Smith, Star Spencer overcome Kingston in OT for 9th state title

3/12/2018 |  Ben Johnson

OKLAHOMA CITY — Latarryus Smith got hot, and he quickly remembered instructions from Star Spencer coach Lance Cudjoe.

“My coach always tells me, ‘if they don’t have a hand in your face, shoot the ball,’” Smith said. “So I kept shooting the ball.”

Just what Class 3A No. 3 Star Spencer needed.

The senior guard scored 10 points in overtime while leading the Bobcats to a 64-55 triumph over top-ranked Kingston on Saturday at State Fair Arena. The victory for Star Spencer landed the Bobcats their ninth state championship, a year after losing to Douglass in the finals.

“It feels really good,” said Smith, who connected on 7 of 12 field goals, 5 of 8 3-point attempts and 9 of 11 foul shots. “It feels a lot better than last year.”

Smith’s heroics in extra time almost weren’t necessary, but Jordan Owen’s jumper at the end of regulation was off, setting the stage for Smith to become Kingston’s worst nightmare.

“The most dynamic guard in 4A and below — maybe in the state of Oklahoma,” Cudjoe said. “I had to teach him about sharing the ball, but he can get a shot anytime he wants.”

Smith finished with 28 points and hauled in five rebounds.

For Kingston (26-3), Jacob Germany had a team-high 20 points in the Redskins’ quest to win the school’s first basketball title. Germany finished 8 of 9 from the field, but he knocked down only 4 of his 11 free throw attempts.

RJ Weeks was Kingston’s only other player to score in double figures with 13 points.

The championship for Star Spencer, who also had 12 points from Brandon Zeno, claimed its first crown since 2009 when it took down Bishop McGuinness for the 4A title.

“Last year, we felt like we should have won it,” Cudjoe said. “This year with God’s grace, we did.”

Box Score

No. 3 Star Spencer 64, No. 1 Kingston 55

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final
Star Spencer	15	8	12	15	14	64
Kingston	9	9	15	17	5	55

Star Spencer (22-7): Latarryus Smith 28, Brandon Zeno 12, Jayden Winder 7, Denis Mitchell 4, Malik Gilliam 4, Jordan Owens 3, Brian Swain 2, Corey Robinson 2, Deandre Parker 2.

Kingston (26-3): Jacob Germany 20, RJ Weeks 13, Jacob Whipkey 9, Conner Brister 8, Stoney Lowe 5.

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?!?!?!?!?!