5 must-see Oklahoma City-area high school girls basketball games to watch this week
The biggest regular-season tournament week has concluded, but highly anticipated Oklahoma high school girls 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: Vote for The Oklahoman's Landmark Fine Homes HS girls athletes of week for Jan. 16-22
Class 6A Edmond North (11-1) at Class 6A Edmond Memorial (12-2)
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
In this Edlam rivalry, two-time defending state champion Edmond North looks to bounce back from a tough loss. The Huskies advanced to the Saturday finals of the Jenks-Union Invitational, where undefeated Putnam West snapped their 47-game win streak. Edmond Memorial is also seeking a statement victory after suffering only its second loss of the season in the Titan Classic semifinals. The Bulldogs have fallen twice to Sand Springs, but they defeated Westmoore to place third in last weekend’s tournament. With junior standouts Janiyah Williams and Avery Hjelmstad facing Edmond North senior leader Allison Heathcock, Tuesday’s matchup has some serious star power.
More: How Choctaw girls basketball is out to prove 'last year was just a fluke'
Class 5A El Reno (15-0) at Class 5A Carl Albert (13-3)
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
This is a rematch of their season opener. El Reno defeated Carl Albert, 63-50, to set the tone for a stellar undefeated campaign to this point. After winning the Shawnee Invitational, El Reno is one of the toughest competitors in the state. Although the Titans are young, their gritty, defensive-minded group could challenge El Reno’s prolific offense and feed off home-court energy. Carl Albert’s skilled sophomore class includes 5-foot-11 guard/forward Audrey Plunkett, but El Reno has the height advantage with 6-foot-1 center Lilly Thomas and 5-foot-10 forward Pauline Black-Harmon, who recently set the program’s career rebounding record.
More: El Reno girls basketball keeps 'pretty amazing' streak intact, wins Shawnee Invitational
Class 4A Tuttle (12-6) at Class 4A Newcastle (9-7)
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
These tri-city area rivals are striving to rebound from grueling tournament weekends. Tuttle opened the Old Fort Classic with a win over Okay before falling to host Fort Gibson and Inola. Newcastle had a similar outing in its home Sweet Pea Invitational, defeating Lawton Eisenhower but losing to Lawton MacArthur and Piedmont. A victory would give either team a valuable boost heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Tigers roared past Newcastle, 63-45, in their Jan. 2 meeting at Tuttle.
More: Edmond North wins COAC boys swim title, but Huskies must 'step up' to repeat as 6A champs
Class 2A Dale (19-0) at Class 3A Millwood (6-11)
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
The Dale-Millwood matchups were scheduled during the past week, and they’ve quickly generated hype like a popular artist dropping a surprise album. These are two revered basketball schools, and while the boys matchup is receiving significant attention, the girls game is also intriguing. Dale is on a tear after winning the Cashion County Line Tournament with junior forward Teague Muncy as the leading scorer. Millwood’s losing record is a bit deceiving because the Falcons have had an incredibly difficult schedule with six games against in-state Class 6A opponents. Junior guard Brandie Harrod has offers from Tulsa, Kansas State, Wichita State, Harvard and more.
More: Oklahoma HS girls basketball: How newcomer Teague Muncy is clicking with undefeated Dale
Class 6A Mustang (13-4) at Class 6A Putnam North (13-3)
When: 6 p.m. Friday
This matchup features programs vying for the No. 2 spot in District 6A-1 after picking up steam throughout the season. Mustang dominated Sweet Pea Invitational play during the past week, while Putnam North has assembled a four-game win streak. The Panthers have different leading scorers from game to game with Nykaiya Dillard, Nevaeh Sanchez, Alaysia Burrough and Nini Geretta playing key roles. The Broncos are similarly balanced. Mya Alston and Cherish Haywood made the Sweet Pea Invitational all-tournament team, while Parker Simonsen received MVP honors. The Broncos and Panthers haven’t faced off since Dec. 1, when Putnam North won, 45-39.
More: How Kneah Smith has 'come alive' for Jones in second year of school basketball
Key matchup outside the OKC metro
Class 6A Owasso (13-3) at Class 6A Sand Springs (10-4): Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday. Owasso has defeated Sand Springs twice this season, but the Sandites are on a roll with a Titan Classic championship.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Five biggest OKC-area HS girls basketball games to watch this week
