SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 boys basketball rankings: No. 1 Del City, No. 2 Tulsa Memorial on a potential collison course for Class 5A championship
By Buck Ringgold I Photo by Josh Cleary
Should the top two teams in the SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 boys basketball rankings each win two state tournament games, an anticipated showdown takes place.
It would also be a rematch of a game in which the No. 1 team handed the No. 2 team its only loss.
However, as has been proven time and time again, and especially again last week, rankings mean nothing. In fact, one of last week's small-school state champions entered the playoffs unranked before becoming the first boys team in the history of Oklahoma basketball to win state as an unranked squad.
With the final state tournaments of the season taking place this week, here now are this week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings. Games are through Tuesday.
1. Del City (22-3)
The Eagles picked up their 19th straight win last Friday with a 44-38 win against rival Midwest City in the 5A area round. Del City, which won it all as a 6A member last season, now tries to win it all this week in 5A.
2. Tulsa Memorial (24-1)
Memorial has won 11 straight games since falling to Del City in December in the finals of the Tournament of Champions in Tulsa. The Chargers literally charged into the 5A state tourney after downing McAlester in the regional finals, 121-80; then defeating Tulsa Edison, 84-73, in the area round.
3. Kingfisher (26-1)
The Yellowjackets were thought to be in a rebuilding mode after losing a plethora of starters from last season's 4A title team. But they've totally reloaded and are back for a chance to repeat. Kingfisher now has won 12 straight games following a 60-35 win against Weatherford in the area title game and a 41-28 win Tuesday in the 4A quarterfinals against Blanchard.
4. Tulsa Booker T. Washington (23-2)
Since dropping their regular-season finale to Owasso, the Hornets have turned things around in the playoffs. Last week, they picked up a regional championship with a 77-65 win against Edmond Santa Fe; then in the 5A area round, they cooled off a hot Broken Arrow squad, 70-60.
5. Dale (26-2)
A relatively young Pirates team heads into the 2A state tournament as the top seed. Dale advanced to state after a 57-41 win against Latta in Friday's area final.
6. Oklahoma City Southeast (21-2)
While Del City and Tulsa Memorial have garnered plenty of attention in 5A hoops this season, the Spartans can also have a big say in who wins the gold ball this weekend. Southeast comes into the 5A tournament on a 12-game winning streak. After surviving Ardmore, 63-61, in the regional finals, the Spartans defeated Midwest City Carl Albert, 54-48, in the area round to punch their ticket to state.
7. Edmond Memorial (22-4)
The Bulldogs claimed a regional title last Wednesday with a 47-34 win against Choctaw. Two nights later, they got a berth in the 6A state tourney with a 50-31 area round win against Norman North.
8. Edmond North (21-5)
Another Edmond team is headed to the 6A state tournament, as the Huskies outlasted Moore, 45-38, in the area round. North is aiming to be well represented in Saturday's title games in Norman, with its girls team also a contender for the championship.
9. Midwest City (19-8)
The Bombers fell to No. 1 ranked Del City, 44-38, in the opening round of the 5A area round Friday. But a day later, they needed overtime to get past Ardmore, 60-53, and keep their season alive with a trip to the 5A tournament.
10. Victory Christian (24-4)
After losing to Holland Hall in the regional title game, the Conquerors had to win three straight do-or-die games in the 4A area consolation round. They did just that, including a 53-43 overtime win against Hilldale and a 63-37 win against Stilwell on Saturday for the area consolation title. Victory then opened the 4A state tournament Tuesday with a 60-53 quarterfinal win against Mount St. Mary.
11. Putnam City West (20-5)
The Patriots put themselves in position to compete for a 6A championship on Friday, as they took care of Muskogee, 70-53, in the 6A area round to advance to state. In a wide-open 6A field, the Patriots are more than capable of hoisting the gold.
12. Midwest City Carl Albert (20-7)
Though the Titans lost to Southeast, 54-48, in the opening round of the 5A area tournament, they bounced back the next night with a 51-27 win against Lawton MacArthur. Carl Albert now goes for a repeat run at the 5A championship.
13. Jenks (21-6)
The Trojans were shocked on their home floor by Muskogee for the regional title. But since then, they responded with two stellar showings at the 6A area round, scoring 100 points against Tahlequah in a 100-47 win; then handled a rising Broken Arrow squad, 65-48, to qualify for state.
14. Collinsville (20-3)
Collinsville's football team won a state title in December, and the basketball team is vying to do the same in March. The Cardinals won their first area championship since 1976 with a 61-46 win against Bishop McGuinness in the 5A area round. Collinsville now needs to win three straight at the 5A tourney to join its football counterparts in claiming gold.
15. Pocola (26-1)
The Indians ran their current winning streak to 22 straight after upending defending 2A champion Oklahoma Union, 53-32, in the area title game on Friday. Pocola now wants to extend that streak for three more games as the 2A state tournament starts on Thursday.
16. Oklahoma Christian School (22-5)
OCS has been on a roll in the postseason, winning all four games in decisive fashion. The latest win was in last Friday's 3A area final against Roland, 66-33. Now, the Saints seek to continue that momentum as the 3A tournament began on Wednesday.
17. Oklahoma City Millwood (19-6)
The Falcons come into the 3A state tournament riding a five-game winning streak, including a 64-52 win against Westville in the area final. Millwood now goes into Wednesday's opening round of the 3A tournament ready to contend for a title.
18. Broken Arrow (18-7)
Broken Arrow had come into the 6A area round having won six straight games. But the Tigers dropped two straight games, to Booker T. Washington and to Jenks, as their season comes to an end.
19. Oklahoma Union (24-4)
Though the defending 2A champions were defeated by Pocola in the area title game Friday, the Cougars came back the next night and qualified for a repeat run at the 2A title with a 56-53 win against Preston for the area consolation championship.
20. Cashion (22-5)
The Wildcats are attempting to do what their football team did in the fall - win a state title. Cashion enters the 2A state tournament as hot as anyone right now, winning 10 straight games, including a win against 2A No. 1 Dale. The Wildcats earned a trip to state with a 49-44 area title game win against Hooker.
21. Marlow (21-3)
Another school that's looking to pull off the double gold ball in both football and basketball. The Outlaw basketball squad has won six straight games to qualify for the 3A state tourney, having done so with a 41-33 win against Bethel last Friday for the area title.
22. Moore (19-7)
Moore is headed to the 6A state tournament. A night after falling to Edmond North in the area round, the Lions got past Choctaw, 68-61, to extend their season to at least Thursday when the 6A tourney opens.
23. Glencoe (30-2)
The Panthers finished their season with 10 straight wins to capture the Class B championship. In last Saturday's Class B title game, they defeated top-ranked Roff, 46-45, on a pair of late free throws.
24. Tushka (24-8)
Though the Tigers were unranked at the start of the postseason, they capped a stirring run with a Class A championship, beating five Top 10 ranked teams in the last two weeks. That included a semifinal win against top-ranked Hydro-Eakly and a 48-43 win against No. 2 Garber for the gold ball. So by virtue of winning it all, Tushka will end the season being ranked in this poll.
25. Crossings Christian (20-7)
The Knights are capable as anyone of taking home the gold ball in 4A. They have won four straight elimination games since a regional loss to Perkins-Tryon. Crossings avenged that loss by winning in the area consolation final, 47-42; then the Knights outlasted Holland Hall in overtime, 45-40, in Tuesday's 4A quarterfinal.
