Kersey/Przybylo's Class 5A Playoff Predictions

By Jason Kersey and Robert Przybylo

Kersey’s picks

First Round: Lawton MacArthur over Woodward; McAlester over Tulsa Kelley; Bixby over Catoosa; Carl Albert over Western Heights; Guthrie over Ardmore; Shawnee over Coweta; Tulsa East Central over Durant; Duncan over Noble

Quarterfinals: Lawton MacArthur over McAlester; Carl Albert over Bixby; Guthrie over Shawnee; Tulsa East Central over Duncan.

Semifinals: Lawton MacArthur over Carl Albert; Guthrie over Tulsa East Central

Finals: Guthrie 24, Lawton MacArthur 17

Comments: Guthrie won me over in its scrimmage earlier this year against McGuinness, which I covered. Then, I was re-sold on them when they beat Carl Albert without Kye Staley having a big game. … What are sports without upsets? Lawton MacArthur has been overlooked all year, cruising to an undefeated season on a tough schedule that included Duncan, Lawton, Western Heights and Ardmore, and I think the Highlanders shock the mighty Titans. … While I picked Guthrie to beat Shawnee, I think it will be a lot closer than the game the two teams played earlier this season. Since Tucker Brown’s return, the Wolves have been really solid, but I just don’t think they have the guns to keep up with Guthrie.

Przybylo’s picks

First round: Lawton Mac over Woodward, McAlester over Tulsa Kelley, Bixby over Catoosa, Carl Albert over Western Heights, Guthrie over Ardmore, Shawnee over Coweta, Tulsa East Central over Durant, Duncan over Noble.

Second round: McAlester over Lawton Mac, Carl Albert over Bixby, Guthrie over Shawnee, T.E.C. over Duncan.

Semifinals: Carl Albert over McAlester, Guthrie over T.E.C.

Finals: Guthrie 23, Carl Albert 20.

Comments: I’ve loved saying you can’t stop the Brothers White in Durant, but Tulsa East Central is loaded… I also have a soft spot with McAlester. I don’t know, I just think if Herman Walters and Justin Klusak are both healthy, Bryan Pratt’s Buffs are too tough on the road at Tulsa Kelley and Lawton Mac… A sleeper to me is Bixby v. Carl Albert. It’ll be interesting to see how much the physical style of the Spartans takes out of the Titans, if anything at all… Tulsa East Central will give Guthrie a run for its money because the Bluejays are not too familiar (this year) with T.E.C. Guthrie knows what’s up with David Oku and the rest of C.A., but Tulsa East Central is a different animal.