Sterling boys, Cyril teams set for State tests

There are no more exciting times for area basketball fans than when their local school qualifies for the Oklahoma State Basketball Championships. That’s when school shuts down and everyone heads to the “Big House” at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

And this year is even more special with the “Big House” hosting its 60th season of prep basketball playoffs and its last year before the new area opens. It’s actually named the Jim Norick Arena but for hoops fans it’s just the “Big House” and there are already three area towns headed that way this week for a celebration that everyone wants to leave with that prized gold ball.

The fun starts bright and early Tuesday morning with eight Class A boys and girls games. Three of those games will feature area teams with Sterling and Cyril boys playing the morning session and the Cyril girls competing in the night session.

Cyril’s teams have been making trips often in the past decade and Coach Shane McLemore has made these trips often with one and several times with both his clubs. The Cyril boys tangle with Caddo at 1:30 p.m. and the Cyril girls battle Quinton in the last game of the long day at 9 p.m.

For Sterling fans, though, it’s been some time since the Tigers made State, that coming in 2013 and it’s been crazy around town since they won their Area Tournament title game Friday. The Tigers have drawn No. 3-ranked Rattan, the team that Cyril boys knocked into the consolation bracket Friday in a 64-60 surprise to some state prep media members.

Sterling fans will be hitting the HE Bailey Turnpike early for the 10:30 a.m. tipoff to watch their 22-4 Tigers battle.

“There’s been a great deal of excitement because none of these kids were very old when they last reached State in 2013,” Head Coach Jayson Wilson said. “It’s a big deal and for these players they have to put a lot of things out of their minds and just go play. Marty (High School Principal Curry) got to play in the Big House when he was playing here and he and I have talked to the kids about it.

“Marty is excited to be able to have our team up there in the last season the Big House is going to be the site of the State Tournaments. We expect most everyone in town will be there.”

With the ticket to State, there is much work to be done and Saturday Wilson went scouting to try and get a look at which team he might have to play.

“I sent another coach to watch Rattan and I went to see Caddo,” he said. “We figured it would be one of those two schools. In those situations you do your best to get a look at teams.”

It makes it even tougher playing on Tuesday as the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association is trying to get all of the games in the Big House this year and with seven different classifications that means starting early in the week.

So, what about Rattan? It lost in the Area II title game to Cyril but owns a 26-4 record including wins over 4A, 3A and 2A clubs.

“Rattan is very similar to us when it comes to size,” Wilson said. “They like to get the ball to their guards or post and back you down and try to get to the rim. They will press some and they are probably going to throw a little half-court press at us. Our kids are good in those situations but that’s what we expect from them.”

The Tigers were able to put the clamps on Oklahoma Christian Academy Friday, taking a 58-51 victory thanks to some solid defense.

“We went in just trying to stress their tendencies and then react,” Wilson said. “We did a good job of handling the ball and kept them from affecting our offense. They have a 6-6 kid who they like to iso down inside and we don’t have anyone that can match that height. But Gavin Mansel did a good job battling him and we sent other guys to double him.

“We tried to bring guys from different directions and that way they didn’t have an idea where the help defense was going to be coming from.”

On offense it was rather simple.

“We tried to be selective with our shooting and take quality shots,” Wilson said. “We also tried to attack the big kid with Riley Lile. Riley is not as big but he was quicker than him and was able to get down there and make some things happen.”

For Wilson, this is a golden opportunity in his first season at the helm after taking over the program after Trent Parrish was named the Sterling Superintendent.

Wilson, though, has been coaching baseball at Sterling and he credits the drive those baseball players have at leading the way on the basketball court.

“This is a little different group of guys but they are special,” he said. “They are a quiet bunch. When we go out to eat on the road they just sit there and eat and don’t say a great deal. They are one of the best group of kids I’ve ever been around.

“It helps that we’ve had success in baseball and they know what it takes. These guys will give it all they got.”

Wilson does have pretty good depth for a Class A club and some size but nothing over 6-3.

“I feel good going 8 or 9 deep, but we haven’t done that as much in the playoffs,” he said. “I can put three 6-3s out there if needed but we mix it up depending on what we are seeing. The thing I feel good about is this bunch understands things even though it’s been baseball where they have experienced success, it’s still good that these guys find a way to make one extra push when they need it.”

Another thing Wilson and Curry talked about was how to handle the little things.

“We tried to brief the kids on some of those things like the wide open shooting background and the officiating,” Wilson said. “We will see officials from all over the State and you have to adjust and be smart.”

Wilson said the job has been fun because of the help he’s received.

“Coach Parrish, Marty Curry and Kelley New have all been great to help with this program,” Wilson said. “Kelly is a good friend of mine and has helped coach at practice and some games. He has a son on the team and I have two boys on the team and all these kids are great friends and those three men have all coached and have been great to work with.”

Chatty girls play Wednesday

While the Class A teams take the floor today, Chattanooga girls will take the court at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Class B quarterfinal at the Fairgrounds against Lookeba-Sickles, the No. 2 seed behind Hammon.

Chattanooga had to go to overtime Saturday to final subdue feisty Geronimo, 53-43. The Warriors held Geronimo scoreless in the overtime and were able to get some shots to drop, something they were unable to do in a 44-17 loss to powerful Hammon in the Area II title game.

Busy week

In addition to the State Tournament games in 2A, A and B, Class 5A girls will take to the courts tonight across the state for Area Tournament games and Class 5A boys with Lawton High, MacArthur and Elgin playing Thursday in Area Tournament contests. LHS meets Carl Albert at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bridge Creek, while Mac plays the 7:30 p.m. contest at Bridge Creek.

Elgin will be fighting for a consolation victory Thursday against John Marshall at 7:30 p.m. at Piedmont High School.