Oklahoma high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (2/29/2024)

Several teams seek to punch tickets to state tournaments Thursday

On the final day of February, several girls basketball teams in Oklahoma want to ensure they're playing in March. 

For teams in Class 5A and 6A, they will get that opportunity Thursday night with the area championship games, with the winners advancing to next week's state tournament. Teams in 4A, 3A and 2A try to do the same Friday, and on Saturday, Class A and B crowns its champions.

With that in mind, here are this week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 girls basketball rankings. 

1. El Reno (24-0); last week (1)

The Lady Indians will be playing their Class 5A West area final Thursday at Edmond North against a familiar foe. It will be Shawnee, a team El Reno beat twice in the regular season. But the Lady Wolves are the only team to get within single digits of the Lady Indians all season, having fallen 39-30 in a game on Jan. 29.

Can El Reno (Oklahoma) girls basketball finally win elusive state championship? 

2. Choctaw (24-0); last week (2)

Choctaw survived a regional title game against Tulsa Union last week, prevailing 45-42. The Lady Yellowjackets have won three of their past seven games by three points or fewer. Thursday, Choctaw goes up against a surprising Owasso squad in Sapulpa for the 6A East area championship.

3. Bethany (22-4); last week (3)

Bethany kept rolling in last week's 4A regional, which the Lady Bronchos hosted. They beat Elk City, 101-34, before downing Purcell, 78-45. In the Elk City win, senior and University of Oklahoma signee Zya Vann became the program's all-time leading scorer. On Friday, Bethany will face Stilwell for the area championship in Okmulgee.

4. Putnam City West (23-1); last week (4)

PC West took care of business in its regional final last week, downing Westmoore, 70-39. On Thursday, the Lady Patriots take on crosstown rival Putnam City North for the 6A West area title, but that game will take place several miles to the south in Noble.

5. Edmond North (23-1); last week (5)

The Lady Huskies rolled past crosstown foe Edmond Santa Fe, 72-25, to win their regional last week. Thursday, they travel to Shawnee to go for a 6A West area title as North faces Mustang, a team the Lady Huskies have already beaten three times this season, each by 20 points or more.

6. Tahlequah (24-1); last week (6)

Tahlequah continues its winning ways with a regional title, beating McAlester last week, 57-39. The Lady Tigers travel to Sand Springs on Thursday to face Coweta in the 5A East area final. Tahlequah beat Coweta, 52-45, to win the Verdigris Tournament championship in early January.

7. Idabel (23-1); last week (7)

After drawing a bye from districts two weeks ago, the Lady Warriors got to host a 3A regional over the weekend. They had a fantastic showing for their home fans with convincing wins against Silo (62-25) and Lone Grove (67-37). Idabel goes for an area title on Friday in Wilburton as the Lady Warriors face Luther.

8. Lincoln Christian (22-3); last week (8)

Lincoln Christian had minimal difficulty in its 4A regional last week, defeating Skiatook, 69-26, then posting a 48-32 win against Mannford in the regional title game. The Lady Bulldogs go to Hennessey on Friday for their area championship, going up against a vaunted Tuttle squad.

9. Edmond Memorial (21-3); last week (9)

It was a memorable night for Lady Bulldog junior standout Janiyah Williams. Moments after leading her team in scoring in last Friday's 56-41 win against Jenks for the regional crown, Williams conducted a radio interview in which she announced her commitment to Oregon. She's now focused on getting Memorial back to state, which can happen Thursday with a win against Broken Arrow in the 6A East area title game being held at Tulsa East Central.

10. Dale (27-1); last week (10)

At last week's 2A regional held on their home court, the Lady Pirates were dominant with wins against Healdton (76-20) and Latta (55-41). Dale now heads to Chickasha to face Calera on Friday for an area championship.

11. Midwest City (22-3); last week (11)

Midwest City easily handled Noble last week, 70-34, to win its regional tournament. To win its 5A West area title on Thursday, the Lady Bombers will face crosstown foe Carl Albert, with the game taking place in Piedmont. It will be the first matchup this season between the two.

12. Washington (22-3); last week (12)

Washington defeated Lexington, 60-24, and then Sequoyah-Tahlequah, 65-45, as the Lady Warriors won a home 3A regional. This Friday, they travel to Seminole for their area title match against Holdenville.

13. Midwest City Carl Albert (21-4); last week (13)

Carl Albert held off Del City, 39-37, on a last-second shot by Jakary Brown to win its regional. It might be another emotional finish for the Lady Titans on Thursday, needing to beat crosstown foe Midwest City to win the 5A West area championship and advance to state.

14. Sapulpa (20-5); last week (14)

Sapulpa didn't need a last-second shot to fall in order to beat Holland Hall the way the Lady Chieftains needed to in last season's 5A title game. Rather, it was more methodical as Sapulpa prevailed, 56-34, in last week's regional championship. The Lady Chieftains attempt to go back to state with a win Thursday in the 5A East area final against Tulsa Rogers, taking place in Owasso.

15. Seiling (23-3); last week (16)

Seiling begins defense of its Class A championship on Thursday, as the Lady Wildcats take on Allen to start this year's Class A state tournament at Oklahoma City's State Fair Arena. Tip time is at 9 a.m.

16. Mustang (19-6); last week (18)

The Lady Broncos had to go to arch-rival Yukon to claim a regional tournament championship last week, but were able to do so, 48-42. Their area title game is just as daunting, having to face Edmond North, which has beaten Mustang convincingly in three regular-season games. Thursday's 6A West area title game will be in Shawnee.

17. Riverside (25-3); last week (19)

Riverside rolled to regional tournament wins against Minco (89-44) and Pawnee (55-36). The Lady Braves attempt to secure a spot at next week's 2A state tournament with a win Friday in Cleveland, taking on Okemah for the area title.

18. Oklahoma City Douglass (19-3); last week not ranked

While Douglass has received plenty of attention for its boys team, don't overlook the girls. The Lady Trojans are one of the state's hottest teams, having won 13 straight games, the latest going to Glenpool and knocking off the Lady Warriors, 57-50, in last weekend's 4A regional championship. Douglass now goes for an area title on Friday, traveling to Henryetta to take on Anadarko, which snapped Classen SAS' 11-game win streak to win its regional.

19. Dover (28-2); last week (21)

Dover punched its first trip to the state tournament since 2007 with a hard-fought 35-27 win against Pittsburg for the area title last week. Then on Wednesday, the Lady Longhorns got a 62-51 win against Turner in the Class B quarterfinals. Dover plays again on Friday, facing Lookeba-Sickles.

20. Owasso (20-5); last week (23)

It had been a tough previous few seasons for the Lady Rams. But not this season, as Owasso has been one of the biggest turnaround stories. The Lady Rams can write another tremendous chapter on Thursday with a win against undefeated Choctaw in the 6A East area title game, which will take place in Sapulpa, as Owasso seeks its first trip to state since 2018.

21. Broken Arrow (18-7); last week (25)

The Lady Tigers survived Sand Springs in last week's regional final, winning 47-44. Broken Arrow has now won six straight and 14 of its last 16 ballgames, with the two defeats in that span each coming by two points. Thursday, the Lady Tigers face Edmond Memorial for the 6A East area title, but won't have too far to travel, going to Tulsa East Central.

22. Fort Gibson (21-5); last week (24)

Fort Gibson took care of business in its 4A regional last week, downing Perkins-Tryon (73-30) and Muldrow (50-28). With a win Friday against Locust Grove for the area title in Stroud, the Lady Tigers will have clinched a 20th consecutive trip to the state tournament.

23. Sand Springs (18-7); last week (20)

The Lady Sandites attempt to shake off last week's regional final loss to Broken Arrow. But they will have a tougher road to hoe, needing to win two straight games to reach state. Sand Springs' first test comes Thursday in Sapulpa with an elimination game against Jenks.

24. Tulsa Rogers (17-8); last week not ranked

The Lady Ropers have won 12 of their last 13 ballgames, capped by a 43-38 win across town at Booker T. Washington in the regional championship last week. Rogers now plays Sapulpa for the 5A East area title in Owasso. Both teams have defeated the other, but the Lady Ropers have the more recent win, prevailing at Sapulpa, 48-46, on Jan. 26.

25. Anadarko (21-5); last week not ranked

Anadarko cooled off what had been a red-hot Classen SAS team last week to win its 4A regional. The Lady Warriors snapped the Lady Comets' 11-game win streak with a 48-37 win. Anadarko now seeks to take down another surging squad Friday, taking on Oklahoma City Douglass in Henryetta for the area championship.

TEAMS WHO DROPPED OUT

Glenpool; last week ranked No. 15

Classen SAS; last week ranked No. 17

Inola; last week ranked No. 22

Owasso team photo by Emily Hill Photography 

Buck Ringgold | @SBLiveOK