Titan Classic with a new look, field for Jays

Despite missing some noticeable teams in the Titan Classic, the Guthrie boys basketball team will be looking to do something on day one and day two of tournament play that they have not been able to do this season. Win.

The Jays begin the Titan Classic, Thursday morning at 11:30, when they take on fellow Class 5A opponent Lawton MacArthur. The Highlanders are ranked 8th and enter with a 7-4 record.

A BlueJay win, on Thursday, and they return on Friday for a 5:30 tip, but a Thursday loss and the Jays return back Friday for another 11:30 tip. The Jays will either play Millwood, or Wichita North.

Guthrie (7-5) is 0-4 on the first two days of tournaments this season. Both the Ardmore and McGuinness Tournaments had talented fields, but Guthrie was unable to get in the win column against all four 6A schools.

The Titan Classic will feature two out-of-state boys teams and a local Christian school: Wichita North, HCYA Houston, and Harvest Life. No longer in the field are showcase programs like Tulsa Union, Douglass, Midwest City, and Ardmore.

The Jays are an impressive 7-9 in the Titan Classic over the past three seasons. A season ago, Guthrie lost in the finals to Douglass, 67-59, after collecting wins over Ardmore and Midwest City. In 2009, Guthrie won two of three for third place, and in 2008 won the Classic.

In the 2011 edition of the Classic, Millwood is the top seed followed by the second seed Del City.

Boys
Lawton MacArthur vs. Guthrie, 11:30 a.m.
Millwood vs. Wichita North, 2:30
Carl Albert vs. Harvest Life, 5:30
Del City vs. HCYA – Houston, 8:30
Girls
Del City vs. Mustang, 10 a.m.
Carl Albert vs. Putnam City, 1 p.m.
Millwood vs. Stillwater, 4 p.m.
Midwest City vs. Douglass, 7 p.m.