to January and it comes next Tuesday at Bishop Kelley.
Highlights
Purcell improved to 5-0 on the season by capturing the tournament championship in the Madill tourney. Leading the way was sophomore guard Kobe Freeman Kobe Freeman 5’11” | PG Purcell | 2025 State OK , who is enjoying a breakout season already this winter. Freeman has completely continued his momentum from an outstanding offseason early on this year. Now, we’re only five games into the season, but it’s time to start taking Freeman and Purcell very seriously in the Class 3A championship picture. Freeman earned MVP honors after they beat the host Madill in the semifinals and then Mount Saint Mary in the title game. They hit the road for two games this week against Pauls Valley on Tuesday and Davis on Friday.
Lawton made quite the statement when they hosted their first ever tournament and would capture the tourney title. Junior guard Madden Padilla Madden Padilla 5’9″ | SG Lawton | 2024 State OK would lead the Wolverines, averaging nearly 17 points per game. The Wolverines got everyone’s attention on Friday when they knocked off 5A champion Memorial in the semifinals. The Wolverines would follow it up with a win over Putnam City in the title game. Padilla is one of the best shooters in southern Oklahoma and he showcased that throughout the week. It’s time to start taking the Wolverines seriously in Class 6A. The Wolverines are now 5-0 on the season and they will host Choctaw on Saturday before winter break.
Moore has won four games in a row following their season opening loss to rival Southmoore. The Lions would capture the Tahlequah Invitational title and they did so with some dramatics in the title game. They beat Bixby 86-84 in overtime and senior Malachi Lee Malachi Lee 6’3″ | SF Moore | 2023 State OK was the hero. He would finish with 22 points in the win but the biggest shot of the game came in overtime. With four seconds on the clock, following a timeout, Lee cut towards the basket, received the inbounds pass and made a lay up just before the buzzer. It was one of the more clutch performances from the tourney weekend. Lee and the Lions will next return to the floor on Friday night when they host Westmoore.
Edmond North dominated their way through the Edmond Open, including a semifinal win over Booker T Washington. The Huskies were once again led by their star junior TO Barrett TO Barrett 6’4″ | SG Link Academy | 2024 #138 Nation MO . The junior averaged nearly 20 points per game and the story on the young season continues to be Barrett’s improvement in the shooting department. During the tourney, Barrett would shoot nearly 60 percent from beyond the arc. If he continues to be this efficient on the offensive side of the ball, it’s time to start having the conversation that Barrett might be the top overall prospect in the state’s 2024 class. They host Mustang next Tuesday before playing in the Tournament Of Champions at the end of the month.
Muldrow would capture a tournament championship in the Tahlequah Sequoyah tourney on Saturday night as they would defeat a team from Mississippi. Senior guard Trenden Collins Trenden Collins 6’1″ | SF Muldrow | 2023 State OK had one of the best overall performances in a title game when he would score a game-high 42 points, earning MVP honors in Tahlequah. Collins has always been an intriguing guard prospect and this past fall, he enjoyed a breakout season on the gridiron. He would consistently be considered a “Top Performer” and he’s picking up where he left off in football with the same honors in basketball. Collins and the Bulldogs will host Spiro on Tuesday night before traveling to Sallisaw on Friday.
Metro Christian opened up their 2022-2023 season in the Cleveland Tournament last week and would go 3-0 and capture the tournament title. Powell would average just over 20 points per game in the three days. Powell is a 2024 prospect on the rise and should enjoy a breakout season, becoming more of a statewide name in Class 3A this season. Powell showcased plenty of skills throughout the three days in Cleveland. He filled the stat sheet all thee days on both sides of the ball. We’re looking forward to seeing Powell in person on Monday night when the Patriots play host to Victory Christian in a 4A-3A showdown between rivals.
Highlights
Putnam City North might have had the best tournament week as they knocked off Douglass, Norman and Del City to capture the Joe Lawson Invitational. You can make the argument that they just beat top five teams in 4A, 6A and 5A respectively. Leading the way was senior guard Zander Baker Zander Baker 5’10” | PG Norman | 2023 State OK . All three days, Baker was on absolute fire. His quick trigger shot was hitting from just about anywhere on the floor. And when teammate CJ Smith CJ Smith 6’7″ | SF Putnam City North | 2023 State OK went down momentarily on Saturday, Baker continued to elevate his teammates and the overall performance from the Panthers. Baker and the Panthers are back on the court Tuesday night when they host rival Putnam City.