Mike Brown's Hot List
BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2/26/13 at 3:49 AM
Players to watch
Stevi Parker, Bixby: In her first action in more than a month, the 6-foot senior had 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots in Saturday's 57-46 win over Union in the regional final. Her inside length and defense was instrumental in holding Union's I'mani Davis to 11 points.
Christina Devers, Bixby: The 5-foot-9 senior had 25 points, three assists and three steals against Union as the Spartans won their first regional girls basketball title in 14 years.
Paige Wilson and Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville: Wilson, a senior, had 25 points and seven assists and was 8-for-11 from the foul line as the Bruins downed Jenks 60-58 in Saturday's regional final. Tucker, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, had 15 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots.
Courtney Condit, Salina: The 5-foot-6 freshman scored 50 points with nine 3-pointers in three regional wins. She scored 20 each against Chelsea and Keys in the final rounds.
Teams to watch
Booker T. Washington (23-2): The sixth-ranked Hornets are outscoring opponents by 31 points per game and riding an 11-game winning streak into the area tournament. All but two of their victories were decided by double-digit margins.
Oktaha (26-1): The 2A No. 8 Tigers take a 14-game winning streak to the area tournament, facing Colbert at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Byng for a berth in the state tournament. Earlier this season, the Tigers gave coach Chester Pittman his 600th win in 24 years at the helm.
Adair (26-0): The 3A No. 4 Warriors claimed their seventh regional title in eight years with a 57-37 win over Eufaula. They face Verdigris or Kansas (Okla.) at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Fort Gibson, seeking their eighth straight appearance in the state tournament.
Games to watch
6A area - Bartlesville (20-2) vs. Bixby (18-7), Thursday: A rematch of the Spartans' 46-43 win in the final of the Port City Classic. Bixby's Devers had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven steals. The pick: Bixby 54-52.
6A area - Muskogee (20-5) vs. B.T. Washington (24-2), Thursday: Both teams like to play very fast. First meeting since the former Green Country Conference rivals parted company a few years ago. First playoff meeting since 2003. The pick: Washington 68-67.
6A area - Union (15-10) vs. Jenks (15-10), Thursday: The loser will be eliminated in fourth meeting of Backyard Bowl rivals. Redskins won 62-61 in Jenks/Union Invitational final and the teams split Frontier Conference meetings. The pick: Union 63-62.
5A area - East Central (17-8) vs. Collinsville (19-6): East Central seeks its ninth trip in 11 years to the state tournament. Collinsville seeks its first in 28 years. The pick: East Central 54-47.
Ask the writer
Who has the advantage in those Saturday area consolation games that qualify the last teams to the state tournament?
Emotion is always a factor in postseason basketball, and theoretically, the team coming out of the losers bracket has the momentum because it is coming off a win. But considering what is at stake, teams are likely to give great effort, whether they won or lost the night before.
Got a question about your favorite girls high school basketball player or team? Ask Mike Brown on the high school blog at tulsaworld.com/highschoolblog or email him at mike.brown@tulsaworld.com.
Associated Images:
Stevi Parker
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