Kenny Howell
The Adair teams are the last two standing after a grueling weekend of basketball. They now move on to area to face the Beggs Lady Demons and the Cascia Hall Commandoes. Below is a preview of both games.
Girls
3A No. 2 Adair (24-1) vs. 3A No. 6 Beggs (22-3) at Bixby, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Adair key players: Chelsey Stricklen (22.0 ppg.), Tamara Harris (13.2 ppg.) and Katey Hatzenbuehler (6.7 ppg.).
Beggs key players: Talor Ward (20.4 ppg.), Kalia Crawford (18.7 ppg.), Kandra Kennedy (7.2 ppg.).
Outlook: The Lady Demons are highly ranked, and sport a two-headed scoring monster in Ward and Crawford, but has their schedule prepared them for the Lady Warriors? That will be the question going into Friday’s matchup. Most of Beggs opponents come from 2A and 3A. They are 5-3 against the Top 20 and 2-1 against the top 10. They haven’t played a top five team all year. Their losses came to Class B Boynton, Class A Dewar and Class 2A Preston. Plus Adair has been there before, and Beggs hasn’t. Should be a close one, but Adair’s postseason experience should lift them to victory.
If Adair wins: On to the State Tournament.
If Adair loses: Will play the area consolation bracket champion, either Victory Christian, Verdigris, Morris or Cascia Hall.
Boys
3A No. 16 Adair (22-3) vs. 3A No. 3 Cascia Hall (20-5) at Bixby, Friday, 8 p.m.
Adair key players: Heath Peper (13.9 ppg.), Brady Bradbury (13.1 ppg.), Seth Stricklen (8.8 ppg.).
Cascia Hall key players: Matt Pruiett (9.1 ppg), Luke Bryant (8.8 ppg.) and Bear Hawkins (8.7 ppg.).
Outlook: The Adair Warriors knocked off No. 5. Can they do the same to No. 3? That will be the question Friday as the Warriors take on defending state champion Cascia Hall. The Commandoes have a lot of size, including 6’10” Bear Hawkins. They haven’t lost to a 3A opponent this season, but Hartshorne played them close in a 6-point win last Thursday. If Adair plays with the same passion as they did against Verdigris, anything can happen.
If Adair wins: On to the state tournament.
If Adair loses: Will play the winner of the consolation bracket, either Victory Christian, Verdigris, Kellyville or Beggs.
