PODCAST: Crunch time for wrestling & basketball

2/27/2020 |  Ben Johnson

State tournament wrestling is this weekend, and small school basketball teams will be punching their tickets to the state tournament in area tournament play.
Listen in as we break it all down for you.

Week 4 picks

9/19/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Well, I can't lie, my performance in Week 3 was disgraceful. It's been a rough go of it for myself and Whitt this season. But we're just waiting for district play to kick it into gear.

Week 3 picks - Swisher 11-3 | Coach Turney 10-4 | Whitt 9-5 | Ben 8-6

Overall - Swisher 51-22 | Turney 48-25 | Ben 43-30 | Whitt 42-31

Week 4 picks comin' at ya:

Jenks at Broken Arrow

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 23, Jenks 14

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 24, Jenks 17

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 27, Jenks 17

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 21, Jenks 20

Blanchard at Bethany

Michael Swisher: Blanchard 34, Bethany 25

Ben Johnson: Blanchard 32, Bethany 27

Whitt Carter: Blanchard 34, Bethany 31

Randy Turney: Blanchard 28, Bethany 7

Lawton at Midwest City

Michael Swisher: Midwest City 35, Lawton 30

Ben Johnson: Lawton 21, Midwest City 20

Whitt Carter: Midwest City 27, Lawton 17

Randy Turney: Midwest City 35, Lawton 31

Owasso at Union

Michael Swisher: Owasso 38, Union 30

Ben Johnson: Union 34, Owasso 28

Whitt Carter: Union 42, Owasso, 40

Randy Turney: Union 28, Owasso 24

Thomas at Hooker

Michael Swisher: Hooker 21, Thomas 18

Ben Johnson: Hooker 25, Thomas 24

Whitt Carter: Thomas 21, Hooker 14

Randy Turney: Hooker 20, Thomas 14

Noble at Duncan

Michael Swisher: Duncan 22, Noble 7

Ben Johnson: Duncan 28, Noble 24

Whitt Carter: Duncan 28, Noble 14

Randy Turney: Duncan 24, Noble 13

Wagoner at Catoosa

Michael Swisher: Wagoner 24, Catoosa 22

Ben Johnson: Catoosa 20, Wagoner 17

Whitt Carter: Wagoner 27, Catoosa 24

Randy Turney: Wagoner 34, Catoosa 20

Bixby at Sapulpa

Michael Swisher: Bixby 29, Sapulpa 20

Ben Johnson: Bixby 33, Sapulpa 31

Whitt Carter: Bixby 42, Sapulpa 21

Randy Turney: Bixby 30, Sapulpa 14

Lawton MacArthur at Ardmore

Michael Swisher: Ardmore 31, Lawton MacArthur 22

Ben Johnson: Ardmore 32, Lawton MacArthur 23

Whitt Carter: Ardmore 34, Lawton MacArthur 21

Randy Turney: Ardmore 22, Lawton MacArthur 7

Cashion at Christian Heritage

Michael Swisher: Cashion 33, Christian Heritage 14

Ben Johnson: Cashion 41, Christian Heritage 17

Whitt Carter: Cashion 37, Christian Heritage 27

Randy Turney: Cashion 34, Christian Heritage 14

Guthrie at Piedmont

Michael Swisher: Guthrie 28, Piedmont 21

Ben Johnson: Guthrie 30, Piedmont 20

Whitt Carter: Guthrie 21, Piedmont 13

Randy Turney: Guthrie 31, Piedmont 13

Stigler at Lincoln Christian

Michael Swisher: Lincoln Christian 31, Stigler 24

Ben Johnson: Lincoln Christian 22, Stigler 20

Whitt Carter: Lincoln Christian 38, Stigler 28

Randy Turney: Lincoln Christian 38, Stigler 20

Chandler at Jones

Michael Swisher: Jones 30, Chandler 19

Ben Johnson: Chandler 17, Jones 16

Whitt Carter: Jones 32, Chandler 20

Randy Turney: Jones 42, Chandler 14

Haskell at Sperry

Michael Swisher: Sperry 34, Haskell 10

Ben Johnson: Sperry 27, Haskell 20

Whitt Carter: Sperry 34, Haskell 13

Randy Turney: Sperry 20, Haskell 14

Meeker at Kellyville

Michael Swisher: Kellyville 19, Meeker 14

Ben Johnson: Kellyville 22, Meeker 18

Whitt Carter: Kellyville 21, Meeker 17

Randy Turney: Kellyville 18, Meeker 14

Spiro at Vian

Michael Swisher: Vian 33, Spiro 23

Ben Johnson: Vian 29, Spiro 21

Whitt Carter: Vian 42, Spiro 21

Randy Turney: Vian 31, Spiro 20

Pawnee at Tonkawa

Michael Swisher: Tonkawa 24, Pawnee 18

Ben Johnson: Tonkawa 20, Pawnee 16

Whitt Carter: Tonkawa 37, Pawnee 26

Randy Turney: Tonkawa 28, Pawnee 20

Davenport at Strother

Michael Swisher: Davenport 55, Strother 20

Ben Johnson: Davenport 61, Strother 12

Whitt Carter: Davenport 50, Strother 14

Randy Turney: Davenport 58, Strother 12

Let us know what you think. Tweet your predictions to us at @Skordle.

Week 4: Top 10 games

9/18/2018 |  Ben Johnson

District play has arrived in full force, and there are great games all over the state this week.

Narrowing down the list to the top 10 games wasn't easy, but here it is:

1. 6AI No. 2 Jenks (3-0) at 6AI No. 1 Broken Arrow (3-0): This game was an offensive showcase for both teams last year, despite a relatively low-scoring 26-13 final, which was won by Jenks. Both teams accumulated more than 400 yards on offense, and Noah Cortes rushed for 164 yards on 22 carries. But it was Jenks quarterback Ian Corwin who passed for 365 yards and three scores. And thus Jenks' domination of Broken Arrow throughout the years continued. The Trojans have gone 14-2 against Broken Arrow since the Tigers won back-to-back seasons against Jenks in 2002 and '03.

2. 4A No. 1 Blanchard (3-0) at 4A No. 5 Bethany (3-0): Heck of a way to get things started in 4A-2. Blanchard is 6-3 against Bethany since 2008, but the two club have altered wins in the series since 2013. And it was Blanchard who won last year, 17-0.

3. 6AII No. 6 Lawton at 6AII No. 2 Midwest City (2-1): Expect points aplenty. Between Lawton's Miles Davis and Midwest City's Preston Colbert, there should be plenty of offensive fireworks. Midwest City has won the last two meetings, including a 41-35 victory last season.

4. 6AI No. 3 Owasso (1-2) at 6AI No. 4 Union (1-2): The Rams have scored at will this season with Will Kuehne at quarterback, but Owasso's defense has failed to stop anyone. Owasso is yielding an average of 44 points per game, and that's exactly how much Union scored against the Rams in last year's regular-season showdown. But then Owasso got its revenge with a 21-14 victory in the 6AI title game.

5. A No. 5 Thomas (2-1) at A No. 1 Hooker (3-0): Hooker has punished some out-of-state teams recently with wins over Booker (Texas) and Clayton (New Mexico). But now the Bulldogs return the the Sooner State and get fifth-ranked Thomas in District 1 play. Thomas won last year's game, 20-0, and expect another moderately low-scoring game again this year.

6. 5A No. 10 Noble (2-1) at 5A No. 8 Duncan (3-0): Talk a one-sided matchup throughout history. Since 1999, Duncan is 8-0 against Noble and the closest result along the way a 21-0 win for Duncan in 2006. The rest have been routs, including the last meeting between the two -- a 41-0 pummeling in 2011.

7. 4A No. 2 Wagoner (3-0) at Catoosa (3-0): Copy and paste the Noble-Duncan series information here. Only it's Wagoner owning the series for more than two decades. Since 1996, Wagoner is 10-1 against Catoosa, with the Indians' lone victory in 2011 (45-27). The two clubs have shared District 4A-3 real estate since 2010, and this one will go a long way in determining who finishes atop 4A-3 this year.

8. 6AII No. 3 Bixby (2-1) at 6AII No. 8 Sapulpa (3-0): Eli Williams and Co. have posted some impressive wins over Edison, Claremore and East Central and are off to a 3-0 start -- the best start to a Chieftains' season since going 4-0 to begin the 2013 campaign. The winning streak in 2013 was snapped by Jenks in Week 5 and Bixby followed with a win over the Chieftains. That actually began a current five-game winning streak for the Spartans over Sapulpa, including last year's 48-10 rout.

9. Lawton MacArthur (1-1) at 5A No. 2 Ardmore (3-0): The Tigers may be the higher-ranked team here, but it's been Lawton MacArthur with all the wins in this series dating back to 2005. The Highlanders won last season against Ardmore, 36-7, but the games in 2016 and 2015 were both decided by one point apiece.

10. A No. 2 Cashion (4-0, 1-0 A-3) at Christian Heritage (2-1, 1-0): These two reunite for the first time since 2009. The Wildcats' offense gets its rightful share of attention, but so far it's been the Cashion defense that has been dominant, allowing a total of 18 points through four games. And in an incredibly-deep District A-3, every victory is important.

Honorable mention

5A No. 9 Guthrie at Piedmont: Bluejays are 7-1 since the two started playing each other in 2006.

Stigler at 3A No. 4 Lincoln Christian: District 3A-3 is going to be deep, and someone among Lincoln Christian, Seminole, Stigler, Checotah and Idabel is going to miss the playoffs. Look for plenty of offensive fireworks in this one.

Chandler at 2A No. 4 Jones: Jones is 4-0 against Chandler since 1999, including a 58-6 victory in last year's playoffs.

Haskell at 2A No. 2 Sperry: The last time these two met was 2007 -- a 20-7 win for Sperry.

Meeker at Kellyville: Both clubs are off to surprising 3-0 starts, and they meet for the first time.

Spiro at 2A No. 3 Vian: Wolverines are 4-0 against Spiro since 2006, including a 32-14 win in the last meeting in 2013.

Pawnee at Tonkawa: Playoffs spots in District A-5 look like they will be difficult to come by with the likes of Barnsdall, Morrison, Pawhuska, Tonkawa and Pawnee off to solid starts. Since 2008, Tonkawa has won seven of eight meetings against the Black Bears.

B No. 2 Davenport at Strother: The Bulldogs have mercy-ruled Strother the past two seasons, but Strother is coming off solid wins of its own against Bowlegs and Sasakwa. One problem for Strother: Davenport posted 80 points last week!

So who wins all the matchups? Check back for our weekly picks on Thursday.

LEEDEY'S BROADBENT TO TAKE OVER RED OAK GIRLS PROGRAM

5/10/2023 |  Michael Swisher

Luke Broadbent will be in the same type of situation.

He’s just moving to the other side of the state to do it.

Broadbent on Monday was approved as the new girls basketball coach at Red Oak.

The Cashion native has spent the last five years coaching the Leedey girls program.

His teams were 90-55 in that stretch went to the Class B state quarterfinals three of the last four years.

Broadbent, who has family roots in the western Oklahoma community, didn’t come by the decision to leave easily.

“I love Leedey. I love this community and, especially, I love my kids here,” he said.

“They are such incredible kids. We have been blessed with a lot of success during my time here.”

Yet, Broadbent, his wife and newborn baby will be packing up and moving 300 miles to the southeast.

“I will always have fond memories of being here,” Broadbent said of Leedey. “But Red Oak offered me something that I just could not turn down.”

The schools are reflective of one another.

Both are in rural settings.

Both have strong softball traditions (Leedey has eight slow pitch titles; Red Oak has seven slow pitch, including 2023, and eight fastpitch crowns).

Both have realized their share of success in girls basketball as well.

Leedey has made 22 total trips to state with one title.

Red Oak has been 10 times, eight of those trips since 2011.

The Lady Eagles have been in the state finals three times during that stretch, but haven’t reached Oklahoma’s elite eight since 2019.

The 2023 squad was 22-5 under Casey Butcher and reached the Class A area finals before dropping consecutive games to Riverside and Quinton. Butcher will remain the Lady Eagles' softball coach.

Red Oak will offer the same type of circumstances for Broadbent, just in a different setting. While Broadbent admits the move is a “a big one,” he also says the opportunity for success awaits.

“I think Red Oak is one of - if not THE - staples of small schools east of I-35,” he said. “ It’s got great administration, great kids and great coaches and tremendous tradition.”

SKORDLE'S FINAL 6A SOCCER RANKINGS

4/27/2023 |  Korry Rogers

It's postseason time in Oklahoma high school soccer and this year’s playoffs in 6A boys and girls are shaping up to be elite competition.

Here is a look at our final rankings of the season, the playoff brackets and our picks for the "final four" in each bracket:

 

6A Girls Final Rankings 

 

1. Norman North (14-0) (7-0) W14              
2. Edmond North (10-2) (6-1) W4      
3. Deer Creek (10-4) (7-0) W7            
4. Union (13-1) (6-1) W3        
5. Jenks (9-2) (6-1) W2
6. Owasso (12-2) (6-1) W5                              
7. Bixby (9-5) (6-1) W5
8. Edmond Memorial (10-3) (6-1) L1
9. Yukon (9-3-1) (5-2) W3
10. Westmoore (8-5) (6-1) W6         

 

11. Mustang (10-4) (5-2) W1
12. Broken Arrow (7-4) (5-2) W1
13. Norman (10-5) (4-3) L2
14. Booker T. Washington (7-5) (5-2) L1
15. Edmond Santa Fe (6-8) (4-3) W3
16. Enid (9-5) (4-3) L2

 

Playoff Brackets  - 6A Girls

 

#4 Deer Creek vs. #15 Edmond Santa Fe

                                                                          

#10 Westmoore vs. #9 Yukon

 

#7 Bixby vs. #16 Enid

                                                                          

#5 Jenks vs. #12 Broken Arrow

 

***

 

#2 Edmond North vs. #14 Booker T. Washington

                                                                          

#6 Owasso vs. #3 Union

 

#1 Norman North vs. #13 Norman 

                                                                           

#8 Ed. Memorial vs. #11 Mustang 

 

 

6A Girls Final Four Prediction:  

Deer Creek vs. Jenks / Edmond North vs. Norman North

 

 

6A Boys Final Rankings 

 

1. Broken Arrow (13-2) (7-0) W7                        
2. Norman North (10-4) (7-0) W6                       
3. Westmoore (10-2) (6-1) W6
4. Jenks (9-2) (6-1) W1                                     
5. Deer Creek (10-3) (6-1) L1                             
6. Owasso (9-4) (6-1) W6
7. Edmond Memorial (12-2) (5-2) W4
8. Edmond North (9-5) (6-1) W2
9. Mustang (11-3) (5-2) L2
10. Putnam City West (12-2) (6-1) W3

 

11. Stillwater (11-3) (6-1) W3
12. Bartlesville (6-4) (5-2) W1
13. Tulsa Union (7-4) (4-3) W3
14. Northwest Classen (11-4) (4-3) L1
15. Bixby (6-6) (3-4) W2
16. Capitol Hill (7-4) (4-3) W2

 

Playoff Brackets  - 6A Boys

 

#4 Deer Creek vs. #16 Capitol Hill

                                                                          

#3 Westmoore vs. #7 Edmond Memorial

 

#1 Broken Arrow vs. #13 Union

                                                                           

#8 Edmond North vs. #12 Bartlesville

 

**

 

#4 Jenks vs. #15 Bixby

                                                                           

#6 Owasso vs. #11 Stillwater

 

#2 Norman North vs. #14 Northwest Classen

                                                                           

#10 Putnam City West vs. #9 Mustang

 

 

6A Boys Final Four Prediction:  Edmond Memorial vs. Broken Arrow / Jenks vs. Norman North

LITTLEJOHN LANDS BIXBY GIRLS JOB

4/24/2023 |  Michael Swisher

The door was opened.

Rylie Littlejohn knew she had to walk through.

Littlejohn on Monday accepted the girls head coaching position at Bixby High School.

She’ll succeed Tina Thomas, who stepped away after eight successful seasons, including a pair of state runner-up finishes.

Littlejohn makes the Bixby move after three seasons at the helm of the Preston Lady Pirate program, one that got back to the state tournament this year for the first time since 2017.

“That was the hardest part,” said Littlejohn, who broke the news to her Preston team on Monday afternoon.

“If there was a reason I didn’t want to do this, it was them. Although I graduated a big core of the team, I still had three coming back that have been with me since they were freshmen.

“Leaving their senior year was not easy.”

But, she said, when the Bixby job opened up, she couldn’t help but be interested.

For starters, Littlejohn and her husband Chase, the Preston boys’ coach, live in Bixby.

“It’s five minutes from my house,” she said.

When the Littlejohns have had their opportunities, they’ve taken in some Bixby basketball games.

“When I’ve watched the program, I’ve thought, ‘I want to be a part of that,’” Littlejohn said. “Now, did I think it would happen this soon? No.

“But I feel God opened this door and if he opened it, I need to walk through it.”

The former Rylie Torrey, Littlejohn helped lead Locust Grove to a state championship as a player in 2015.

Her collegiate career landed her at Oral Roberts where she picked up both a bachelor’s and master’s degree prior to accepting the Preston job before the 2020-21 season.

Her first team won 14 games. Then 21 the next year.

The 2022-23 squad went 24-6 and made it to the 2A state tournament before being knocked out by Pawhuska.

While Bixby also graduated a large core of its talent, Littlejohn knows she doesn’t have to rebuild.

“It’s a good foundation and they know what winning looks like,” Littlejohn said. “They did graduate a big class with a lot of college talent, but hopefully there are more college-level players coming up.”

A school the size of Bixby, she said, certainly offers the opportunity.

“There’s so much to choose from and you can practically build the program the way you want,” she said.

She’ll begin that process later this spring during Bixby’s rounds of tryouts.

In the meantime, Littlejohn said she’s glad to be past the toughest part of the entire process.

“Talking to my Preston team today was brutal,” she said. “But I know this was the best career move as far as what’s best for me and my family.”

SKORDLE'S UPDATED 6A SOCCER RANKINGS

4/20/2023 |  Korry Rogers

And down the stretch they come.

District championships and playoff spots are on the line as the Oklahoma high school soccer regular season winds down the next two weeks before the playoffs launch in May.

Here are where the Skordle folks see the rankings for Class 6A for games played through April 14:

 

6A Girls

 

1. Norman North (12-0) (5-0) W12
2. Edmond North (8-2) (4-1) W2
3. Tulsa Union (11-1) (4-1) W1
4. Mustang (10-2) (5-0) W8
5. Deer Creek (8-4) (5-0) W5
6. Jenks (7-2) (4-1) L1
7. Edmond Memorial (8-2) (4-0) W7
8. Owasso (9-2) (3-1) W2
9. Norman (10-3) (4-1) W2
10. Bixby (7-5) (4-1) W3

 

Teams still in play-off contention:

 

• Yukon (7-3-1) (3-2)
• Westmoore (7-5) (5-1)
• Edmond Santa Fe (5-8) (3-3)
• Moore (8-5) (3-3)
• Enid (9-3) (4-1)
• Sand Springs (8-3) (3-2)
• Booker T Washington (6-4) (4-1)
• Broken Arrow (5-3) (3-1)

 

--

 

6A Boys

 

1. Mustang (11-1) (5-0) W7
2. Jenks (8-1) (5-0) W8
3. Deer Creek (9-2) (5-0) W5
4. Broken Arrow (11-2) (5-0) W5
5. Norman North (8-4) (5-0) W4
6. Westmoore (9-2) (5-1) W5
7. Edmond Memorial (11-2) (4-2) W3
8. Owasso (7-4) (4-1) W4
9. Edmond North (7-5) (4-1) L1
10. PC West (10-2) (4-1) W1

 

In the Playoff Hunt still:

 

• NW Classen (10-3) (3-2)
• Norman (5-6) (3-2)
• Capitol Hill (6-3) (3-3)
• Stillwater (9-3) (4-1)
• Enid (8-5) (3-2)
• Union (5-4) (2-3)
• Bartlesville (5-3) (4-1)
• Ponca City (8-4) (2-2)
• Booker T Washington (4-5) (2-3)

SKORDLE'S UPDATED 6A SOCCER RANKINGS

3/29/2023 |  Korry Rogers

(Ed. note: These rankings have been compiled by a committee consisting of several people associated with soccer in the state. We have dubbed them the Skordle Futbol Committee.) 

With district games starting across Oklahoma high school soccer, here's how we ranked the 6A teams this week as they begin their push for playoff seeding. 

6A Girls

1) Norman North (6-0)
2) Edmond North (5-1)
3) Union (7-0)
4) Jenks (3-1)
5) Owasso (3-1)
6) Mustang (6-2)
7) Broken Arrow (2-1)
8) Deer Creek (3-4)
9) Yukon (4-2-1)
10) Edmond Memorial (2-2)

6A Boys
1) Mustang (7-1)
2) Edmond Memorial (7-0)
3) Broken Arrow (6-2)
4) Deer Creek (4-2)
5) Jenks (3-1)
6) Union (3-1)
7) Norman North (4-2)
8) Westmoore (4-1)
9) Edmond North (4-2)
10) Bixby (3-2)

Skordle's Preseason Large School Soccer Rankings

3/2/2023 |  Michael Swisher

(Ed. note: Although his daughter is currently playing in three leagues and he is listed as the author, Michael Swisher is not smart enough to compile these rankings. They will be compiled each week by a committee consisting of several people associated with soccer in the state. We have dubbed them the Skordle Futbol Committee.) 

6A Girls

1. Deer Creek
2. Edmond North
3. Broken Arrow
4. Norman North
5. Jenks
6. Union
7. Edmond Memorial
8. Bixby
9. Yukon
10. Owasso

 

6A Boys

1. Norman North
2. Jenks
3. Deer Creek
4. Broken Arrow
5. Mustang
6. Union
7. Edmond North
8. Bixby
9. NW Classen
10. Edmond Memorial

 

5A Girls

1. Bishop McGuinness
2. Piedmont
3. Bishop Kelley
4. Collinsville
5. Noble
6. McAlester
7. Lawton MacArthur
8. El Reno
9. Sapulpa
10. Claremore

5A Boys

1. Santa Fe South
2. Bishop Kelley
3. Southeast
4. Tulsa East Central
5. Lawton Eisenhower
6. Tulsa Will Rogers
7. Tulsa Memorial
8. Tulsa Edison
9. Piedmont
10. Bishop McGuinness

 

--

 

WEEK 1 – MATCHES OF THE WEEK

 

Friday March 3, 2023

 

GIRLS

 

Deer Creek (6A #1) vs. Norman North (6A #4) – State Championship Rematch

 

Bishop Kelley (5A #3) vs. Yukon (6A #9)

 

Union (6A #6) vs. Owasso (6A #10)

 

Edmond Sante Fe vs. Edmond Memorial (6A #7)

 

 

BOYS

 

Broken Arrow (6A #4) vs. Mustang (6A #5)

 

Oklahoma Christian School (3A) vs. Heritage Hall (3A)

 

Jenks (6A #2) vs. Mustang (6A #5)

 

Edmond Santa Fe vs. Edmond Memorial (6A #10)

Deer Creek (6A #3) vs. Norman North (6A #1)

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 10 (2022): The Popcorn Ball

11/3/2022 |  Michael Swisher

While out trick-or-treating with my kids Monday night, I was having a discussion with some of the other parents in our group about my Halloween experiences as a kid. 

I vividly remember always loving the houses that gave away homemade cookies, brownies, caramel apples and - especially - popcorn balls.

I was reminiscing and remembering the good ol’ days when people used to hand out these homemade treats and it really made Halloween special. 

As my kids were about midway through the evening and collecting a ton of Halloween candy, all three of them came running back to me telling they were just given popcorn ball. 

They all wanted to know what it was exactly and if it was good?  

Is it good?!?!?!?!?!