What to Know: The Tournament of Champions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're days away from the tip off of one of Oklahoma's premier in season tournaments. From the state's largest school district in Broken Arrow, to far western Oklahoma with Hammon and their ADM of only 80 students. The event always brings some of the best talent in Oklahoma together, and often features teams that will go on to the win State Championships. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PrepGirlsHoop will be providing live coverage of Friday and Saturday's action. And a shameless plug, want a highlight video from either of those days? Email okhoopsreport@gmail.com, as long with the write ups I'll be providing video highlights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Are the Host Hornets the favorites?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the games are at the BOK center, Tulsa Public Schools district is the official host of the event. Booker T Washington is one of the deepest teams in the state, with waves of athletes and guards to throw at the opposition. With the potential for players to log heavy minutes on the big floor of the BOK Center, that very well could be their edge. Guards like [player_tooltip player_id='572987' first='Ky'Liin' last='Johnson-Cooper'], [player_tooltip player_id='556048' first='Rhyian' last='Mayberry'], [player_tooltip player_id='556050' first='Tierra' last='Owens'], [player_tooltip player_id='999392' first='Kennedy' last='Glenn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='898800' first='Camari' last='Lowmack'] can swarm teams. With Mayberry and Lowmack in particular being critical shooters. While forward [player_tooltip player_id='751190' first='Kashae' last='Brown'] is also a havoc causer, as one of the top athletes in Oklahoma. Then there's the knockout punch with [player_tooltip player_id='309984' first='Marcayla' last='Johnson']. Earlier this month they already outlasted one Class 6A contender in Bixby. Can they repeat the trick a few more times this weekend?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Title Rematch, in the Semifinals?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/12/toc-title-game-top-performers/">Last year was a tense battle between Edmond Memorial and Lincoln Christian.</a> With Edmond Memorial eventually prevailing and claiming the title. This year, there's a good chance we get that match up again, but on Friday night not Saturday. Both teams off to hot starts, with Lincoln Christian tangling with elite out of state competition at Arkansas' Tournament of Champions. Edmond Memorial has stayed local and prevailed in a nail-bitter Edlam match up against fierce rivals Edmond North. That game was won by the clutch play of [player_tooltip player_id='309983' first='Janiyah' last='Williams'], one of the Oklahoma's brightest stars. One thing that's safe to say, both teams look even better than last year's squads. So it's a testament to how loaded the event is, that this rematch would be in the semifinals and not the finals. It could be a very special Friday night of basketball for Oklahoma hoops fans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Player in the Field?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similarly to everything else in this loaded event this is a great debate. [player_tooltip player_id='309979' first='McKenzie' last='Mathurin'] has it rolling with Broken Arrow. With the Michigan commit combining efficient scoring with leading her undefeated Tigers. Meanwhile future Baylor Bear, [player_tooltip player_id='309984' first='Marcayla' last='Johnson'] has Booker T Washington looking for more signature wins after winning a double OT epic against Bixby. She may be the best athlete at the event, and is no slouch as a scorer herself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edmond Memorial likely has the best one-two punch in the event with [player_tooltip player_id='309983' first='Janiyah' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='315217' first='Avery' last='Hjelmstad'].. Then towering [player_tooltip player_id='654574' first='Henley' last='West'] will be a walking double-double threat for a Hammon squad looking to play spoilers. Glenpool is a balanced bunch but senior leader [player_tooltip player_id='315199' first='Aaliyah' last='Shawnee'] is at the head of the snake. She's a skilled, multi-level scorer. That's just the seniors, because the way the versatile, tough and high motor junior [player_tooltip player_id='572965' first='Maddi' last='Stewart'] plays also has her firmly in the conversation. Few players leave their mark on games in more meaningful ways that Stewart.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If forced to pick just one, it's tough. Williams and Hjlemstad have the tournament specific hardware as the defending champs. Johnson looks to have taken her game to another level. But a slight edge might have to be given to the way that Mathurin simply fills it up. Buckets are buckets, and she's proven nationally that she's in a special tier of scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will there be a first round upset?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's an expectation that the three schools from the bigger classifications and Lincoln Christian will square off for epic semifinal duels. It's a fair expectation but the games are played on the court not paper, leading to the unpredictable nature that makes sports awesome. Which underdog has the best chance to shake up the field? Why not go with a program that has won the Tournament of Champions before, in fact they've won it multiple times. With the last coming in 2017, Fort Gibson. That year the Lady Tigers took down a Choctaw team that would go on to win Class 6A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Gibson has one of the strongest traditions in girls small town basketball, and they enter the ToC at 7-0 and making noise in loaded Class 4A. They're led by tough senior duo, [player_tooltip player_id='310154' first='Laynee' last='Stanley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='315234' first='Addy' last='Whiteley']. Whiteley is a quick guard with no backdown as a defender, while Stanley dominates the interior. With athletic additional depth like Ali and [player_tooltip player_id='751293' first='Lia' last='Peters'], they have the depth to compete with the big schools. Edmond Memorial is rolling, so it won't be easy but the Tigers have the talent to make it a fight to start off the tournament bright and early at 9 AM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4th Wall Break</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be honest, I don't know a lot about Quinton. A quick google search shows they went 25-5 last year and were runner ups in Class A. They're currently 7 and 2, good for currently being ranked 3rd in Class A. Those seven wins include victories against 3A squads Roland, Jones and Marlow. So they are familiar with bigger school match ups this year. But that's the extent of my intelligence right now. I did find coach Brad Davis' email on the school website last week and sent an email request for info, but didn't hear back. I do look forward to watching them this week and expanding the PrepGirlHoops coverage to include even more of Oklahoma's talented players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->