By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
Okarche’s boys and Dale’s girls were selected as the top seeds for the upcoming KOFM Classic (Dec. 10-12, Expo Center) in a vote of tournament coaches Sunday night.
Dale will be the No. 2 seed for the boys, followed by Ripley, Pioneer, Tonkawa, host Oklahoma Bible Academy, Cashion and Hennessey.
Okarche was the No. 2 seed for the girls, followed by Ripley, Cashion, Tonkawa, Pioneer, OBA and Hennessey.
Okarche and Tonkawa have replaced Mooreland and Timberlake in the field for the seventh-annual tournament.
“It’s like having a target on your back,’’ said Okarche coach Ray West about having the No. 1 seed. “It’s an honor to be invited to it. We know it’s always a competitive, well-run tournament. We’re going to enjoy playing in the Expo Center.
The Warriors returned six of their top 10 players from a 25-7 team which lost to Texhoma in overtime in the Class A semifinals.
Dale, the defending girls champion, return its top three scorers from a 27-1 team which lost in the Class 2A semifinals.
“We’re excited about it,’’ said Dale coach Benny Burnett. “It’s always a great tournament.’’
The seedings could change with four teams still in the football playoffs — Hennessey, OBA, Tonkawa and Cashion. The tournament is on the same week as the Class A finals.
OBA coach Devon Schafer said the Trojans would still field a boys team if OBA made it to the final. If OBA doesn’t make it, the Trojans would field a JV team to fill out the field, if necessary. Two JV teams would fill the field, if necessary, he said.
A JV team would become the No. 8 seed.
Because of the uncertainty of the boys field, the tournament bracket was not filled out.
“It’s a good problem to have,’’ said OBA athletic director Mark Boyd about football conflicts. “We’ll accommodate the schools any way we can as far as times are concerned.’’
“The football kind of makes for an interesting development,’’ said Jay Hoberecht, sports director of sponsor KOFM Radio, “but I’m looking forward to great tournament.’’
