Area Class A, B teams open playoffs this week

It doesn’t take long to find some good matchups for area basketball fans as the Class A and B playoffs begin across Oklahoma Thursday at numerous gyms in Southwest Oklahoma.

Most of the districts in those classes have three teams, however, there are a few in Class B that have four teams and will begin Thursday with two girls semifinals, then the boys show up Friday for two more semifinal games.

On the boys side Fort Cobb-Broxton begins its bid for back-to-back state titles but the Mustangs will be road warriors this year as their journey to state will not include home games for the first time in several years. Their road to state begins with district and regional at Alex and area at Roff. Scott Hines’ boys are ranked No. 3 in Class B behind Calumet and Duke.

The highest ranked area boys team in Class A is Velma-Alma which is ranked No. 14. Kenny Bare’s Comets are on the road for district but will host a regional and then if they advance the road will take them to Madill for area competition.

Girls basketball teams in Southwest Oklahoma dot the rankings in both Class A and B with Cyril holding down the No. 4 ranking in Class A while Mt. View-Gotebo girls are the highest area team in Class B at No. 3.

But there are numerous other contenders with Geronimo girls starting the playoffs at No. 6 in Class B with a 23-1 record with the lone loss coming against Mt. View-Gotebo by a 36-23 score back on Jan. 2. That glossy record earned the Bluejays a district tournament but they will be on the road after their district.

Chattanooga girls are No. 12 entering the Class B playoffs with a 19-5 record and their road includes a home district and then a regional at home as well before having to head up the H.E. Bailey Turnpike to Bridge Creek if the Warriors advance to area.

That Chatty district features four area teams that should know each other well as three of the four schools played in the Comanche County Tournament. With four schools the action begins Thursday with the girls semifinals starting at 6 p.m. with Grandfield meeting Big Pasture followed by the Chatty girls going against Indiahoma. The winners return Saturday at 6 p.m. for the girls finals.

The boys bracket has Indiahoma meeting Big Pasture at 6 p.m. Friday followed by Chatty and Grandfield. The winners play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the district title.

That Chatty regional could get interesting in a hurry with the Mt. View-Gotebo girls and powerful Duke boys owning solid resumes.