Dale’s defending state champion boys and girls teams moved to within a game of returning to the state tournament by dominating their regional tournaments last week.
Chandler and North Rock Creek won their districts and moved into the winners’ brackets of the regional tournament.
Wellston’s girls fell in the finals of the regional tournament, but advanced to area in Class A, and Prague moved into the regional tournament as well.
At stake for all those teams is a trip to the final fling at the Big House, aka the Jim Norick Arena, the ancestral home of the state basketball tournaments.
The building will be razed soon and next year’s state tournaments will be played in a new building that’s under construction.
Dale’s senior boys are shooting for a four-peat, having won gold balls the last three seasons.The girls are in pursuit of their eighth championship.
Chandler’s boys, 21-3 and ranked no. 8 in Class 3A,poundedBeggs,85-43, in their district match. The girls beat Beggs, 66-34, to earn their district championship.
NRC’s girls won the first district championship in the school’s brief history, and now stand at 18-4 and are ranked No. 10.
The boys are 20-2 and ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. Above, Chandler’s Jaydan Denson (2) puts pressure on Jaxon Remington (1) from Beggs during district play last week. Photo/Brian Blansett Right, Jacob Beck (1) from Stroud blocks a shot against Stratford. Photo/BethYoung Below, the OU men’s basketball attended the regional tournament in Dale, where the school retired the number of Pirate alum and current OU player Dayton Fosythe. Photo/Rick Hester This week’s games: Class 4A Girls
McLoud vs. Purcell, 6 p.m. Thursday at McLoud North Rock Creek vs. Holland Hall 6 p.m. Thursday at NRC Boys
McLoud vs. Purcell, 2:30 p.m. Thursday at McLoud North Rock Creek vs. Holland Hall, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at NRC Class 3A Girls
Chandler vs. Bethel, 6 p.m. Thursday at Bethel
Prague vs. Little Axe, 1 p.m. Thursday at Jones Boys
Chandler vs. Bethel, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Bethel. Prague vs. Little Axe, 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Jones.
Class 2A Girls
Dale vs. Howe, 6 p.m. Thursday at McAlester Boys
Dale vs. Rejoice Christian, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McAlester.
Class A Girls
Wellston vs. Crowder, 1 p.m. Thursday at Noble.