Three Lawton teams, Elgin playoff bound

While Lawton High School missed a golden opportunity to clinch a playoff berth Friday against Altus, the Wolverines are still in pretty good shape to make the 5A playoffs this season.

This is the time of the year that sometimes setting the field for the OSSAA playoffs takes a good deal of checking wins, losses, head-to-head games and even the point differential in district games. So without wasting any more time, here’s our best effort to see just how the Lawton-area teams are going to fare after Friday’s final games:

District 6AII-1

Six teams will make the playoffs and Eisenhower will be one of those and the Eagles can climb to fifth with a win over cellar-dwellar U.S. Grant Friday and a win by Stillwater over Southmoore.

Ike has a head-to-head win over Southmoore and if those two tie at 3-4, the Eagles would get the edge for fifth which is always better than playing a district champion from the east side of the state.

District 5A-1

Newcastle has clinched the title and MacArthur hosts Bishop McGuinness Friday with the winner earning second.

Things would get jumbled if the Irish pull off an upset and if that happens Midwest City is still in the mix if it can take care of Duncan this week. The way we see it, Mac could lose by five or less and take second in a scenario with MWC winning its game against the Demons.

You can expect the Highlanders will play their best and take care of their own best opportunity with a win which will earn them a home playoff berth.

District 5A-2

At first glance early Saturday morning, it seemed as if the Wolverines had really put themselves in a jam but after clearing my mind with a cold Dr. Pepper, we see LHS in the playoffs regardless of what happens this week.

The only thing that could smash this scenario would be if the top teams in this district, Carl Albert and Guthrie, would stumble again and while that doesn’t seem probable, you still can’t count wins until they happen.

The route to the playoffs for LHS, even with a loss to Guthrie, would be for CA to beat Altus. Noble could tie LHS if it beats Western Heights but the Wolverines have a head-to-head win over Noble and that could leave LHS third and Noble fourth.

District 4A-1

We love these simple ones where Elgin has clinched the title, Weatherford is second and Clinton is third.

Elk City (3-3) can claim fourth with a win over 1-5 Woodward. Cache, which hosts Elgin Friday in the Battle of the Wichitas has been eliminated.

District 3A-1

Another one that seems pretty tame with Heritage Hall winning the title, Plainview taking second and Kingfisher claiming third.

Fourth is the question mark with Pauls Valley (3-3) having the edge due to it playing 1-5 Purcell this week. The Panthers could end up in a tie for fourth if North Rock Creek beats Anadarko but they own a head-to-head win over NRC.

District 2A-2

Finally we have one of those where plenty could happen as Washington (6-0) faces Lindsay (5-1) in a huge game this week.

There will be a lot of scoreboard watchers at Marlow where the 5-1 Outlaws will be very interested in that outcome at Lindsay where an upset by the Leopards and a Marlow win over (1-5) Little Axe could bring about a three-way tie for the title. If that would happen, it would go to the point differential system where Washington owns a 76-74 edge over Marlow but expect those numbers to change if Lindsay pulls off the upset.

While Washington appears to be a dominant team in 2A, you can never be assured of anything in doing these scenarios.

District 2A-6

The only area team in that district, Comanche, has been eliminated from the playoff picture.

District A-2

Christian Heritage, Walters and Wynnewood are all 5-1 and will advance to the playoffs along with Minco (4-2), however, the order of finish won’t be known until Friday with the key game being Wynnewood’s visit to Walters.

The area’s other team, Frederick, has been eliminated from the playoffs.

District AII-5

This race turned abruptly last week when Thomas upset Mangum, 47-46, in a wild one, leaving both teams at 5-1 and into the playoffs.

After that comes another logjam with Texhoma, Apache and Mooreland all tied at 4-2. The two big games in that district have Thomas facing Mooreland and Texhoma coming to Apache. Mangum faces 1-5 Carnegie and if the Tigers can win that one they still has a shot at the title depending on the Thomas-Mooreland outcome.

The bottom line, one really strong team is going to be left out of the playoffs.

The other area team in that district, Carnegie, has been eliminated.

District BI-2

With four teams advancing to the playoffs, Hollis (4-0), Empire (3-1) and Waurika (3-1) are all in the picture regardless of what happens this week.

Snyder, at 1-3, can join the playoff party if the Cyclones can handle Central High (0-4) in the regular-season finale.

District BII-6

Here’s another district where 1-3 Cyril can make the playoffs if it beats another 1-3 team in Thackerville Friday at Cyril.

Weleetka (4-0), Alex (3-1) and Wetumka (2-2) will also advance to the playoffs with the Weleetka-Alex winner taking first and the loser either being second or third.

District C-2

What else would you expect, Tipton has completed another perfect 7-0 district record and 10-0 regular season mark and will be going after its third straight state title.

Ryan (5-1) has clinched a playoff berth but there is still something to be decided as Geary (4-2), Corn Bible (3-3) and Mt. View-Gotebo (3-3) are chasing one of the fourth playoff spots in this balanced district.

Geary and Corn Bible will battle this week and Mt. View-Gotebo will face 1-5 Bray-Doyle needing a big win and some help from Geary to aid the Tigers’ cause. Grandfield has been eliminated.