What We Learned (Dec. 12-17)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each and every Monday this season, with the exception of next week because of the lack of games this week, we're going to take a look back at the previous week and try to narrow down and put a spotlight some of the top stories and results that happened across the state of Oklahoma. This week, we're taking a look back at last week, the last full week before a lot of teams go into the winter break. A lot of good basketball being played all over and we're focusing on some of the lower classes today. We're diving into the three top stories from last week for this week's edition of “What We Learned.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class 4A Is Loaded But Kingfisher Is Still Kingfisher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into this season, we knew that Class 4A was going to be arguably the deepest and most competitive class in the state. Early on this year, it looks like that's exactly what 4A is going to be. But as we learned on Tuesday night, defending champion and top-ranked Kingfisher is still Kingfisher as they would knock off #6 Newcastle 48-41. There are plenty of contenders among Class 4A right now. Crossings Christian, Douglass, Holland Hall, Weatherford and despite the loss, you have to include Newcastle. And that just makes up the top six teams. There are several other teams outside of the top six that could make a run to Oklahoma City and contend for the gold ball. But that Newcastle game was a perfect example of why we can't put anyone else in the top spot in Class 4A until they knock off the champs. Kingfisher might not have the most talented team in 4A and we don't think that's a crazy opinion. But they play the best team basketball and they have proven time after time that they know how to win big games against teams that might have more talent. We'll get a great example of that next week when they come to Tulsa for the Tournament Of Champions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class 5A Might Be The Deepest It's Been In Nearly A Decade</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the last decade, Class 5A has been dominated by three teams. Carl Albert, Del City and Memorial. We've seen teams like El Reno and Lawton Eisenhower make runs but those top three teams have consistently been in the mix just about every season. And while those three teams do make up the top three once again in Class 5A, we also think that the class is more competitive than we've seen in the last several years. In addition to having those traditional powers, you also have a team like Southeast that made a run to the semifinals a year ago and returned everyone from that team. El Reno has gotten off to a fast start and have a top ten win over Piedmont. Then Nathan Hale has exploded out of the gates and we've written several times already how the Rangers are no longer considered a "dark horse" in our minds when it comes to the 5A title picture, they are a true contender. Then outside of the top six, you also have teams like Coweta, Edison and Mount Saint Mary who can make things very interesting in win or go home situations. The champion this year might still come from those top three teams, but they are going to be pushed like they haven't been pushed in a long time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Millwood Is 2-5 And We Don't Care</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So it might look strange when you look at the Class 3A rankings to see Millwood ranked atop the 3A ranks with a 2-5 record next to their name, including three consecutive losses. But like the coaches who have ranked the Falcons in that spot, we do not care about the record right now. The Falcons just got their football-playing basketball prospects back on the court last week after the Falcons made a run to the 2A title game on the gridiron. [player_tooltip player_id='1391439' first='Jaden' last='Nickens'], [player_tooltip player_id='967381' first='Rickey' last='Hunt'] Jr and Carlos Strong, just to name a few were the names that Millwood was missing early on in the season. They lost to Douglass on Friday night and that was the first game those athletes were back on the court. They are going to be just fine. We'll get another good look at the Falcons as they host Heritage Hall on Tuesday night before the winter break begins. Then they open up January coming over to the Bartlesville tournament. The Falcons are still the team to beat in Class 3A. They have some competition in the top ten but despite that 2-5 record, we can't put the favorite label on anyone else. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->