The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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February 28, 2013

Area teams remain in Oklahoma playoffs

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer

There are a few area teams alive in the Oklahoma high school basketball playoffs.

They are Grove’s girls in Class 5A, Miami’s boys in Class 4A and four Class 2A teams out of the Lucky ‘7’ Conference — Ketchum’s boys and girls, Quapaw’s girls and Colcord’s girls.

The Ketchum boys, ranked second, are the only one of the six unbeaten (25-0). The Warriors challenge No. 1 Oklahoma Northeast Academy at 8 p.m. on Friday at Claremore High School.

Quapaw’s girls, who lost 59-44 at Ketchum during the regular season, and the Warriors clash at 6:30 tonight at Claremore. Colcord and Kiefer have a matinee meeting at 1:30 p.m.

The Miami boys, ranked 15th, and Tulsa Webster play at 3 p.m. today at Skiatook.

The 12th-ranked Grove girls face Tulsa Kelley at 8 tonight at Sapulpa.

The 4A and 2A teams in the losers’ bracket of the area round face a rugged assignment. They need to win three games to reach state. Ketchum’s boys, if they lose on Friday, must win on Saturday to advance.

Ketchum, in rejoining the Lucky ‘7,’ were 11-0 under Grant Callison (boys) and Sam Fairchild (girls). Fairchild’s team is 22-3 overall.

Callison said Oklahoma City Northeast, playing a strong schedule, is 18-6 and “very good.”

“We have to play well to beat them,” Callison said. “But we have a chance, of course.

“We have contrasting styles,” Callison said. “They are the best I’ve seen this season in person, or on film, at rebounding the ball. They’re difficult to keep off the boards.

“They pressure the ball all over the court,” Callison said. “They try to wear you down. They played 11 kids against Chouteau (in a recent game).”

Northeast opened the season by losing 46-39 to Class 5A Ardmore on a neutral court. It also has lost to Class 4A Oologah, 5A Oklahoma City Southeast and 6A teams Choctaw, Edmond Memorial and Putnam City North.

The Ketchum girls and Quapaw are ranked 10th and 14th, respectively. Quapaw lost 30-29 to Colcord in the playoffs before rebounding to beat Mounds (42-30) and Hulberr (48-40).

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