Class A boys basketball state preview
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Thursday, February 28, 2013
2/28/13 at 5:56 AM
When: Thursday-Saturday
Where: Southern Nazarene, Bethany (Thursday); State Fair Arena, Oklahoma City (Friday-Saturday)
Tickets: $5
Last year's champion
Cheyenne (23-6): Ranked No. 4, is making its fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament. However, this will be the first time that the school's boys and girls teams are in the state tournament at the same time. Braygan Lippencott, a 6-3 junior forward, is the Bears' leading scorer at 21 points per game and also had a team-high 7.3 rebounds. The other starters are a pair of brothers - 6-3 senior center Dylon Moler and 6-1 junior guard Colton Moler; and twin senior forwards Bray Haven and Joshua Haven.
Team to beat
Weleetka (25-2): Has won 17 in a row and has not lost since Oklahoma's Tournament of Champions. The Outlaws have balanced scoring and average 62.7 points while allowing only 41.3.
Teams to watch
Glencoe (28-1): Ranked No. 2, is led by 6-5 sophomore guard-forward Ty Lazenby, who averages 22.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Kagen Castleberry, a 5-11 guard, will be making his fourth trip to the state tournament - twice with Caddo and twice with Glencoe. He averages 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Guards Jake Corbin and Taylor Cavett are the first seniors to play in three state tournaments for Glencoe. The Panthers had their first perfect regular season at 24-0.
Velma-Alma (24-3): Ranked No. 5, defeated Glencoe in the area tournament. The Comets start four seniors, including 6-2 forward Dallen Mercer, who averages 15 points and seven rebounds. Jaz Gayanich, a 6-6 junior forward, averages 14 points and eight rebounds.
Players to watch
Daniel Collins, Fort Cobb-Broxton: The 6-2 junior guard averages 15.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Montana Gormley, Weleetka: The 6-1 junior guard averages 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Laiton Hill, Wright City: The 6-foot forward is the scoring leader on a senior-dominated team as he averages 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Seth Overstreet, Laverne: A 6-2 senior forward, he averages 17 points and 7 rebounds. Trevor Harris, 5-10 junior guard, also averages 17 points.
Trevyn Woolbright, Sterling: The 5-11 senior guard scores 22.6 points per game and dishes out 4.7 assists.
Associated Images:
Weleetka's Shaun Bencoma (3) gets a shot past Union's Alex Barton (11) during the Tournament of Champions quarterfinals at the ORU Mabee Center on Dec. 27. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Weleetka's Jeremiah Winney (20) shoots a free throw during their Tournament of Champions quarterfinal matchup against Union at the ORU Mabee Center on Dec. 27. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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