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Oklahoma high school basketball: Putnam City Invitational bracket, players to watch

hallie hart, the oklahoman
·6 min read

Putnam West girls basketball coach Ja’Ron Jefferson has a steady philosophy for his surging team.

“We stack days,” Jefferson said. “So, stacking days means we have good practices. If we have good energy, we’ll have a good practice, and then that just turns into a great performance in a game, so we just got to keep stacking days.”

With this measured approach, the Patriots carry a 7-0 record into their first in-state tournament of the season. Putnam West is one of six girls basketball squads competing in the Putnam City Invitational, which takes place Thursday-Saturday at Putnam City High School.

Last season, the Patriots reached the PCI finals but fell to eventual state champion Edmond North. This year, the Huskies aren’t in the PCI, so a new champion is guaranteed. Although Putnam West enters the tournament with significant momentum and a versatile roster featuring senior OU signee Caya Smith, Jefferson knows there’s room for growth.

“The next step for us is to communicate on defense,” Jefferson said, “to anticipate what the offense is gonna do before they do it.”

The Patriots start play with a school-district rivalry game against Putnam North at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The girls and boys brackets each include all three high schools in the Putnam City School District. On the boys side, eight teams are vying for the first-place trophy, and a new winner will be crowned without the return of reigning champion Westmoore.

Here are more storylines and players to watch:

More: Coaches Confidential: Who's the toughest girls basketball player you have coached against?

An OU signee, Putnam City West's Caya Smith checks in at No. 70 in the national class of 2024 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
An OU signee, Putnam City West's Caya Smith checks in at No. 70 in the national class of 2024 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.

Douglass girls basketball building with new coach

Latesha Woods is making a difference for Douglass

Seven games into their schedule, the Trojans already have a better record than they did last season. Douglass has improved from 3-16 to 5-2 with first-year coach Woods, the former head coach at Harding Charter Prep.

“(We’re) changing the culture, changing the vision,” Woods said. “And taking it from a quitting atmosphere, a losing atmosphere, to having a winning heart.”

After winning two of three games in the Idabel Winter Classic, Douglass is ready for a new challenge. The Trojans are the sole Class 4A team in a bracket full of 6A opponents. Douglass opens against host school Putnam City at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

More: Coaches Confidential: Who's the toughest boys basketball player you have coached against?

Putnam North boys basketball plays in back-to-back tourneys

The new year kicks off with another tournament for Michael Jeffries and his Putnam North team.

The Panthers ended 2023 with an appearance in the Bank7 Mustang Holiday Classic, where they advanced to the finals but couldn’t overpower the host Broncos, who cruised to a 65-31 victory.

After a runner-up finish, Putnam North has another chance at an in-season tournament title. The Panthers are competing in back-to-back tournaments, preparing to start PCI play against Putnam City at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Former Millwood coach Jeffries is in his first year leading the Panthers, and the young, growing squad is off to a 5-5 start.

More: Where are Oklahoma high school athletes going to college? Here's the 2024 signing list

5 girls basketball players to watch

Shamar Bert, Sr., Putnam West: Bert is the reigning Oklahoma 7 Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year. This year, with 6A teams competing in districts instead of conferences, Bert continues to be a key leader.

N’Kiyah Burge, So., Douglass: An up-and-coming star in the class of 2026, Burge enters the tournament averaging a double-double.

Alaysia Burrough, Sr., Putnam North: Burrough has already played a key role in a tournament win this season. She scored 12 points in the Joe Lawson Invitational finals as the Panthers defeated Norman, 44-35.

Seleh Harmon, Jr., Norman North: Harmon is averaging 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Caya Smith, Sr., Putnam West: An OU signee, Smith checks in at No. 70 in the national class of 2024 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2023 All-State Football Offensive Player of the Year candidates

Mustang’s Tyson Pogi (1) works past Putnam City North’s Anthony Leonard (2) during the Mustang Holiday Classic final round of the Boys Basketball tournament between Putnam City North and Mustang in Mustang Okla., on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023.
Mustang’s Tyson Pogi (1) works past Putnam City North’s Anthony Leonard (2) during the Mustang Holiday Classic final round of the Boys Basketball tournament between Putnam City North and Mustang in Mustang Okla., on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023.

5 boys basketball players to watch

Owen Eshelman, Jr., Norman North: Eshelman shot 100% from the field with 17 points in the Timberwolves’ 57-47 Crosstown Clash win over Norman.

Roy Henderson, Sr., Midwest City: Henderson has played a vital role in Midwest City’s 5-2 start under first-year coach Torey Noel.

Anthony Leonard, Jr., Putnam North: Leonard made the all-tournament team as the Panthers placed second in the Bank7 Mustang Holiday Classic.

Kaidon Rayfield, Jr., Putnam West: A four-star, 6-foot-8 forward, Rayfield has offers that include Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. In early December, he poured in 20 points and 10 rebounds in a district victory against Yukon.

Carlsheon Young, Jr., Midwest City: A four-star Oklahoma State commit, Young has elevated Midwest City in his first season with the program. The former Newcastle star racked up 38 points in a season-opening district win over Noble.

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2023 All-State Football Coach of the Year candidates

Putnam City Invitational girls format/bracket

Every team faces three opponents. Because there are six teams instead of eight, all matchups are predetermined regardless of outcome. Tournament placing will depend on overall win percentage. If needed, tiebreakers will take place in this order:

  • head-to-head

  • total point differential with a 15-point maximum for each game

  • point differential of common opponents

  • point differential of opponents that place higher

  • coin flip

Thursday

  • Putnam City vs. Douglass, 12:30 p.m.

  • Norman North vs. Sand Springs, 3:30 p.m.

  • Putnam North vs. Putnam West, 6:30 p.m.

Friday 

  • Douglass vs. Norman North, 12:30 p.m.

  • Putnam North vs. Sand Springs, 3:30 p.m.

  • Putnam City vs. Putnam West, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Putnam City vs. Putnam North, 12:30 p.m.

  • Douglass vs. Sand Springs, 3:30 p.m.

  • Putnam West vs. Norman North, 6:30 p.m.

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2023 All-State football Defensive Player of the Year candidates

PCI boys bracket

Every team faces three opponents, but unlike the girls tournament, the boys tournament features a winners’ bracket and a consolation bracket.

Thursday 

  • Tulsa Union vs. Lawton, 11 a.m.

  • Norman North vs. Northwest Classen, 2 p.m.

  • Putnam West vs. Midwest City, 5 p.m.

  • Putnam City vs. Putnam North, 8 p.m.

Friday

  • Consolation bracket Game 1, 11 a.m.

  • Consolation bracket Game 2, 2 p.m.

  • Championship bracket Game 1, 5 p.m.

  • Championship bracket Game 2, 8 p.m.

Saturday

  • Seventh-place game, 11 a.m.

  • Fifth-place game, 2 p.m.

  • Third-place game, 5 p.m.

  • First-place game, 8 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Putnam City Invitational boys and girls brackets, players to watch