Week three rankings and predictions: Lady Sandites move up to fifth

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The second week of Oklahoma High School basketball came to a close this past weekend with several upsets and significant shuffling of the rankings. Last week we picked 19 games and were 15-4 for 79% accuracy.

No. 1 Choctaw (Last week No. 1)

The favorites for this season's State Championship decimated their last week's opponents and solidified their place at the top with 22 first-place votes. The Yellowjackets (2-0) doubled 5A No. 8 Del City (1-2) 83-41 and trounced unranked Enid (0-2) 68-24. University of Oklahoma signee Ana Llanusa led the scoring against Del City with 21 points, trailed by sister Aliyah with 18 and Bailey Golden with 17. The elder Llanusa added another 25 in the win over Enid. The Jackets will taken on unranked Lawton (1-0) Tuesday before traveling to the Harrah Tournament this weekend. Lawton started their season against the fifth-worst defense in the Class and steamrolled U.S. Grant (0-3) 69-8 in their opener.

The pick: Choctaw 70 Lawton 45

No. 2 Edmond Santa Fe (2)

The Lady Wolves (2-0) retained their number-two ranking with a pair of solid wins over ranked opponents, but retained only two of their four first-place votes. They defeated No. 12 Edmond Memorial (0-2) 43-32 and No. 16 Moore (0-2) 56-46. The Wolves will take on Southmoore before competing at the Edmond Open this weekend.

The pick: ESF 54 Southmoore 35

No. 3 Putnam City West (5)

The Patriots (2-0) picked up a second first-place vote after brutalizing their first two opponents, one of whom was ranked. Putnam West took down unranked Enid (0-2) 86-34 and No. 20 Putnam North (0-2) 79-22. 

The pick: Putnam West 76 Putnam City 36

No. 4 Deer Creek (3)

The Antlers (2-0) handily won their first two games of the season, but not significantly enough to hold on to their number three ranking, though they did still pull two first-place votes. They put away No. 15 Mustang (0-1) 60-42, then traveled to unranked Stillwater (0-2) for a 57-38 victory. 

The pick: Deer Creek 50 Westmoore 49

No. 5 Sand Springs (8)

The Charles Page Lady Sandites (1-0) dominated No. 7 Bartlesville (1-1) 51-34 and they barely even scratched the surface of their deep and talented bench. Both the Sandites' freshman and sophomore classes were undefeated Frontier Valley Conference Champions as eighth graders. They also picked up a talented senior transfer from Union. Sydney Pennington scored 21, Gloria Mutiri added 13, and newcomer Kierra McGee hit 11.  The Sandites picked up one first-place vote. After a conference matchup against 5A No. 14 Bishop Kelley (0-1) on Tuesday, they will return to Kelley over the weekend for the BK Tournament.

The pick: Sand Springs 60 Bishop Kelley 43

No. 6 Westmoore (6)

The Lady Jaguars (2-0) picked up a pair of wins over unranked opponents to start the season, topping Southmoore (0-3) 61-42 and Norman (1-1) 53-44. Jessi Murcer led her team with an incredible 35 points against Southmoore. After a marquee matchup with Deer Creek, the Jags will travel to Durant for the Lion Classic this weekend.

No. 7 Midwest City (10)

The defending State Champions (2-0) put away unranked Putnam City (0-1) 64-51 and 5A No. 8 Del City (1-2) 50-40 and picked up one first-place vote to improve a few spots in the rankings. The Bombers will compete at the Edmond Open this weekend.

No. 8 Bartlesville (7)

The Lady Bruins (1-1) were defeated 51-34 in their home opener against No. 8 Sand Springs, but snapped back with a 52-39 victory over No. 3 Owasso (0-1). Jenna Williams scored 14 against Owasso and 4 against Sand Springs, Lauren Richter scored 10 against the Rams and 6 against Sand Springs. None of the Bruins doubled against the Sandites. They will take on No. 20 Union (0-0) on the road Tuesday, then will travel to the Bixby Tournament this weekend.

The pick: Bartlesville 50 Union 33.

No. 9 Booker T. Washington (11)

The Hornets (3-0) got off to a good start in their mostly 5A conference, dropping unranked Edison (0-1) 49-42, then scoring major credit in a 63-55 victory over 5A No. 1 East Central (2-1) before absolutely devastating unranked Nathan Hale (0-3) 81-9. They will take a bye week before returning to action with No. 18 Memorial (1-3) next Tuesday.

No. 10 Owasso (3)

The Lady Rams (0-1) didn't get off to the start they were looking for against No. 7 Bartlesville, falling 52-39 on the road, but will have a good shot at getting in the win column Tuesday against No. 17 Muskogee (0-0). Terryn Milton scored 16 against the Lady Bruins and Sierra Williams added 11.

The pick: Owasso 49 Muskogee 42.

No. 11 Broken Arrow (9)

Last year's State Semi-Finalists (1-0) picked up a 43-37 win over 5A No. 12 Bishop Kelley to start the season, but it wasn't decisive enough to maintain their top-ten ranking. The Tigers retained only one starter from the last season, and have a new head coach in Tiffany Jones. Angelica Cuellar led the girls with 15 points and was the lone Lady Tiger to double. They return to action Tuesday against unranked Bixby (0-0).

The pick: Broken Arrow 43 Bixby 40.

No. 12 Edmond North (17)

The Lady Huskies (1-0) picked up a solid 50-37 victory to start the season against in-town rival No. 12 Edmond Memorial (0-2). They return to action at unranked Moore (0-2), then will compete at the Edmond Open this weekend.

The pick: Edmond 50, Moore 40.

No. 13 Norman North (14)

The Timberwolves (0-0) dipped a spot due to their late start for the season, but will begin the year Tuesday when they host unranked Stillwater (0-2).

The pick: Norman 59, Stillwater 37.

No. 14 Sapulpa (13)

The Chieftains have yet to play their first game of the year, but will travel to unranked Jenks (0-0) this Tuesday.

The pick: Sapulpa 65, Jenks 49. 

No. 15 Yukon (unranked)

The Millers (1-0) made a statement in their 45-39 defeat of No. 16 Moore (0-2) and will look to build momentum at No. 18 Norman (1-1) before this weekend's Tahlequah Tournament. 

No. 16 Edmond Memorial (12)

The Lady Bulldogs (0-2) started the season off with tough competition and dropped back-to-back games against in-town rivals No. 2 Edmond Santa Fe (2-0) and No. 17 Edmond North (1-0). Santa Fe prevailed 43-32 and North won 50-37 in the first rounds of the Edlam series. They return to action with No. 19 Mustang (0-1). 

The pick: Memorial 45, Mustang 40.

No. 17 Muskogee (15)

The Lady Roughers (0-0) dipped a few spots due to a late start for the season, and will have their work cut out for them against No. 10 Owasso (0-1). 

No. 18 Norman (unranked)

The Lady Tigers (1-1) dominated 61-36 their opener against unranked Stillwater (0-2), but fell 53-44 to No. 6 Westmoore (2-0). Turner Mattingly, Jandra Levi, and Skye Watts all doubled against Stillwater while Bethany Franks had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. 

The pick: Norman 46, Yukon 45.

No. 19 Mustang (15)

The Broncos (0-1) have a tough start to the season and fell 60-42 to No. 4 Deer Creek (2-0) in their opener. Abby Neaves led in scoring with 17 points while Mia Brown added 10. They will have another tough opponent Tuesday when they take on Edmond Memorial, then will travel to the Plainview Tournament this weekend.

No. 20 Union (19)

Union (0-0)'s season will begin Tuesday against No. 8 Bartlesville (1-1). They have a tough opponent to start with, but they also have strong bones, returning four of their top five scorers from last season.