The state’s top holiday basketball tournament tips off Thursday as MHS hosts the sixth annual Bank 7 Mustang Holiday Classic at the school’s Event Center.
Athletic Director Robert Foreman and athletic department staff have put together another exciting field for both the girls and boys brackets.
Hitting the court on the girls side, along with coach Katie Smith’s Broncos, will be five state tournament qualifiers from 2022-23, including three state champions.
The returning Class 5A state champion and runner-up and the returning Class A state champion and fellow semifinalist headline the boys field, along with coach Scott Hodges’ squad.
The 2022 Bank 7 Mustang Holiday Classic champions are a part of those groups and are back to defend their crowns. Each game will be broadcast live at www.MHSBroncoSports.TV as play-by-play host Ryan Booth brings you the action from the Mustang Event Center.
Let’s take a look at each matchup in the first round, which starts Thursday at 9 a.m.:
GIRLS BRACKET
- 4A #1 Bethany (4-1) vs 6A Putnam City North (7-1, 4-1)
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- 9 a.m.
- 2022-23 Bethany: 29-1; Class 4A State Champions
- 2022-23 PC North: 9-13; Lost in Regional Tournament
- The defending Class 4A state champions take on one of the top teams in Class 6A to start the tournament.
- 6A Edmond North (5-0, 5-0) vs 2A #6 Okemah (6-1)
- 12 p.m.
- 2022-23 Edmond North: 29-0; Class 6A State Champions
- 2022-23 Okemah: 24-5; Lost in Area Tournament
- The defending Class 6A state champions and defending Holiday Classic champions take on one of Class 2A’s top teams in the second game of the girls bracket.
- 6A Broken Arrow (4-3, 3-1) vs A #1 Seiling (6-0)
- 4 p.m.
- 2022-23 Broken Arrow: 18-9; Class 6A State Quarterfinalist
- 2022-23 Seling: 27-1; Class A State Champions
- The Class A defending state champions look to reach the finals of the Holiday Classic for a second straight year, opening the tournament against one of Class 6A’s top teams.
Chance Rogers (Sr.) drives past a Putnam City North defender during the 2022 Bank 7 Mustang Holiday Classic championship last year at the Mustang Event Center. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
- 6A Mustang (5-3, 3-2) vs 4A #17 Classen SAS (7-4)
- 7 p.m.
- 2022-23 Mustang: 14-12; Lost in Area Tournament
- 2022-23 Classen SAS: 20-10; Class 4A State Quarterfinalist
- The host Broncos take on one of the top teams from Class 4A in their tournament opener.
BOYS BRACKET
- 6A Putnam City North (4-5, 1-4) vs 6A Southmoore 2-2 (2-2)
- 10:30 a.m.
- 2022-23 PC North: 24-3; Lost in Area Tournament
- 2022-23 Southmoore: 12-11; Lost in Regional Tournament
- The defending Bank 7 Mustang Holiday Classic Champion Panthers take on Southmoore in a battle of Class 6A foes.
- 5A Carl Albert (2-2, 2-2) vs A #2 Caddo (4-2)
- 1:30 p.m.
- 2022-23 Carl Albert: 23-6; Class 5A State Runner-up
- 2022-23 Caddo: 24-2; Class A State Champions
- The defending Class A state champions take on one of Class 5A’s top teams and returning state runner-up in the second game of the boys bracket. This could be one of the best matchups of the first round.
- 5A Del City (3-3, 2-1) vs A #7 Seiling (2-1)
- 5:30 p.m.
- 2022-23 Del City: 21-6; Class 5A State Champions
- 2022-23 Seiling: 24-3; Class A State Semifinalist
- The Class 5A state champions take on one of Class A’s top teams and returning state semifinalists. Another great 5A vs A matchup.
Mya Alston (So.) drives past a Seiling defender during the 2022 Bank 7 Holiday Classic at the Mustang Event Center. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
- 6A Mustang (5-3, 3-2) vs 4A Marlow (3-1)
- 8:30 p.m.
- 2022-23 Mustang: 13-14; Lost in Area Tournament
- 2022-23 Marlow: 22-6; Lost in Area Tournament
- The host Broncos take on Marlow in the night cap. Mustang is one of the state’s top teams in Class 6A while Marlow makes its way into Class 4A after playing in 3A last season.
MUSTANG STAFF, COACHES EXCITED TO PLAY HOST
“This is going to be the best field we have ever had,” said Foreman, a former high school and college coach. “That’s big school, small school, top to bottom. We tried to create what we think fans want to see as far as matchups and put together two fair and balanced brackets.
“We’re really excited about this week and weekend.”
The teams in the tournament combined to go 333-102 last season. Nine of the 16 coaches have won state championships in the past.
“This is a high-level tournament in terms of the quality of teams and coaches,” Foreman said. “There will be phenomenal players and of course the best officials in the state.”
Bank 7 has helped sponsor the tournament in each of its six years. Foreman was quick to thank their staff at the Holiday Classic Luncheon in November.
“We couldn’t put it on without Danny Lawson and the folks at Bank 7,” Mustang’s athletic director noted. “We thank them for their tremendous support and for helping this thing grow over the last six years. We appreciate them very much.”
Smith and Hodges are also impressed with the field Mustang’s athletic department put together.
Camryn Engles (Sr.) looks to make a play during a game in the 2022 Bank 7 Holiday Classic vs Clovis East High School (Cal.). Engles and the Broncos take on Class 4A Classen SAS Thursday night in their 2023 Holiday Classic opener at the Mustang Event Center. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
“It’s the most loaded it has ever been on the girls side,” Smith said. “Bethany didn’t lose anybody, Seiling didn’t lose anybody, Broken Arrow is back with a strong team again, Classen is always good…”
“It’s fun because it is more small schools than in the past,” Hodges added. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s going to be a tough game. This is definitely the type of tournament where you have to play well to have success.”
NOTES, RECORDS, CHAMPIONS
- Edmond North has won the girls championship three times, including 2018, 2021, and 2022.
- Mustang’s girls have won the Bank 7 Mustang Holiday Classic once – 2020.
- Laci Steele, who now plays for NC State, holds the record for most points in a game with 27 vs Southmoore in 2022. She also holds the record for most points in a tournament with 65 in 2020.
- Midwest City is the only boys team with multiple Holiday Classic titles (2018, 2019).
- Mustang’s boys have won the Holiday Classic once – 2021.
- Carl Albert won the Holiday Classic in 2020.
- Ethan Scott of Westmoore holds the record for most points in a single game with 39 vs Lawton Ike. He also holds the record for most three-pointers in a single game and a single tournament.
- Antonio Gordon of Lawon Ike holds the record for most points in a single tournament with 69.
