Oklahoma 2A-4A boys basketball postseason recap: 4A area title games feature tantalizing matchups

4A top-ranked Kingfisher, 3A top-ranked Metro Christian, 2A top-ranked Dale handle business at respective regionals

By Josh Jennings  

Photo of Roland's Kyeree Hall by George Mitchell 

Class 2A, 3A and 4A boys crowned regional champions last weekend.

Class 4A is deep and features many intriguing matchups, as well as some teams who could make area consolation runs. In Class 3A, Metro Christian and defending champion Oklahoma City Millwood are the favorites. In Class 2A, undefeated Dale are clearly the favorites to win another gold ball.

Here is a recap of the regional results from this past weekend for each class, along with a look ahead at the area tournaments later this week.

Class 4A

In an absolute loaded class, each area championship game - along with the teams in the consolation bracket - will be tough.

In Area 1, No. 3 Weatherford and No. 5 Oklahoma Christian School won with no trouble and will play Friday at Hennessey, with the winner moving on to state. No. 16 Bethany outlasted Bishop McGuinness for a second time on Saturday, winning 60-57.

Bethany will play No. 14 McLoud. Elgin upset Bethany Thursday, but lost to OCS Saturday. The Owls will play Classen SAS.

Area II saw two competitive regional finals. No. 12 Ada upset No. 6 Newcastle, 61-58, in overtime. No. 4 Oklahoma City Douglass beat 4A runner-up and No. 15 Victory Christian, 44-40.

The Trojans and Cougars will meet Friday in Stroud. Douglass has not made it to state since 2017, and is one win away from returning.

Tulsa McLain knocked off Heritage Hall, making it the first year since 2017 that Heritage Hall has not played in the state tournament. Newcastle will play Hilldale and McLain will play Victory Christian.

Area III featured a high-scoring affair between No. 7 Stilwell and No. 12 Catoosa. Stilwell won the game, 88-71. No. 2 Crossings Christian beat No. 10 Tuttle, 53-42, and allowed only four points in the fourth quarter.

CCS and Stilwell will play at Henryetta Friday for the area title. Stilwell has not made it to state since 2015 and is one win away.

Madill and Vinita also won their consolation games. Madill will play Catoosa and Tuttle will play Vinita.

Area IV had its regional moved from Shawnee to Noble. This area features top-ranked Kingfisher, who struggled in the first half against No. 17 Inola Saturday. But the Yellowjackets kicked it into high gear and won, 41-23.

Kingfisher will face No. 8 North Rock Creek, who beat No. 9 Anadarko, 42-39, in a game which went down to the wire.

John Marshall survived against Bridge Creek, winning 66-64. They will play Anadarko and No. 19 Byng will face Inola.

Class 3A

Area I saw top-ranked Metro Christian get tested against No. 16 Washington, but made plays down the stretch to win, 60-49. The Patriots will face No. 8 Crooked Oak Friday in Enid.

Crooked Oak beat No. 9 Alva, 66-56, in overtime. Crooked Oak has not made the state tournament in 10 years. Washington will play No. 15 Cascia Hall and No. 9 Alva will play Chandler.

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Area II saw No. 3 Purcell and No. 6 Prague win its regional games with no drama. The Dragons beat No. 14 Hugo and Prague beat Henryetta, 63-49.

Both teams have a state tournament drought, as Purcell has not made it since 1995 and Prague has not made it since 1996. One of these teams will end its drought Friday night and the loser could end it Saturday night at East Central University. In the consolation, Henryetta will play Silo and Hugo will play Okmulgee.

Ada will see lots of high school basketball, as Area III is being played in Ada as well. No. 4 Roland and No. 7 Marlow will face each other in the area championship game, in a rematch of last year's 3A quarterfinal match. Marlow won that game, 52-43.

The consolation bracket will feature No. 18 Idabel and Atoka. The other consolation match will be Vian and Lindsay.

Area IV has defending state champion No. 2 Oklahoma City Millwood, who has been battle-tested all season. However, Millwood was tested again against No. 13 Keys, as the Falcons won, 51-47.

Millwood will face another tough team, as it will play No. 5 Sequoyah-Claremore, who has never been to the state tournament, Friday night in Verdigris. Keys will play Westville and No. 12 Kiefer faces Tulsa Central.

Class 2A

In Area I, No. 7 Hooker looks to make it six straight trips to the state tournament and is one win away from doing so.

Hooker beat No. 13 Ketchum, 53-32, and will face No. 4 Hennessey Friday night at the Stride Bank Center in Enid. Hennessey survived a tough Fairview team, winning 47-45.

The consolation bracket has two interesting matchups. Fairview will play Oklahoma Union, who won the 2021 Class 2A state championship. Ketchum will play No. 10 Hobart.

Area II saw some upsets. Hulbert upset No. 6 Oktaha, 40-35. No. 19 Wister almost was upset by Pawnee, but the Wildcats won it, 45-44.

Wister beat Hulbert in the regional finals and will face No. 3 Oklahoma Christian Academy Friday in the area championship game at Seminole. OCA looks to make its first state tournament appearance and Wister has not made it since 1942.

In the consolation games, No. 11 Minco will play Oktaha and Hulbert will play Walters.

Area III features top-ranked Dale. Dale beat No. 17 Cashion, 83-30, in the regional championship and was a rematch of last year's 3A championship game, won by the Pirates.

Dale will face No. 5 Colcord in Cleveland Friday. Colcord is one win away from going to the state tournament for the first time since 1998.

In the consolation, Cashion will play Warner and Christian Heritage Academy will play Fairland.

Area IV saw two close championship games. No. 2 Preston survived against No. 14 Rejoice Christian, 33-30, and No. 8 Pocola survived No. 9 Calera, 41-40. These two teams will meet Friday night at Wilburton. Preston has not made it to state since 2017.

In the consolation, Calera will play Pawnee, who knocked off Morrison. No. 15 Latta will play Rejoice Christian.