Four. That's the number of schools in the Class 5A State Tournament that are bringing both their girls and boys teams to the final weekend.
Eisenhower is joined by Claremore, El Reno and Shawnee. While both Ike squads have to draw the top seed from the East bracket, don't count either the Eagles girls or boys making a deep run this weekend.
Ike boys hungry for title
Perhaps no team is entering the state tournament more hungry than the No. 7 Eisenhower (17-9) boys. The Eagles have a big chip on their shoulder, and this weekend they're ready to show Oklahoma that Lawton can ball with the best of them.
"They're really hungry because of a lot of factors," Ike coach Todd Millwee said. "We didn't play great last week, the rankings -- some of us are upset by feeling we should be ranked a little higher with our schedule, not hosting a regional. Plus the way we lost to them last year. So there are a lot of factors that give us a mental advantage."
A mental advantage is a great start for Ike, who will have a tough task with No. 2 Tulsa Memorial (22-3), the same team that knocked the Eagles out in the semifinals last year. Memorial has some juggernauts, just like top-ranked Carl Albert who edged Ike by two points in last Friday's regional championship.
"We don't have anybody we get the ball and isolate like almost everybody in the state tournament has that guy or two guys. Memorial has a guy their point guard who averages 25 points per game and their off guard averages 15," Millwee said. "We don't have that so teams can't say we can't let that guy get the ball. We are pretty balanced. It can be a different guy every night."
What Memorial doesn't have is a deep squad like the Eagles. Ike plays 10 deep and like Millwee said, every player carries out their role while inflicting damage.
"Coach has confidence in all of us," senior Mookie Douglas said. "At one time or another, all 10 players have been starting. We all have good chemistry and have faith in each other."
Millwee said that solid defense by being active, on their toes and creating chaos should get the Eagles going. If they can block out well against a good rebounding team in Memorial, Ike will be looking to its most potent weapon, the transition game.
Memorial is a talented team, but the Eagles are hoping they are just a speed bump along the way.
"Ultimately, we want to win it all," senior Romio Harvey said. "Of course, we want to play better because last year we got embarrassed by them in the semifinals. We want to come out and make a better showing this time. If we rebound and play smart on offense, we'll win."
Should Ike win, the Eagles will advance to Friday afternoon's semifinals at the Mabee Center at 1:30 p.m. where they will meet the winner of El Reno and Del City.
"We're not happy just getting there," Millwee said. "We want to be the last one playing Saturday."
Cinderella Ike girls not finished
Don't led their seed or their record fool you.
The Eisenhower girls (9-17) are embracing the underdog stereotype heading into the Class 5A State Tournament starting today.
When the Eagles tip off at 2 p.m. against No. 2 East Central (22-4) fans from all over the state watching at Skiatook High School will be doubting the Cinderella story from Lawton.
"We're in a good spot because nobody expects us to do anything -- except for us. It's business for me," Ike coach Daniel Wall said. "I don't plan on going up there and being happy to be there. Our plan is to go up there and win. It's not about the team with the best record. It's about who's playing the best and I think we're playing pretty stinking good right now."
And the Eagles are playing their best basketball heading into this weekend. Ike nearly took down a ranked El Reno squad for a regional title before bouncing back with convincing wins over MacArthur and the defending state champ, Woodward, to punch its state ticket.
"We know we can do this so now we just gotta show everyone else that we can," sophomore forward Ginger Reece said. "We are embracing the underdog role. We want to show them all we are supposed to be here."
It won't be easy. The Eagles are aware of that as they will be practically playing in East Central's (Tulsa) backyard, but Wall said if they can take care of the basketball, get back on defense and rebound, they can take down another ranked school. There are other keys too, but Ike has been well conditioned for this moment.
"We also need to be calm amidst the environment of the state tournament," Wall said. "Last Saturday was a great tuneup for this because of the hostile environment with Woodward. East Central has not played the schedule we have and it's not even close."
Since the start of the week, Ike has gotten back to business and honed its focus on State after last weekend's celebration.
"We were on cloud nine and it was awesome, but it's time to go to work," Wall said. "How many chances do you get to be here? Let's take care of business while we're here. If you go out and win the first one, the rest of them get a little easier."
It's been a remarkable turnaround for a team who had only three wins entering February and hadn't won back-to-back games all season.
But from day one, the foundation was laid out starting with discipline and character. That started with following the rules, making the grades and working hard.
Wall admitted not everybody bought into those principles and some people left. But the girls who stayed remained faithful to the process and kept persevering.
"The girls bought into what we're trying to do. They are great girls who work their tails off, and they're starting to see the harvest of that work ethic," Wall said. "Once we got past the character and the discipline, the fundamentals -- defense, intensity and taking care of the basketball -- all came together. Now in playoffs, we finally started to conquer those things and that's why we're playing so much better."
If Ike defeats East Central, the Eagles will take on the winner of Piedmont vs. Shawnee on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Mabee Center in Tulsa.