What to watch for tonight in area prep hoops

— Can the Tahlequah girls beat Claremore?

By my calculation, the Tahlequah girls basketball team hasn't beaten Claremore since 2001 — going 0-21 in the process. If ever Tahlequah is going to end its skid against Claremore, it's now. The Lady Tigers are off to an 8-3 start, while Claremore is just above .500 at 5-4. Plus, Claremore is playing its first season without Jordan Schultz, the former Claremore forward who is now at Oklahoma State.

— The Tahlequah boys look to continue solid play.

The Tigers (7-4) are off to one of their best starts since 2008-2009, when they were Class 5A state semifinalists. The foursome of Logan Lewis, Lain Wright, Spencer Risenhoover and Courtland Glock has transformed into a solid nucleus for first-year coach Mike Leafgreen. Tahlequah will take on a Claremore team that has struggled during the early going, minus former standouts Alex Miller and Dakota Caudill — who are both at Northeastern State now.

— Keys clubs look to rebound.

After losses to Fort Gibson on Tuesday, both Keys basketball teams look to bounce back against Oktaha tonight. The Keys boys will be going for a season sweep of Oktaha after beating the Tigers 49-36 back on Dec. 2. The Keys girls took Oktaha to overtime early this year but lost by two.

— Sequoyah teams begin back-to-back schedule.

The Sequoyah basketball teams will be on the road tonight at Metro Christian before playing Saturday at home against Stilwell. The Sequoyah boys can't get caught looking ahead — for some revenge on Stilwell after suffering an early-season loss — because Metro Christian could be a team that Sequoyah is competing against for playoff positioning.

— Hulbert girls face tough test.

The Hulbert girls will take on a Salliasw Central team that pulled out narrow victories over the Lady Riders last year. Of the matchup with 2A No. 14 Sallisaw Central, Hulbert coach Alicia Zodrow said, "We are really looking forward to playing them this year. It is one of our rivals. Last year, I really don't think we were ready for them, nor had the leadership to beat them. This year is different. ...We owe them one."