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51st Annual Heart tips today

Addition of new teams adds to intrigue of historic event

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One of Oklahoma’s oldest high school basketball tournaments tips off here Thursday.

The 51st Heart of Oklahoma tournament will tip off at 10 a.m. with perennial champion Anadarko jousting with Southeast High School of Oklahoma City.

In addition to the Dragons, also in the tournament field on the girls side are Byng, Elgin, Enid, Plainview and the OKC Knights.

Anadarko is ranked 8th in 4A and Elgin is ranked 20th in 4A.

Filling out the boys bracket are Anadarko, Hoops for Christ, Byng, Elgin, U.S. Grant, Plainview, OKC Knights and Purcell.

Southeast is ranked 7th in 5A and Anadarko is ranked 8th in 4A.

Purcell’s girls will open the tournament with OKC Knights at 7 p.m. followed by the boys against OKC Knights starting around 8:30 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to this tournament,” girls coach Toney Cooper said. “Being able to play in front of our home crowd is always exciting for us.

“We have ranked teams participating. I’m excited for our girls to compete. We hope to be one of the final teams standing Saturday evening,” Cooper concluded.

Complete brackets can be found in this week’s Purcell Register.

“We’re super excited about the HOOT,” Dragons’ Head Coach Roger Raper said. “We have some different teams than we’ve had in the past and that adds some unknown and unfamiliarity for all teams.

“It should be an exciting week. I know the administration and staff have put in lots of early work to make this a great event for all teams,” Raper continued.

“We are ready to finally get back to play a home game,” Raper said. “It feels like it’s been awhile.”

Last year the Ada girls won their bracket while the Trojans from Douglass won the boys’ division.

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