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Girls basketball: Class-by-class breakdown

Carrington Fox
 
By MATT BAKER World Sports Writers
Published: 11/5/2009  6:31 AM
Last Modified: 11/12/2009  6:34 PM
Correction: A Wednesday Tulsa World Sports story misspelled the name of Tahlequah Sequoyah basketball player Lindsey Hammer. This story has been corrected.


CLASS 6A



Defending state champion

Del City (24-5) was dominant last year, but will have a hard time repeating without Toni Young and Desiree Jeffries, who are now freshmen at Oklahoma State.



Top area contenders

Union (24-3) is poised for another deep playoff run with the return of senior Carrington Fox (8.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game). Union won the 2008 state title, but lost to Del City in the state semifinals last year.

Owasso (13-13) was a game away from making the state tournament last year. With the continued improvement of forward Morgan Toben, Owasso could seal a trip to state this season.

Jenks (13-13) loses All-Metro guard Jasmine Smith due to graduation but return three starters — Taylor Newcomb, Julia Dittus and Avery Rains — and have a good core of sophomores and juniors.



Players to watch

» Chelsi Dennis

Broken Arrow, 5-8, Jr., F

Is drawing interest from 15 Division I schools. She averaged 11.5 points, 1.3 blocks and a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game last year.

» Nichole Tate

Sand Springs, 5-5, Jr., G

Shined least year in her sophomore season, averaging 12.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for the 11-13 Sandites.

»
Taylor Newcomb

Jenks, 6-2, Sr., P

Will be a double-double threat during her senior season. She averaged 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last year for the Trojans.

CLASS 5A



Defending state champion

Booker T. Washington (28-0) graduated three Division I signees, including 2009 Tulsa World All-State Player of the Year Taleya Mayberry. But Booker T. Washington returns enough talent to make a playoff push.



Top area contenders

Memorial (21-6) returns the key pieces from a team that went to state in Class 6A. Memorial boats a trio of talented guards and plenty of size in 6-foot-1 center Shelby Downing and 5-foot-11 freshman Juanita Nails.

East Central (14-13) plays in a loaded class, but have enough experience to make a deep playoff run. The Cardinals will be led by seniors Ashlee Pitts, Essence Rice and Ebonie Jackson.

Bishop Kelley (19-8) boasts four senior starters and a great scoring combination with guard Kristen Kelley (13.2 ppg) and forward Julianne Pelger (12.5 ppg), who has drawn interest from St. Louis University and Winthrop.



Players to watch

» Jordan Schultz

Claremore, 6-0, Jr., F

Dominated last year, averaging 15.4 points and five rebounds per game. She'll lead a talented Claremore team that will be tough to beat.

» Antoinette Carter

Edison, 5-10, Jr., C

Nearly averaged a double-double last year (10 points, nine rebounds) and is taller and stronger this year. A banged-up Edison team will need her to star early.

» Katy Harsen

Coweta, 5-6, Sr., G

Was second in the area with 26.4 ppg last season at Porter before moving to Coweta this year. Coach Krista Ragan-Binam calls Harsen one of the best guards she's ever coached.

CLASS 4A



Defending state champion

Vinita (28-1) breezed to a state title and boast five seniors this season. Sophomore forward Caitlyn Spurgeon (10.3 ppg) is poised for a big year.



Top area contenders

Fort Gibson (24-4) lost in the state semifinals last year after finishing second three years in a row. Can playmakers Carissa Crutchfield (11 ppg) and Nana Wallace (11 ppg) help the Lady Tigers finally break through?

Mannford (16-7) returns two scoring threats on the perimeter, junior Lauren Rogers (15.5 ppg) and senior Chelsa Saliba (11.8 ppg) from a team that competed well last season.

Muldrow (23-3) was stellar last season and returns three valuable starters — Brandie Holt (nine ppg), Debra Silva (10 ppg) and Fontana Tate (10 ppg).



Players to watch



» Kelsey Sears

Inola, 6-2, Sr., P

Will add a lot of size on a guard-heavy team. Sears averaged 16 points per game last season and is poised for a big senior year.

» Hannah Ritter

Jay, 5-6, Sr., G

Poured in 12.9 points and 2.8 assists per game last season. The shifty playmaker also led Jay with 3.1 steals per contest and was among area 4A leaders.

» Caitie Goff

Sallisaw, 5-8, Jr., G

Averaged 10 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year to help Sallisaw to a 21-6 record. The guard shot a blistering 53.6 percent from the field.

CLASS 3A



Defending state champion

Adair (27-2) is the team to beat again this year. The Warriors return three senior starters, including guard Chelsea Stricklen, who led the team with 14 ppg last year.



Top area contenders

Kansas (25-3) returns four starters, including three who averaged more than 10 points per game. Forward Kortni Kendrick led the Comets with 14.1 ppg last season, and Kelsey Barnwell (13.6 ppg) was also a key scorer.

Tahlequah Sequoyah (15-12) had a down season but return four senior starters. Tahlequah Sequoyah will have one of the best scoring combinations in its class in seniors Lindsey Hammer (16.3 ppg) and Nikki Lewis (14.4).

Vian (19-8) will be led by two solid juniors in LeiLoni Smith (12.7 ppg) and Kiona O'Neal (10.3 ppg) from a team that competed well last season.



Players to watch

» Julia Mitchell

Verdigris, 6-1, Sr., P

Mitchell put up some of the best numbers for an area post player last year. She averaged 10 points, 12 rebounds and almost two blocks per game.

» Talor Ward

Beggs, 5-6, Sr., G

The speedy scorer moved from Preston to Beggs for her senior season. She averaged 16.2 ppg last season and drove the ball effectively for the Class A state champions.

» Camillia Weaver

Westville, 5-8, Sr., G

Led the team in scoring last year as a junior, pouring in 14 ppg. Her five assists per game were among the most in the area and helped Westville finish 13-13.

CLASS 2A



Defending state champion

Pawnee (28-2) swept the Class 2A basketball state championships. The girls team returns three senior starters and are set for another run at the state tournament. A trio of senior guards will lead the Lady Bears.



Top area contenders

Oktaha (25-6) returns two key scorers, junior Chloe Nichols (10.1 ppg) and sophomore Pete Douglas (11.1 ppg). Oktaha has a more athletic club this season and should be able to contend for a trip to state.

Preston (28-3) won the Class A state championship last season, but have bumped up to Class 2A. Preston will expect big things from 6-foot-2 center Shakayla Love (11 ppg) and junior forward Allyson O'Guin.

Crowder (28-5) will have plenty of experienced seniors, including point guard Alex Tucker (18.4 ppg) shooting guard Paige Tucker (5.4 ppg) and center Kelsey Martin (10.2 ppg).



Players to watch

» Britney Morgan

Pawnee, 5-6, Sr., G

Tore through opponents last season, averaging a team-best 15.3 ppg as a junior. The sharpshooter made 44.9 percent of her 3-point attempts last year to help the Lady Bears win state.

» Ashley Marshall

Mounds, 5-7, Jr., G

Was instrumental on last year's 22-4 team, averaging 15 points and four assists per game. The best is yet to come for Marshall.

» Hayley Tanner

Sallisaw Central, 5-8, So., F

Averaged 12.7 ppg as a freshman. Expect Tanner and her team, which finished 16-9 last year, to continue to improve this season.

CLASS A



Defending state champion

Preston (28-3) moved up to Class 2A, where they will be expected to contend for another trip to state.



Top area contender

Afton (23-4) has a talented team, led by seniors Shelbie Vanpielt and Jacy Grimes will return on a talented Lady Eagles team. Second-year head coach Ike Mustain will look for another great season from a young squad.



Player to watch

» Teryn Gillett

Barnsdall, 6-1, Sr., C

Averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Her size and frame have her set for what could be a big senior season on a team that finished 16-10 last year.

CLASS B



Defending state champion

Varnum (31-2) lost two games all season by a combined three points in a remarkable season. To repeat, Varnum will have to fill the void of graduated seniors Kelsi Vass ( 21.4 points, 11 assists per game) and Kodi Morrison.



Top area contender

Boynton-Moton (21-8) has plenty of firepower from a pair of high-scoring junior guards, Sherri Lang (21 ppg) and Breanna Hutchinson (21 ppg). Boynton-Moton will have a veteran squad with three seniors in the starting lineup.



Player to watch

» Cheyanne Hall

Bluejacket, 5-7, Sr., G

Lit up opponents for 14.2 ppg last season, and Bluejacket will need her to continue to be an effective scorer in her senior season. She'll get help from teammate Lauren Ayres, a 6-1 post player.
By MATT BAKER World Sports Writers

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caser105, Jay (11/5/2009 11:11:49 AM)
"Forward Kortni Kendrick led the Comets with 14.1 ppg last season, and Kelsey Barnwell (13.6 ppg) was also a key scorer"

Its interesting that niether of these girls is included in the players to watch category. Its obvious that you were just trying to include as many teams as possible into this article so you can sell more papers.

Good research Matt Baker.
 

 
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