Class B boys basketball state preview
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Thursday, February 28, 2013
2/28/13 at 6:00 AM
When: Thursday-Saturday
Where: At State Fair Arena, Oklahoma City
Tickets: $5
Last year's champion
Forgan (26-2): Top-ranked team is still formidable as it looks for its third straight state title. Jake Regier, a 6-3 senior guard, is Forgan's leading scorer at 19.1 points. Jace Kerr, a 6-5 junior forward, averages 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Bulldogs have depth as 10 players usually see action during a game.
Team to beat
Arnett (20-8): Ranked No. 2, has defeated both defending Class A and B state champions, Cheyenne and Forgan. The Wildcats are much better than their record, which includes three losses in the Oklahoma's Tournament of Champions and a loss to Forgan, which was avenged in the area tournament. Tyler Tune, Trevor Bryant and Nicolas Smith average scoring in double figures.
Teams to watch
Fargo (23-7): Ranked No. 4, is led by Tyler Foale, a 6-2 senior guard-forward who averages 18.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. The Bearcats start four seniors plus 6-6 junior center Pedro Moraes, who averages 8.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Coyle (23-4): Ranked No. 5, received a boost from Eric Harris, a 6-1 senior guard who moved in from Chicago and has averaged 11.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 17 games. The Bluejackets are 20-1 since a 3-3 start.
Moyers (27-3): The Tigers, who are led by Brandon Slocum and Jake Dudley who are averaging 18 points each, are making their first state tournament appearance. They had never reached an area tournament before 2011.
Players to watch
Tony Aska, Coyle: His coach regards him as the best player in Class B. He averages 20.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 2.8 assists. Aska shoots 63.6 percent from the field.
Donald Beckham, Big Pasture: The 6-2 senior center averages 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. He has more than 1,000 career points and has been a key factor in a 26-game winning streak.
Tyler Tune, Arnett: The 6-4 junior guard-forward averages 26.6 points, 13.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He has scored 25 or more in 18 of 28 games, and has had at least 10 rebounds in 23 games.
Associated Images:
Arnett's Trevor Bryant (left) goes for a rebound in front of Fargo's Tyler Howard in first round of the 2012 Class B state basketball tournament at Carl Albert in Midwest City. The Oklahoman file
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