2021 Class 5A State Tournament Preview

No. 2 Tulsa Memorial Head coach Bobby Allison 18-3 (8-1) Last title: 2019 History would never tell you to put money against the Memorial Chargers. Even after squeezing out three-deep recruiting classes in back-to-back seasons, Allison always finds a way to reload and prepare a new team for the highest stage. This year, he may not have a Boone twin in the paint, but he does have Bradyn Hubbard Bradyn Hubbard 6'6" Tulsa Memorial | 2022 OK , whom has impressed so far in his junior season. Tyreece Frierson Tyreece Frierson 5'10" | PG Tulsa Memorial | 2022 State OK , a lightning-quick scoring guard, leads the floor for the Chargers, and anytime he finds sophomore wing Seth Pratt Seth Pratt 6'2" | SG Tulsa Memorial | 2023 State OK , you have a better chance of giving up 3 than not. No. 18 Ardmore Head coach Kyle Jessie 11-8 (5-3) Last title: 1994 Ardmore is far from a cinderella team. After being a year-in, year-out fringe tournament team, Ardmore won games against Glenpool and El Reno to earn its way to the quarterfinal game. DeDe Coleman, a fiery sharpshooter out of the handle and crafty slasher, Coleman can make a name for himself this weekend for the Tigers, but he will not be able to go all the way on his own; however with the help of Chadre McGee to knock down shots, this team becomes even more dangerous down the stretch. No. 1 Carl Albert Head coach Jay Price 20-4 (10-0) Last title: 2016 Nobody in 5A was able to check Carl Albert during the regular season, so it doesn’t seem an extrapolation to paint Price and the Titans as the favorites headed into the weekend. James Locke James Locke 6'3" | SG Carl Albert | 2021 State OK , who has taken the personas of MVP Jimmy and 1,000-point Jimmy this season, is no easy player to stop, but this team is so deep that they may even be contenders without him; Antonio Watkins, Curtis Rose Curtis Rose 5'11" | SG Carl Albert | 2021 State OK , Maurice Cudjo Maurice Cudjo 6'0" | SG Carl Albert | 2021 State OK and Quentin Woodson can all get a bucket, and Jaden Harrell Jaden Harrell 5'10" | PG Carl Albert | 2021 State OK is good to get the ball to whoever has hot hands. No. 7 Tulsa Rogers Head coach David Winton 15-6 (6-5) Last title: 1988 One of the less talked about contenders, Rogers belongs in this tournament alongside the best in the state. Marcal Johnson Marcal Johnson 5'11" | PG Tulsa Rogers | 2021 State OK is not only a fabulous point guard who can get his own bucket, but has been an excellent leader for the Ropers. The two to his one-two punch is Marquel Sutton, an exceptionally athletic post who can play in the pick-and-roll, defend with high efficiency, and get a bucket with his back to the basket. No. 6 Sapulpa Head coach Rickey Bruner 11-10 (6-1) Last title: Never Anytime you have Jackson Skipper Jackson Skipper 6'7" | PF Sapulpa | 2022 MO on your side, you have a pretty good chance for success. The 6-foot-7-inch senior point-forward has chiseled and crafted his game over the years to prepare him to be the whole package in this role. He handles the ball as well as anybody at his position, can create his own shot and can slice through traffic and flush on defenders. Paired with Tezohn Taft Tezohn Taft 5'11" | PG Sapulpa | 2021 State OK , a crew of talents and the mind of Bruner, Skipper and the Chieftains could play spoiler this weekend. No. 8 Coweta Head coach Brandon Maddux 14-6 (9-3) Last title: Never After dropping two of its first three games of the year, Coweta tightened up to win seven-straight before a playoff run that led the Tigers to a tournament berth. Senior forward Jacob Mills Jacob Mills 6'6" | C Coweta | 2021 State OK headlines the Tigers’ attack, while sophomore guard Na’Kylan Starks runs the point for the Tigers. Coweta looks for its first state title this weekend, and if the Tigers can play like they did in wins against Claremore, Pryor, Glenpool and Southeast, they have a shot to play spoiler. No. 5 Shawnee Head coach Paxton Kilby 16-6 (12-3) Last title: 1951 Any time you have Jaylon Orange Jaylon Orange 5'10" | PG Shawnee | 2022 State OK and Kayden Shaw on the floor at the same time, you boost your chances for success. Their one-two punch to land lobs has been effective all season, but Shawnee’s offensive attack is much deeper than that. Aside from Orange’s slashing abilities, you are perpetually in danger of giving up three with junior guard Tanner Morris Tanner Morris 6'2" | SG Shawnee | 2022 State OK on the court, and UCO football-commit Joe Maytubby can get his own bucket with his back to the rim, as well. No. 3 Lawton MacArthur Head coach Marco Gagliardi 21-2 (14-1) Last title: Never You don’t need history to be a legitimate contender. McDonald’s All-America nominee Danquez Dawsey Danquez Dawsey 6'2" | CG Lawton Mac | 2021 State OK knows that, and it has driven the senior point guard to great heights this season. A 21-2 record with losses only to top-two teams in respective classes, a split record with Tulsa Memorial and an outstanding campaign, Dawsey has led the Highlanders to more than a season worth remembering in the 580, but is now three wins away from bringing his piece of the net back to Lawton. Brandon Cowan, Marty Perry Marty Perry 6'3" | CG Lawton | 2021 State OK and Arzhonte Dallas Arzhonte Dallas 6'0" | PG Lawton MacArthur | 2022 State OK headline his supporting cast, and this most notable thing about this team is it can run -- maybe even faster than Carl Albert. Quarterfinals (masks are required by OSSAA for attendance): Carl Albert vs. Tulsa Rogers // Thursday, March 11 at 2 p.m at Owasso H.S. Tulsa Memorial vs. Ardmore // Thursday, March 11 at 4 p.m at Owasso H.S. Sapulpa vs. Coweta // Thursday, March 11 at 6 p.m at Owasso H.S. Lawton MacArthur vs. Shawnee // Thursday, March 11 at 8 p.m at Owasso H.S. Semifinals Carl Albert/Tulsa Rogers vs. Tulsa Memorial/Ardmore // Friday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at Owasso H.S. Sapulpa/Coweta vs. Lawton MacArthur/Shawnee // Friday, March 12 at 4 p.m. at Owasso H.S. Championship: Finalist vs. Finalist // Saturday, March 13 at 2 p.m. at Mabee Center, Tulsa, Okla.