The Week Ahead; Tournament Week 12/9-12/11
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It’s the first regular season tournament weekend of the season. As usual, the games in the 405 are anchored by the Edmond Open and the Joe Lawson in Norman. There are gathering of small town teams with Big House dreams, and a pair of interesting events in Northeastern Oklahoma.
Edmond Open (Edmond North)
Thanks to the basketball talent in this north OKC suburb, the Edmond Open has been of the best tournaments in Oklahoma. This year, Edmond North and their exciting group of sophomore standouts, are hosting the event. Joining them are the Class 6A top ranked Edmond Memorial Bulldogs and 14th ranked Edmond Santa Fe also of Class 6A. The non Edmond teams from Oklahoma in the field are Enid and Millwood. Along with homeschool programs, OKC Storm and HFC.
Edmond Memorial and Edmond North are on opposite sides of the bracket, and just played an OT thriller this past Friday. Meanwhile Edmond Santa Fe opens up with Texas program, Trinity Christian out of Lubbock. Millwood is top ranked in Class 3A, and a weekend clashing with 6A programs will be big for the small school favorite and their standout freshman Jaden Nickens. Enid has good size and experience, anchored by seniors Cam Mathis Cam Mathis 6'5" | SG Enid | 2022 State OK and Taye Sullivan Taye Sullivan 6'3" | SG Enid | 2022 State OK and an opening round win would be a big boast for a program hungry for success in 6A.
Joe Lawson Memorial Invitational (Norman and Norman North)
Only in its third year, this event has become one of the premier tournaments in the state. The event is named after Joe Lawson (who played at Norman high school and coached at Norman North before passing away in 2017) is hosted by both schools in Norman. This year’s field is especially stacked as a first round match up between Tulsa Memorial and Lawton MacArthur is the type game that could be expected in the Class 5A State tournament come March. It’s also a match up between two of the top senior guards in Oklahoma, Tyreece Frierson Tyreece Frierson 5'10" | PG Tulsa Memorial | 2022 State OK (Memorial) and Arzhonte Dallas Arzhonte Dallas 5'11" | PG Lawton MacArthur | 2022 State OK (Lawton MacArthur). The Class 6A clash that is also scheduled on Thursday between Putnam City West and Owasso and standout senior post player Caden Fry Caden Fry 6'7" | C Owasso | 2022 State OK , could also be a future State Tournament match up.
Adding to the depth of the field is last year’s Class 6A champions Del City with elite Class of 2023 post prospect Brandon Garrison Brandon Garrison 6'8" | C Evans | 2023 State #33 Nation OK . Rounding out the stacked field are Ardmore, another potential 5A State Tournament team and the host schools Norman and Norman North with two of the top players to watch in the 405, senior guard Kevin Overton Kevin Overton 6'5" | SG Homeschool | 2022 State OK and junior guard Jeremiah Johnson Jeremiah Johnson 6'4" | PG Wasatch Academy Prep Class Of 2024 | 2024 GA .
While just about any combination of teams could make it to the finals, there is a good chance that then championship on Saturday could be a preview of the Class 5A State Championship in March. Del City has dropped back down to 5A, the Eagles, Tulsa Memorial, Lawton MacArthur and Ardmore make up 4 of the current top 6 in the Class 5A rankings. With a potential Tulsa Memorial vs Del City match especially spicy, as those are the current top ranked teams in the class.
Cherokee Nation Business Tahlequah Invational
It’s a bit of a drive, but based on the teams in the field the drive will be more than worth it. While also being a treat to any basketball fans in Northeastern Oklahoma. Tahlequah and Tahlequah Sequoyah are welcoming a deep group of Class 6A squads to their town. Frontier Conference squads Jenks, Bixby and Muskogee all will be in it, along with 5A teams East Central and McAlester.
Texas Rio Grande Valley signee Adante Holiman Adante Holiman 6'0" | PG McAlester | 2022 State #224 Nation OK will be sure to put up big numbers all three days, for his Buffalos of McAlester. Not to be left behind in the scoring exploits will be Bixby Junior guard Parker Friedrichsen Parker Friedrichsen 6'4" | SG Bixby | 2023 State #165 Nation OK , one of the top shooters in the state. Jenks is one of the more experienced teams in Oklahoma, with the senior duo of Chase Martin Chase Martin 6'5" | SG Jenks | 2022 State OK and Ben Averitt Ben Averitt 6'5" | SF Jenks | 2022 State OK leading the way. While Moore has an exciting sophomore class and human highlight reel senior Marcus Dockins Marcus Dockins 6'2" | PF Moore | 2022 State OK .
Blue Sky Bank Cleveland Invitational
In Cleveland, the field is anchored by defending 4A State Champions Kingfisher, eastern Oklahoma 4A contender Muldrow, potential 3A contender Metro Christian and the host Tigers of Cleveland. Kingfisher may have graduated two Division One players, but they’re still expected to very much be in the mix to make it back to the Big House. Jared Reese has proven he’s one of the top coaches in Oklahoma with three state titles in the last five years. While Muldrow is highlighted by athletic Junior Trenden Collins Trenden Collins 6'1" | SF Muldrow | 2023 State OK .
Jerry Oquin Tournament (Inola)
Some tournaments are all week events, and that’s the case in Inola. Last season Holland Hall was a Class 4A state tournament team and return junior guard Jadon Cool Jadon Cool 6'3" | CG Holland Hall | 2023 State OK . Their task to claim the title in Inola starts tonight and it’s a big challenge against an 11th ranked Class 4A Verdigris squad.
Victory Christian also is fresh off a Class 4A State Tournament appearance and they too have one of the top athletes in the 918. Senior guard Joshua Udoumoh Joshua Udoumoh 6'4" | SG Victory Christian | 2022 State OK is sure to turn some heads this winter with his leaping ability and high motor player style.
Another squad to watch in this event are the Coweta Tigers. They have size with 6’7 senior Trey Bartholomew and a dynamic junior guard, Ty Holdman.
Bishop Kelley Invitational
Finally there’s the Bishop Kelley Invitational in Tulsa. It’s a balanced field, highlighted by 6A Mustang, which has senior sharpshooter Ethan Scott Ethan Scott 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2022 State OK and physical bully guard junior Jacobe Johnson Jacobe Johnson 6'3" | SG Mustang | 2023 State OK . Tulsa McLain, Tuttle and Daniel Webster give it three Class 4A teams that will look to be punching above their weight. Tuttle especially will be looking to break through this season with senior duo, Kaden Vande Kaden Vande 6'7" | SG Tuttle | 2022 OK and Isaac McDoulett Isaac McDoulett 6'6" | SG Tuttle | 2022 State OK . While the tournament hosts Bishop Kelley headlines the 5A teams in attendance, along with Sapulpa and Edison.
It’ll be a busy weeks of hoops, and look for the PrepHoops team to bring coverage from all over the state this upcoming weekend.