I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Where has the time gone? March 1 seems like it was just yesterday, but here we are in the 2nd week of May and that means it is state tournament time.
For eight teams in Class 2A, the culmination of tons of blood, sweat, and tears comes down to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Five of the eight teams in this year’s field were in the field in 2023 – Oktaha, Preston, Wister, Cashion, and Dale. Latta was here two years ago. On the flip side of the coin, Panama is making their first appearance since 2018 with Central (Sallisaw) making their first appearance.
Let’s take a look at each of the teams.
Team Capsules
- Oktaha Tigers (29-3, #1): Number of state titles: 2 (Fall, ’09 & ’17); Last state appearance: 2023; Record vs Class 2A: 7-0
- Central (Sallisaw) Tigers (18-15, #26): Number of state titles: 0; Last state appearance: N/A; Record vs 2A: 10-6
- Preston Pirates (25-3, #5): Number of state titles: 0; Last state appearance: 2023; Record vs 2A: 9-1
- Wister Wildcats (23-6, #4): Number of state titles: 2 (Spring ’11, Fall ’83); Last state appearance: 2023; Record vs 2A: 9-1
- Cashion Wildcats (30-5, #3): Number of state titles: N/A; Last state appearance: 2023; Record vs 2A: 21-1
- Latta Panthers (23-8, #6): Number of state titles: 7 Spring (last ’05), 5 Fall; Last state appearance: 2022; Record vs 2A: 13-4
- Panama Razorbacks (26-5, #8): Number of state titles: 0; Last state appearance: 2018; Record vs 2A: 12-2
- Dale Pirates (26-4, #2): Number of state titles: Spring 11 (last ’14), Fall 11 (last ’22); Last state appearance: 2023; Record vs 2A: 11-0
Matchups
Oktaha vs Central (Sallisaw), 11:00
Oktaha comes into the tournament as the overwhelming favorite to win the title as evidenced by they receiving all 32 first place votes in the last 2A coaches poll. The Tigers have won 24 of their last 25 games with wins over teams like Rattan, Tahlequah (2x), Dewar, Bixby, Salina, and Calera.
For Central Sallisaw the good news is they got hot after losing game 1 of their District series to win their next 5 games to qualify for State. The bad news for Central Sallisaw is they draw Oktaha in the first round. After having a losing record heading into the postseason and going on a run to make State, everything else is gravy for the Tigers
Preston vs Wister, 1:30
This is a game that pits two teams together that are about is even on paper as you can get.
Wister does come into the tournament probably playing a little bit of a tougher schedule than Preston as they played more games against competition in higher classes, but the Pirates are no strangers to being in the State Tournament themselves.
Both teams have tons of postseason success the last few years, so there isn’t an advantage that either team has over the other…on paper.
Cashion vs Latta, 4:00
Cashion was the #2 team in 2A for most of the season until the last couple of weeks. The Wildcats have feasted on 2A competition this year winning 21 of 22 games. The 22 games against 2A are by far the most of any in the field.
Latta comes into the tournament with the 2nd most losses in the field, but that is not indicative of the potential of the Panthers. Latta gave Preston their first loss of the season in April.
These teams have played each other twice already this season with Cashion winning both contests (4-2, 6-3) on a neutral field at the Dibble events this Spring.
Dale vs Panama, 6:30
I’ve got to be honest, Panama is a team that snuck up on me. However, looking at their season, there is a reason they were picked to host a Regional as the #8 team. They’ve dominated the 2A competition they’ve played only losing to Wister (who they beat the other time they played) and Dibble (#9) in the Regional. The Razorbacks know how to put runs on the board. They’ve scored double digit runs in 10 of their last 11 games.
The bad news for Panama is the fact they are playing the hottest team regardless of classification in Dale. The Pirates have won 22 games in a row and haven’t lost since a 3-2 loss to Ft Cobb-Broxton on March 26.
It isn’t like the Pirates have played the “sisters of the poor” either. In that 22 game heater, Dale has beaten North Rock Creek, Mount St Mary, Tuttle, Piedmont, Elgin, Cashion, and Latta among others.
Along with Oktaha, the Pirates have to be considered a favorite in the tournament.
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