Ninety-eight state tournament games fit into the past two weeks of Oklahoma high school basketball.

Three sites hosted thrilling matchups. Fourteen state champions were crowned.

The Oklahoman covered every game.

Beyond the numbers, unforgettable storylines popped up in each classification of boys and girls basketball. Prep sports reporters Jordan Davis, Hallie Hart and Nick Sardis reflected on their favorite moments from this year’s Class 6A-B state tournaments.

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Most impressive individual performance you witnessed

Hallie Hart: In girls basketball, Tulsa Booker T. Washington junior Marcayla Johnson had two tremendous games. A Baylor commit, Johnson accumulated 26 points and 11 rebounds in the Hornets' quarterfinal win against Midwest City. Even in a semifinal loss to Sapulpa, she was the leading scorer with 29 points, showing why she's a nationally ranked recruit.

In boys basketball, Jalen Montonati turned the Class 6A championship game into an instant classic. As a sophomore in the state’s largest classification, Montonati dropped 34 points to lift Owasso to a 57-53 overtime victory over two-time defending champion Edmond North. Five-star recruit Montonati impressed as a freshman in the 2023 state tournament, and he has only improved since, leading the Rams to their first state title. The best part? Watching him share the moment with his father, Owasso coach Brian Montonati.

Jordan Davis: Dayton Forsythe carried Dale to its third consecutive Class 2A state title. The OU signee went off, scoring 36 points in the final high school game of his career, while no other Dale player managed to eclipse double-figure scoring. Defenders looked drained as Forsythe scored on three consecutive isolations in the final minutes to lift the Pirates and Jeff Edmonson to another title.

Nick Sardis: I covered Okarche’s 91-39 win against Sentinel in the Class A semifinals, and Jett Mueggenborg put on a show. Just a sophomore, Mueggenborg has already joined the 1,000-point club, and he scored 28 points while hitting 12 of 19 shots from the field against Sentinel. You’d expect a semifinal game to be at least somewhat competitive, but that wasn’t the case. Okarche led 50-24 at halftime and never looked back.

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2024 Class 6A-5A All-Tournament boys and girls basketball teams

Best team you saw

Hallie Hart: El Reno girls basketball was the only high school team in the state to finish the season undefeated. The road to perfection culminated with a 48-41 win over defending champion Sapulpa in the Class 5A finals. El Reno won its first title in program history, and this team’s great success lies in its balance. Starters Nazhoni Sleeper, Emmary Elizondo, Raegan Bugaj, Pauline Black-Harmon and Lilly Thomas complemented one another wonderfully, so no opponent could plan around one – or even two – players.

Jordan Davis: The Owasso boys team is one of just two teams in the state that have defeated Edmond North in the last two years. The Rams managed to do so in the state championship game thanks to a 34-point effort from Montonati. The five-star sophomore sparked a nine-point comeback to push the game into overtime. The Rams won their first-ever state title behind a stellar quartet of Montonati, Jax Kerr, Cody Lechlider and Boden Williams, a group that could help them look to repeat in 2025.

Nick Sardis: The Bethany girls. The Bronchos defended their title after winning each game by double digits at the Class 4A state tournament and had one of the best teams in Oklahoma, regardless of classification. OU signee Zya Vann and Sooners commit Keziah Lofton draw a lot of attention, but Bethany had several other players who shined along with them at the state tournament, including Kayten Donley, Avery Marchino and Vann’s younger sister, Talia.

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2024 Class 4A-2A All-Tournament boys and girls basketball teams

Best game you saw

Hallie Hart: The Class 6A girls championship between Putnam West and Edmond North had a cinematic ending. Putnam West trailed the two-time defending champion by as many as 10 points, but the Patriots made an impressive comeback. With seconds dwindling, none other than sophomore guard Da’Nae Jefferson – Putnam West coach Ja’Ron Jefferson’s daughter – drove into the lane, made the tying basket and drew a foul. With the game largely resting on her shoulders, she sank the go-ahead free throw, capping the 41-40 victory for Putnam West’s first state title since 1981. The team celebration encapsulated the thrill of the state tournament, featuring leaps, cartwheels and smiles all around.

Jordan Davis: The Class 4A state championship game between Douglass and Weatherford was a certified classic. The rematch of 2023's title game exceeded the hype as OU football commit and Trojans wing Jaden Nickens went at it with Eagles forward CJ Nickson all game long. The electric atmosphere left nearly no seats in the Big House for the first time in over a decade. A 16-point comeback from Douglass pushed the game into overtime, which the Trojans managed to survive to win its second straight 4A title behind the late efforts of Davon Scott.

Nick Sardis: The Class 2A girls championship was a strange game, but a good one. Both offenses struggled mightily, and it was a classic defensive battle. But Merritt got the spark it needed down the stretch as sophomore Marlie Mong hit a 3-pointer with 51.4 seconds left before the Oilerettes hung on from there, beating defending champion Dale 25-23. Merritt had just two state titles in any sport heading into that game, and both were in girls basketball. The Oilerettes had a great crowd, and the win was a big deal for the community.

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2024 Class A-B All-Tournament boys and girls basketball teams

Most underrated player you watched

Hallie Hart: Riki McQuarters of Sapulpa girls basketball. Seniors Tyla Heard and Taylor Bilby understandably receive spotlight as talented leaders, but sophomore McQuarters is this team’s unsung hero. Coach Darlean Calip described McQuarters as a “quiet” player who finishes a game with “big numbers,” and this proved true. In the blink of an eye, McQuarters had a double-double in the Class 5A semifinals against a solid Tulsa Booker T. Washington team. At 5-foot-8, she rebounds like a much taller player because of her strategic timing.

Jordan Davis: Landry Ballard Jr. of Douglass boys basketball. It may be hard for some to shine on a team filled with talent such as Nickens, Scott, and Jaden Williams, but not so much for Ballard. The junior stepped up immensely when the Trojans needed it most, helping spark the state championship comeback during a 13-1 run in the third quarter. Ballard was nearly unstoppable before fouling out late in the fourth, finishing with 19 points in 29 minutes.

Nick Sardis: Junior Kayten Donley of Bethany. The Bronchos have a pair of coveted recruits, and that leads to some opponents looking past Donley, but they shouldn’t. She was named the most valuable player of the Class 4A girls state tournament after averaging 11.3 points per game last week. She led Bethany with 17 points as the Bronchos beat Tulsa Lincoln Christian 48-28 in the title game and proved she’s as important as anyone on that team.

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Best fan support

Hallie Hart: This is a repeat answer, but I have to give credit to El Reno. In the press conference after the state title game, El Reno coach Jennifer Douglas mentioned how community businesses had promoted her team’s games, and the local Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes showed outstanding support. The result? Community members of all ages not only showed up at Lloyd Noble Center, but also brought the energy during each of El Reno’s matchups. After winning the gold ball, the team carried it to the student section, celebrating the historic achievement as one group.

Honorable mention goes to Allen. Seiling’s girls team routed Allen on the way to its third straight Class A state championship, but I listened to the Allen students behind me and heard vocal support throughout the game, including encouragement of individual players. With this refreshing positivity, these teenagers showed what it means to be loyal to your team. Small towns show up big at State Fair Arena.

Jordan Davis: Oklahoma Christian School. OCS packed out its side of the stadium at State Fair Arena more than any school not named Weatherford. Cardboard cutouts of players' faces and riveting in-sync chants from the student section and other crowdgoers helped the atmosphere almost feel like a Saints home game. The raucous noise worked, as head coach Brandon Weaver credited the crowd while OCS went on to win its first state title in 17 years.

Nick Sardis: Weatherford. The Eagles had a heartbreaking overtime loss to Douglass in the Class 4A boys finals, but the support Weatherford had at State Fair Arena was the best I’ve seen in a long time. The game itself was phenomenal, but the atmosphere was even better. The Big House was packed and roars filled the arena with each score throughout the night. Weatherford’s student section was full, Eagles fans held face cutout signs and there were even young kids with no shirts and paint across their chests. It was the place to be Saturday night, and the matchup lived up the hype.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS basketball top players, moments of 2024 state tournaments