Oklahoma
5 must-see Oklahoma City area high school boys basketball games to watch this week
The biggest regular-season tournament weekhas concluded, but highly anticipated Oklahoma high school boys basketball matchups continue through the upcoming days.
Here’s a look at The Oklahoman’s must-see games for the week of Jan. 21-27.
More: Luke Gray breaks Blake Griffin’s Oklahoma Christian School basketball scoring record
Class 2A Dale (17-2) at Class 3A Millwood (11-5)
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Anticipate a thrilling matchup between the reigning 2A and 3A state champions, who each stand atop the rankings for their respective classes. Dale enters the contest on a tear, having won 13 of its last 14 games behind the stellar player of OU commit Dayton Forsythe. However, the Falcons’ depth seems to have taken a leap despite losing four-star Jaden Nickens. Expect Xon Williams, Chance Davis, and Isaiah Wilks to continue to make their presence felt for Millwood on Tuesday.
Edmond North (10-2) at Deer Creek (14-3)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Matters went in Edmond North’s favor when these two faced off in the second game of the season. However, things are different this time for Deer Creek, which will play on its home floor. The Antlers head into the matchup, having won seven consecutive games behind the play of backcourt duo Clyde Davis Jr. and Hudson Linsenmeyer. Yet, expect the two-time defending Class 6A champion Huskies to be prepared for the ruckus that awaits them at Deer Creek. Look for Edmond North’s trio of Dylan Warlick, Chianté Tramble and Bryce Potts to be ready to snatch a road victory in a hostile environment.
More: Deer Creek tops Midwest City to win Bruce Gray Invitational
Class 5A El Reno (11-4) at Class 5A Carl Albert (12-4)
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Look for El Reno to seek revenge on its district foe after Carl Albert won the season opener by double digits. Junior Carter RomanNose has led El Reno in the scoring department for most of the season, taking home Anadarko Tournament MVP honors earlier this month. On the other hand, Carl Albert has been on a tear, winning nine of its last ten games by an average margin of 27 points. Expect brothers Quincy and Jayden Hopkins to look to get things going for the Titans early to win the season series with El Reno.
Class 6A Southmoore (7-5) at Class 6A Choctaw (11-3)
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Choctaw sits atop District 6A-4, but Southmoore could shuffle the standings. The SaberCats have won five of their last seven games behind the stellar play of sophomore guard Kolton Brammer, who has averaged over 20 points through 12 games. The Yellowjackets have dominated the competition in the past weeks, defeating opponents by an average margin of 21 points in their 11 wins. Expect Ja’Mon Valentine and Camden Hyman to continue to lead the way for Choctaw on Tuesday.
‘We want our get back’: Roman Miller continues to shine as Mustang sails past Broken Arrow
Class 5A Mustang at Class 5A Putnam City North
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Mustang has been on a tear over the past month, having won both the Shawnee Invitational and the Mustang Holiday Classic. A reoccurring theme in both tournaments was the ascendance of Roman Miller and Tyson Pogi. Miller won both tournament MVPs while averaging 20 points, seven rebounds, and 2.5 steals. It won’t be easy, however. Putnam North has recently found a groove, winning four of its last five games behind the play of Anthony Leonard and Khai Brown.
Key matchup outside the metro
Class 4A Newcastle (10-6) at Class 4A Weatherford (15-1): Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday. In their only matchup of the year, look for Weatherford’s CJ Nickson to continue lead the Eagles, who are undefeated against 4A competition.
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Oklahoma
Crews respond after fireworks stand catches fire in Broken Arrow, no injuries reported
Crews responded to a fireworks stand after it caught fire in Broken Arrow Saturday night.
Authorities urged people to avoid E. Kanosha Street near S. 236th E. Avenue as the road is closed and fireworks could spread in the area due to the fire.
Broken Arrow Fire Department released a statement confirming no injuries were sustained as a result of the explosions or fire.
Fire crews quickly controlled the fire in about 20 minutes according to Broken Arrow Fire Department.
The initial cause of the fire is under investigation.
Viewer Leslie Maxey, who lives close to the fireworks stand, sent in video of the ongoing fire.
“We were putting our daughter to bed with a book when we heard an explosion that was gradually getting louder and louder,” Maxey said.
This is a developing story.
Oklahoma
Scouting the Oklahoma Sooners ahead of UNC matchup
What you need to know about Oklahoma ahead of the College World Series
North Carolina will face a dangerous Oklahoma team that is on a roll.
Oklahoma (41-22) has been just as dominant. The Sooners, making their 13th College World Series appearance and first since 2022, surged through the postseason as road warriors. They won the Atlanta Regional by upsetting No. 2 seed and ACC champion Georgia Tech in the final, then swept Big 12 champion and No. 15 seed Kansas by a combined score of 21-3 in the Lawrence Regional.
The Sooners, who are 3-0 in Omaha after beating No. 7 seed Alabama and knocking off No. 3 seed and SEC champion Georgia twice, are seeking their third national championship. Oklahoma won titles in 1951 and 1994 and finished as runner-up to Ole Miss in 2022.
Here are a few things to know about Oklahoma:
Best player: Catcher Deiten LaChance
LaChance is Oklahoma’s most powerful hitter. He is batting .333 with 12 doubles, two triples and team highs of 16 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Throughout the postseason, he is hitting .326 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. In Omaha, he is 5-for-14 (.357) with one home run and five RBIs.
Strengths
Like North Carolina, Oklahoma is a balanced team that is good at a little bit of everything and is built to frustrate opponents.
Oklahoma is a balanced hitting team like UNC, but the Sooners have hit a few more homers with 91, compared to the Tar Heels’ 82. That is largely due to the Sooners smashing 26 home runs in their 10 postseason games. In Omaha, OU has homered eight times, including five homers in its win over Georgia in its previous game.
The Sooners have stolen 129 bases this season. That is good for 24th nationally and second in the SEC.
Pitching-wise, OU is 18th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings and leads the SEC in shutouts.
Weaknesses
The most glaring weakness is the pitching staff, despite its ability to strike out opposing batters and record shutouts.
The Sooners have a 4.98 ERA as a staff. Only one pitcher with 10 or more appearances has an ERA under 3.60.
They also allow 4.51 walks per nine innings, which ranks 138th nationally.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Football Target Israel Hammons Commits to Cowboys
It was a Friday Night Lights in June kind of moment for the Oklahoma State Cowboys as Israel “Izzy” Hammons made his commitment announcement.
The Choctaw, Okla., rising senior announced his decision to commit to Oklahoma State on Friday during an Instagram Live session. The Cowboys beat out a roster of schools vying for the linebacker, most notably Texas.
Hammons made just two official visits — one to OSU and one to Texas last week.
His commitment pushed the Cowboys’ 2027 recruiting class back to nine players after the defection of Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL) offensive lineman Chase Clark to Purdue.
Commitments are non-binding. The earliest that Hammons can sign with OSU is in December.
Izzy Hammons to OSU
Hammons is the first four-star player to commit to the Cowboys this cycle. Their previous commitments all came from three-star players. The 6-3, 225-pound linebacker was considered a Top 200 player in the country by both On3/Rivals and 247Sports. Both services had him ranked as a Top 10 player in the state of Oklahoma at any position. He’s also considered the No. 1 linebacker in the state.
He also runs track and field, competing in the high jump and the 100-meter days, with a personal best of 11.30 seconds in the latter.
The Longhorns came in hot at the end but already had linebackers committed to the program this cycle. For the Cowboys getting a pledge from a player like Hammons is key to shore up a position where they didn’t have a commitment and where they plan to use senior transfers as starters in 2026. That means OSU and head coach Eric Morris must start building a pipeline now.
OSU’s Class of 2027
After Clark’s decommitment the Cowboys were down to eight recruits for 2027 entering Friday, most of which were on the offensive side of the ball and starting with Iowa Colony (Texas) quarterback Carson White, who was the cycle’s first commitment in April.
Up front, OSU has two offensive line commitments Jake Baker of Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tenn., and Sonny Mullen of Troy, Texas. When it comes to skill positions players the Cowboys have three commitments as well, including two wide receivers — Cooper Hooker of Pryor (Quapaw, Okla.) High School and Ake O’Neal of Argyle, Texas. Oklahoma State also has a pledge from tight end Talan Scott of Queen City, Ariz.
Defensively, the Cowboys have commitments from safeties Chayce Davis of Euless (Texas) Trinity High School and Bryson Brown of Broken Bow, Okla.
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