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.

BROKEN ARROW FIRES DAVID ALEXANDER

11/30/2020 |  Ben Johnson

BROKEN ARROW -- Some results over the weekend were stunning. But none near as shocking as the news from Broken Arrow to start the week.

In a release from the school on Monday morning, Broken Arrow announced it was stripping David Alexander of his head coaching duties. A move no one saw coming, including Alexander himself.

Two years after leading the Tigers to their first state championship, Alexander, 56, now finds himself without a head coaching gig. He went 60-23 in seven seasons and finished with a state runner-up finish in 2015.

“We appreciate and thank coach Alexander for his dedication and time with the program," said Chuck Perry, associate superintendent of student services, in a statement released by the district.

"His legacy has been cemented in the fact that he came home to his high school alma mater and was the first coach to take the program to the top of the mountain. After much consideration, though, we feel the timing is right and is in the best interest of the district to move in a new direction.”

Alexander gradated from Broken Arrow in 1982.

The district said the search for the next head coach begins immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playoff Picks - Nov. 27

11/27/2020 |  Korry Rogers

We are back! A good week for Whitt last week, who is still too far behind to matter.

We are one week closer to handing out gold balls, so let’s fire off some more picks for the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds!

Last week (overall):

Whitt: 16-3 (87-36)

Swish: 13-6 (91-32)

Ben: 13-6 (95-28)

---

WEEK 3 - PLAYOFF GAMES & PICKS

Playoff picks - Nov. 20

11/20/2020 |  Ben Johnson

PLAYOFF GAMES - WEEK 2 - PICKS

Broken Arrow @ Union
Westmoore @ Santa Fe

2020 Playoff Preview

11/20/2020 |  Ben Johnson

What we saw last week was technically the playoffs. Now it starts for real and we have some thoughts to share...

Quick playoff snapshot from the Skordle guys…

 

Ben Johnson

Most dangerous team

- Bixby (Class 6AII) - Duh! Most likely the best team in the state, regardless of class. Braylin Presley is the real deal. Good luck to anyone playing the Spartans.

 

Breakout player

Class 4A: Emmanuel Crawford (Grove) - Sophomore running back should start catching eyeballs real quick. Grove has a tough path through Hilldale and potentially Weatherford, but the Ridgerunners are a team to keep an eye on moving forward.

 

Upset alert

- Kind of taking this the opposite direction because I’ve heard chatter about some thinking Central will beat Lincoln Christian. I don’t see it. KT Owens and Co. are good but not good enough to take down the Bulldogs.

 

Best mascot

Class 2A - Atoka Wampus Cats - That’s too easy! Eufaula Ironheads is always solid, too.

 

Don't count this team out

Class 2A - Kellyville - Trevor Jones is rock solid at running back and Colton Ayres is solid at QB. Ponies take on a quality OCS team, and the winner should like its chances in that quadrant of the 2A bracket.

 

Class predictions

6AI - Owasso

6AII - Bixby

5A - Carl Albert

4A - Wagoner

3A - Holland Hall

2A - Vian

A - Cashion

B - Dewar

C - Timberlake

 

 

Michael Swisher

Most dangerous team - Choctaw (6AII) - Yes, Bixby is the best team. We all know that. Nobody’s arguing it. But Choctaw has just enough talent to be that dangerous sleeper. Not upset alert…but dangerous enough. Bixby has blown out everyone this year except Jenks (not a bad 6AI team if you weren’t aware) and….Choctaw. The Yellow Jackets played them within 11 in the regular season. 

 

Best first-round matchup - Newcastle at Tuttle (4A) - Piedmont and El Reno is intriguing. So is Booker T. and Midwest City. However, this matchup between friendly(?) neighbors is Week 2 rematch that saw the Tigers escape 24-21. 

 

Upset alert - OSSAA - Yeah, I took the easy way out and didn’t pick a team. But, in all seriousness, if we are able to get through this season and these playoffs, it will be an upset of sorts for it to have been pulled off. I took an unofficial poll prior to the season starting asking some fellow media members if they felt a football season would even take place. It ranged from “no” to “probably shouldn’t, but it’s possible.” There were no straight up “yes” answers. God bless anyone who has been affected directly or indirectly by COVID, and I mean that, but we needed football.

 

Don’t count this team out - Shattuck (B) - Yes, the Indians got BLASTED by Laverne in the final week of the regular season. Sure, maybe it’s not all “sunshine and rainbows” way out west. However, it’s still Shattuck. The three-time defending state champs have pulled off the improbable before. Am I saying it’s going to happen again? No, but don’t count them out.

 

Dream matchup - Pawhuska vs. Cashion (A) - Pawhuska is putting up numbers this year that would make most basketball coaches envious. Led by Bryce Drummond, the Huskies average 69.5 - YES, 70! (rounded up of course) - points a game. Cashion, meanwhile, prefers to not surrender points and only gives up 8.5 a game. It’s strength vs. strength if these two meets - as we suspect - in the Class A semifinals. The opposite units aren’t bad either. Cashion scores 48.6 a game while the Huskies give up 15.3. It has all the makings of a matchup classic. Of course, a win only puts you in the finals. The victor could very well get defending champ Ringling the next week.

 

Class predictions

6AI - Owasso

6AII - Bixby

5A - Carl Albert

4A - Weatherford

3A - Holland Hall

2A - Vian

A - Cashion

B - Laverne

C - Timberlake

 

Whitt Carter

Most dangerous team

Sulphur’s Smith ahead of the pack in 2020

11/12/2020 |  Ben Johnson

Story by Whitt Carter

Sulphur’s Logan Smith showed early on in his career that he had a chance to be a special player.

 

The 6-foot-1, 200 lb. senior always possessed elite speed and good size for a running back at the Class 3A level.

 

But did he ever think he would join the conversation as one of the best ever at Sulphur?

 

“Being in that category with some studs is crazy to think about,” he said. “Those are the guys I looked up to as a kid.”

 

Crazy as it sounds, Smith certainly has a seat at the table, as he currently leads the entire state – all classes – in rushing through the end of the regular season.

 

Smith has carried 173 times for 2,018 yards and 27 touchdowns, which are eye popping numbers at any level.

 

He is 304 yards ahead of Luke Tarman from Bishop McGuinness, the closest rusher to the distant Bulldog leader.

 

For Smith, his success this season can be attributed to a multitude of things, especially the guys he has around him and the creative play-calling from the Sulphur coaches.

 

“I have a lot of trust in my offensive line,” he said. “And the rest of the offense, too. And believing in coach (Corey) Cole to put us in the best spot for success on that specific down.”

 

Many that watch Sulphur each year and each week have seen Smith improve each year, but especially this season, where he took a huge jump from being very good to great.

 

“I just tried to stay dedicated in the weight room and have a focused mindset on what I wanted to accomplish in football and this season,” he said.

 

Smith thinks the weight room has been his biggest friend and key to his success, as it is something he has gone all-in on each day.

 

“Getting in there and working will eventually play a tremendous role in your success,” he said. “It is a big part of my everyday life and has made the biggest impact on the field for me.”

 

Strength and conditioning, along with track, has helped the senior develop top-level speed and agility, something he puts on display seemingly each week, as he is truly a big-play waiting to happen.

 

Smith has 18 touchdowns this year of 40 yards or more, including 11 in the last four games.

He has also rushed for over 300 yards in back-to-back games, including a 312-yard, six touchdown performance last Friday night in the win over Lone Grove, which followed a win over Plainview in which Smith racked up 351 yards and four scores.

 

“I think my strengths as a runner are my size, speed and vision,” he said. “And having the awareness to know when to cut or not.”

 

He also is a big-time weapon in the passing game, catching 15 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns this season. Smith also has a 53-yard punt return for a score.

 

The senior also has the luxury of having an offensive line that is experienced, and also, improving each week, helping pave the way for over 320 rushing yards per game as a team.

 

“I’d say the offensive line is the main reason why I have every yard I do,” Smith said. “They have done a great job and without them I wouldn’t have a single yard.”

 

Spoken like a true leader, which is something Sulphur head coach Jim Dixon has praised Smith for adopting as he has gotten older, developing into the leader for the 2020 Bulldogs.

 

“I try to focus on being a leader on an off the field and working hard no matter what happens that day,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to see guys like Trey (Kiser) lead us when I was younger and that’s just what I try to do.”

 

That’s how Smith wants to leave his legacy among the Sulphur greats, for leading the way and continuing to lead by example.

 

“I want to be remembered for my work ethic and leadership and honestly, how I impacted our team’s success,” he said.

 

What that success becomes is still yet to be determined, as the Dogs now shift focus to the playoffs.

 

But for Smith and his teammates, there is only one goal in mind.

 

“We want to win a state championship,” he said. “When you are at Sulphur, that’s the goal every year.”

 

How Smith envisions his team giving themselves a chance at accomplishing their ultimate goal is really no surprise.

 

“We have to stay true to what we do and trust in what we have been doing all year,” he said. “And we know if we keep working hard, we will give ourselves a shot.”

Photo credit: DeJay Arms

Week 10 picks

11/6/2020 |  Ben Johnson

Games

Jenks @ Westmoore

PC North @ Stillwater

Booker T @ Bixby

Lawton Mac @ Ardmore

Tahlequah @ Collinsville

Tuttle @ Blanchard

Poteau @ Broken Bow

Wagoner @ Skiatook

Lincoln @ Stigler

Kingfisher @ Anadarko

Sulphur @ Lone Grove

Vinita @ Verdigris

Adair @ Claremore Seq.

Christian Heritage @ Washington

Prague @ Chandler

Crescent @ Cashion

Thomas @ Texoma

Shattuck @ Laverne

Regent Prep @ Davenport

Midway @ Sasakwa

Whitt Carter

Jenks

Stillwater

Bixby

Ardmore

Collinsville

Tuttle

Poteau

Wagoner

Lincoln

Kingfisher

Sulphur

Verdigris

Adair

Washington

Chandler

Cashion

Thomas

Shattuck

Davenport

Sasakwa

Michael Swisher

Jenks

Stillwater

Bixby

Lawton Mac

Collinsville

Tuttle

Poteau

Wagoner

Lincoln Christian

Anadarko

Sulphur

Verdigris

Adair

Washington

Chandler

Cashion

Thomas

Shattuck

Davenport

Sasakwa

Ben Johnson

Jenks

Stillwater

Bixby

Ardmore

Collinsville

Tuttle 

Poteau

Wagoner

Lincoln

Kingfisher

Sulphur

Verdigris

Adair

Washington

Chandler

Cashion

Thomas

Shattuck

Davenport

Midway

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 10 (2020)

11/5/2020 |  Michael Swisher

By John Hardaway - I Even Eat BBQ on Pizza

Someplace I like to eat – Jo’s Famous Pizza

Jo’s Famous Pizza is one of my favorite pizza places in Oklahoma.

I visit the Edmond location regularly and will continue to do so forever. It’s a great place with awesome staff and service who will go beyond and above to continue earning your business. 

I have also been to the original Jo’s in Purcell a handful of times and it’s never disappointed either. 

What makes Jo’s so great in my opinion is the incredible crust that’s flaky and buttery every time. They also only use fresh ingredients for toppings. 

They have all the classic pizzas. If you like Pepperoni Pizza, you probably won’t find a better one around!

The entire top is going to be covered in pepperonis and the best part is the pepperoni grease works down into the crust. 

As for the specialty pizzas, I love the Cowboy (it’s BBQ, a shocker, I know) and the Taco. Trust me, it’s so good, but must be for dine-in only because of the cold lettuce topping it needs to be eaten immediately.