Woodward, Okla. — EDMOND – Possibly the best matchup on day one of the Class 4A state basketball tournament is tonight’s 7 p.m. contest with the 5th-ranked Boomers against No. 1 Douglass.

And it could be a contest repeated a few times over the next few years as Woodward starts one senior and Douglass none.

This year, the teams have met once already with Douglass taking a 58-48 decision in the Harrah Tournament in December. That was just the second or third game for both schools. The final margin didn’t indicate how close the game was as the Boomers were within 3 or 4 points going into the last 4 minutes.

“It took us about a quarter to adjust to the speed of the game and how quick and athletic they really were,” said Boomer head coach Corey Miller. “Once we settled down, we played them even for the last three quarters.”

Since then, both have thrived. Douglass is unbeaten and looking for its first state championship since 1989. The Boomers are 23-4 and looking for the first boys state title in school history.

Woodward was last in the state tournament in 2004 and exited after one game.

This time, the Boomers would like to stay a while longer.

“Our kids know they belong now,” Miller said. “They go into every game thinking they are going to win. We’re not excited just to be there, we’re going to go and try to win the thing.”

The first game could very well be the toughest.

Led by freshman guard Stephen Clark, the Douglass Trojans have 5 players averaging in double figures. They also have size along the front line with juniors Marquis Buxton-Hill and Romond Jenkins.

“They are extremely athletic and also basketball players, that’s a pretty dangerous combination,” Miller said. “They will pressure you on defense and get after you from the opening tip.

“We’ve got our hands full, but we’re there and anything can happen. Our boys believe they can play with them.”

The Boomers also offer opponents some problems with pressure defense, quickness and the ability to light it up from 3-point range.

Junior Seth Heckart averages 21 points a game along with 5.5 rebounds and nearly 5 assists. Casey Covalt averages over 14 points a game and Chaunce Carrico nearly 9 points a night. Drake Smithton and Austin Hickman typically round out the starting lineup. Contributing key minutes off the bench are junior Shawn Hunter and sophomores Daniel Nelson and Garrett Roach.

The Boomers aren’t one of the bigger teams in Class 4A, but they offset that with exceptional hustle and effort.

“Our kids play with so much heart and desire,” Miller said. “Night in and night out they will compete and especially do the little things that don’t always get noticed.

“We have a scrappy bunch of kids who believe in themselves and each other. This is a fun time right now, it’s an exciting time in Woodward basketball history.”

Notes: The Woodward-Douglass winner will move on to the State Fairgrounds Arena for the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Friday against Tulsa McLain or Broken Bow. The championship game is 5:45 p.m. Saturday, also at the State Fairgrounds Arena, or, if you prefer, “The Big House.” If you’re going to the game, here are directions. Take the Broadway Extension (also called I-235 and Highway 77) to Edmond.   Exit and turn east on Memorial Road. The address is 2501 E. Memorial Road, Edmond, OK   73013.   OC is located on the north side of Memorial Road just one mile east of the Broadway Extension. The gymnasium is called Payne Athletic Center/Eagles Nest.

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Thursday

Oklahoma Christian

Cache vs. McGuinness, 2 p.m.

Fort Gibson vs. Star Spencer, 3:30 p.m.

Woodward vs. Douglass, 7 p.m.

McLain vs. Broken Bow, 8:30 p.m.

Friday

State Fair Arena

Woodward-Douglass winner vs. McLain-Broken Bow winner, 4:30 p.m.

Cache-McGuinness winner vs. Star-Fort Gibson winner, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday

State Fair Arena

Championship game, 5:45 p.m.