Preview & Guide: 2019 Tournament of Champions
TULSA, Okla. — The 55th annual T.of.C, set for December 26-28 at Oral Roberts University, includes one of the most touted fields the tournament has seen in recent years. Pitting together eight teams with only four cumulative in-state losses, the 55th edition…
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Continue ReadingTULSA, Okla. — The 55th annual T.of.C, set for December 26-28 at Oral Roberts University, includes one of the most touted fields the tournament has seen in recent years.
Pitting together eight teams with only four cumulative in-state losses, the 55th edition of the T.of.C has promise to be one of the great weekends in the history of the Mabee Center. Six of the eight teams also boast a No. 1 or No. 2 ranking in their respective classes.
The text that follows includes in-depth previews of each of the eight competitors for the 55th T.of.C followed by a brief look at the tournament’s record-books.
Booker T. Washington
Trey Phipps→ No school has more T.of.C team titles than Booker T. Washington, whose eleven championships doubles its next-best contender (Union, 5). Conley Phipps‘ Hornets squad, led by Bryce Thompson, Trey Phipps and Jalen Breath, may be the best squad to come through Booker T. Washington since the days of coach Nate E. Harris (The Hornets’ 2019 warmup tops honor the late coach with his initials pressed onto their left sleeve). Boasting three of the top-five prospects in the 2020 class, the Hornets are the front-runners to win big again at this year’s T.of.C, especially after a pair of back-to-back 80-point outings last week.
Chasing greatness.
As for Thompson, perhaps the most intriguing prospect of the T.of.C could be a legitimate shot at history. While the senior has virtually no shot at becoming the all-time leading scorer in T.of.C history, he could certainly etch his name in the record books thanks to the unbelievable stints of Keiton Page and Kelenna Azubuike in the early 2000s. With 129 total points at the T.of.C, however, Thompson would only need to equal his margin and add a 3-pointer to become the third-leading scorer in T.of.C history. Likewise, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year could be the first player since Azubuike (’01, ’02) to win back-to-back T.of.C MVPs.
Del City
Nate Goodlow→ Led by the senior duo of Nate Goodlow and Demontreal Crutchfield, a storied Del City program makes its long-awaited first appearance in the T.of.C this season. The Eagles enter the test ranked first in 5A after dethroning Tulsa Memorial for the top spot last week. The strong inside presence of Kyren Williams along with Goodlow and Crutchfield’s leadership in the back-court has allowed the defending state runners-up to remain unbeaten to this point in the season. Most intriguingly, the Eagles could potentially be pitted against the team that bested them in March in the same building: second-ranked Tulsa Memorial. Lenny Hatchett‘s squad has been well-prepared and reloaded since its Silver Ball performance, especially with the significant improvements of Keyondre Young‘s rising game.
Dynamic duo.
Though not an officially-held statistic by the T.of.C, the prospect of Goodlow and Crutchfield gives way for the possibility of an all-time scoring performance from a duo. Both are incredibly-capable scorers and, even more impressively, have incredible chemistry between each other. Don’t believe me? Here’s one example of their excellence on the floor alongside one another.
Duke
Jameson Richardson→ For undefeated Duke, you don’t have to look far past Abilene Christian-signee Jameson Richardson. The 6-foot-8-inch powerhouse senior has led Duke to eight wins and an average win margin of 49 points. . . Yes, you read that correctly. With 35, 53, 59 and 90-point wins so far in December, no team across the state can quite rival the Tigers’ thirst for dominance as of late, and it’s that level of competition the Tigers hope to bring into the tournament.
He can do it all.
Though Richardson may be doing so against small-school competition, do not discount the future D-I star from being able to put up similar numbers this weekend. With his obvious length, Richardson has an extremely rare skill-set; not only resigning to scoring in the paint, but also boasting the ability to put up buckets from the mid-range and shoot the ball consistently from 3-point range, the lengthy, strong-framed senior has the opportunity to accomplish a rare feat: putting up top-ten all-time performances in scoring and rebounding. If Richardson can put up 32.0 points and 16 rebounds-a-game, he can be the first player in T.of.C history to accomplish this task.
Garber
TJ Bennett→ For Garber, it’s been a long-time-coming since its last appearance in the T.of.C. Garber’s most-recent appearances in the tournament came in 2009 and 2008, where the Wolverines saw seventh- and sixth-place finishes, respectively. Riding on a six-game win-streak, the Wolverines have won by margins of 41, 47, 48, 57, 69 and 70 — just in nine games. On average, Garber is winning its contests this year by 30.1 points. One reason behind Garber’s success is the big play of TJ Bennett, who’s been known to show up big in big moments. If anybody expects Garber to lie down Thursday, nobody has told the Wolverines.
55th annual Tournament of Champions bracket C/o @MillwoodAthlet1
Heritage Hall
Trey Alexander→ Appearing in his first T.of.C, Trey Alexander will have the eyes of the state on him as the No. 1 prospect in the Oklahoma 2021 class looks to make his imprint on the Mabee Center. Alexander has been quietly having his best season yet, including a pair of outstanding performances to open the season against Millwood and Ada, respectively. The Chargers, meanwhile, enter the contest undefeated against Oklahoma competition, taking wins against No. 1 Millwood, No. 7 Ada, and No. 3 Carl Albert. Primed to take back what they lost last March, the Chargers’ first big-time test toward its goal of winning their second Gold Ball in three years starts Thursday.
How far can Trey go?
A plethora of single-tournament records could be in Alexander’s sights at the T.of.C. Primarily Alexander could be eying a spot in the top-five tournament scoring performances, a feat that would require a 37-point-a-game campaign from the junior. That total may appear far-fetched to those who haven’t seen the 6-foot-4-inch scoring guard play, but Alexander is all about disproving his detractors. At the rate he’s scoring the basketball to this point in the season, Alexander does not believe there is much he cannot do.
Tulsa Memorial
Will Hill→ Tulsa Memorial has claimed four team titles in school history at the T.of.C, with its most recent championship coming in 2014. After claiming six of the last seven State Championships in 5A, perhaps no team in the field has more pedigree than the Chargers. Kavon Key and Will Hill will have a taste for blood, as well, after losing in the championship of the 2018 T.of.C to crosstown rival Booker T. Washington. In the absence of Brayshawn Finch, who will likely still be nursing a lower-leg injury come-time for the tournament to tip-off, the Chargers will utilize some new faces with little-to-no experience at the Mabee Center. Tyreece Frierson, Jaelen Tucker, Juwan Provitt and Jordan Fortenberry have all seen significant increases in floor-time this season. Nevertheless, never call Bobby Allisons‘ Chargers the underdogs, especially at the Mabee Center.
Last chance to make history.
Tulsa Memorial, who once hosted the T.of.C, has not won the team title since 2014, when Allisons’ Chargers bested Shake Milton and the Owasso Rams in triple-overtime. That means Key and his fellow seniors could be in jeopardy of coming home empty-handed for a fourth-consecutive year. Redemption will certainly be on his mind this year.
Millwood
Isaiah Williams→ Making its last appearance in the T.of.C almost thirty years ago, the Falcons turn their sights to the Mabee Center for a stellar opportunity this weekend. Led by coach Mike Jeffries, the senior back-court duo of Myles Jeffries and Isaiah Williams will be expected to lead the Falcons at the T.of.C. One of the most storied programs across the state, it is only right that top-ranked Millwood re-establish its place among Oklahoma’s small-school royalty this weekend at the T.of.C.
About royalty. . .
On the note of Millwood’s hopeful claims for small-school royalty, the T.of.C has been known to establish bragging rights. Whether it be regional, class dominance or just for your alma mater, every team in competition is looking to bring some bragging rights home. The Falcons have not been in the T.of.C in some time, but that doesn’t mean they have lost a step. Millwood remains a powerhouse in 3A, but a strong performance this weekend could silence any of its detractors from doubting its pedigree.
Okemah
Cade Dean→ The squad from I-40 continues its tirade for Cade Dean and the Okemah Panthers. Alongside fellow senior forward Wacey Williams, the high-low strengths of the Panthers’ offense have produced 70-point performances in their last two games. Dean is one of the most talented shooters in the state, and his talents have significantly elevated the play of those around him.
Establish your future.
It is no secret that, in addition to its attraction to basketball fans across the state, the T.of.C has been known to draw college coaches to the Mabee Center. For Dean, one of the most talented un-offered seniors across the state, he could make a name for himself this weekend — and gain a four-year ticket to continue his career — with a strong three-game stretch.
SINGLE-GAME SCORING (INDV.) | ||
65 | Kelenna Azubuike, Victory Christian | 2001 |
59 | Norman Russell, Mountain View | 1969 |
55 | Keiton Page, Pawnee | 2007 |
50 | Glenn Buntin, Sand Springs | 1970 |
50 | Shake Milton, Owasso | 2014 |
50 | Keyshawn Embry, Midwest City | 2016 |
47 | Dennis Constein, Anadarko | 1976 |
46 | Kenneth Rourke, Tulsa Hale | 1988 |
45 | Brady Page, Yale | 2001 |
SINGLE-TOURNAMENT SCORING (INDV.) | ||
148 | Kelenna Azubuike, Victory Christian | 2001 |
125 | Shake Milton, Owasso | 2014 |
123 | Keiton Page, Pawnee | 2007 |
114 | Norman Russell, Mountain View | 1969 |
113 | Glenn Buntin, Sand Springs | 1970 |
105 | Josh Talley, Jay | 2003 |
104 | Rotnei Clarke, Verdigris | 2006 |
102 | Kelenna Azubuike, Victory Christian | 2000 |
102 | Conley Phipps, Cleveland | 1984 |
CAREER SCORING (INDV.) | ||
272 | Keiton Page, Pawnee | 2005, 2006, 2007 |
250 | Kelenna Azubuike, Victory Christian | 2000, 2001 |
210 | Eddie Louie, New Lima | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
191 | Rotnei Clarke, Verdigris | 2006, 2007 |
186 | Anthony Wilson, Tulsa Memorial | 1987, 1988, 1989 |
184 | Juwan Parker, Booker T. Washington | 2010, 2011, 2012 |
175 | Bryson Pope, Jenks | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
166 | Ray Russell, Northeast | 1966, 1967 |
164 | Keyshawn Embry, Midwest City | 2015, 2016 |
SINGLE-GAME SCORING (TEAM) | ||
115 | Midwest City vs. Pawnee | 1999 |
113 | Bishop McGuinness vs. Preston | 2000 |
107 | Northwest vs. Coyle | 1993 |
105 | Union vs. Caddo | 2011 |
103 | Star-Spencer vs. Cascia Hall | 1989 |
102 | Maud vs. Cascia Hall | 1989 |
101 | Bartlesville vs. Boynton | 1989 |
101 | Northeast vs. Roland | 1967 |
101 | Booker T. Washington vs. Cordell | 1986 |
SINGLE-TOURNAMENT SCORING (TEAM) | ||
280 | Booker T. Washington | 1982 |
275 | Victory Christian | 2001 |
273 | Northeast | 1967 |
273 | Putnam City | 2002 |
264 | Owasso | 2014 |
259 | Douglass | 1970 |
258 | Union | 2002 |
257 | Booker T. Washington | 1986 |
257 | Boynton | 1986 |
SINGLE-GAME REBOUNDING (INDV.) | ||
30 | Henry Johnson, Tulsa Central | 1972 |
28 | Donald Warrior, Checotah | 1974 |
27 | Steve Mitchell, Northwest | 1968 |
23 | Ray Russell, Northeast | 1967 |
23 | Steve Mitchell, Northwest | 1969 |
23 | Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville | 2004 |
23 | Robert Gunn, Muskogee | 1975 |
23 | Brycen Bass, Atoka | 2015 |
22 | Henry Johnson, Tulsa Central | 1972 |
SINGLE-TOURNAMENT REBOUNDING (INDV.) | ||
65 | Henry Johnson, Tulsa Central | 1972 |
56 | Donald Warrior, Checotah | 1974 |
56 | AJ Cockrell, Tulsa Memorial | 2014 |
53 | Steve Mitchell, Northwest | 1968 |
53 | Robert Gunn, Muskogee | 1975 |
52 | Clydell Tucker, Fort Towson | 1973 |
51 | Ray Russell, Northeast | 1967 |
51 | Rilly Nowlin, Sallisaw | 1976 |
50 | Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville | 2004 |
CAREER REBOUNDING (INDV.) | ||
115 | Ron Douglas, Tulsa Central | 1967, 1968, 1969 |
103 | Sammy Berry, New Lima | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
99 | Henry Johnson, Tulsa Central | 1971, 1972 |
96 | Ray Russell, Northeast | 1966, 1967 |
95 | Steve Mitchell, Northwest | 1968, 1969 |
95 | Jonathon Sutton, Pawhuska | 1972, 1973, 1974 |
85 | Joey Robinson, Tulsa Memorial | 1973, 1974, 1975 |
83 | Junior Whitaker, Beggs | 1989, 1990 |
83 | Eddie Louie, New Lima | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
CHAMPIONSHIPS (TEAM) | ||
11 | Booker T. Washington | 1977, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’89, ’91, ’96, ’01, ’10, ’18 |
5 | Union | 1990, ’99, ’11, ’13, ’16 |
4 | Jenks | 1993, ’05, ’06, ’08 |
4 | Tulsa Memorial | 1974, ’80, ’02, ’14 |
3 | Tulsa McLain | 1976, ’79, ’92 |
3 | Midwest City | 1985, ’15, ’17 |
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