The basketball season is underway and the girls teams at the city schools are looking to improve on last year's results.
MacArthur
It is the beginning of a new era for the MacArthur girls basketball team.
David Vann replaced Danny Garza, who spent a dozen years at the helm, as the Highlanders coach in early May, and he is ready to implement a new culture within the program and raise it to prominence in Class 5A. Mac hasn't qualified for the state tournament since 2010.
When looking at Vann's resume, there is no wonder he was chosen to take over the helm.
Vann' most recent gig was as the boys' coach at Dove Science Academy in Tulsa, where he spent two years, but that is only a small portion of his acquired experience.
Vann has coached basketball for 15 years at multiple levels, including junior colleges Murray State in Tishomingo and Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa. Vann also spent time as an assistant coach at 6A schools Jenks and Muskogee.
Upon taking the job, Vann didn't know what to expect.
He knew the squad lost two of its best players from last year, Lauren Henry and Na'Seana Carter, to graduation, but what Vann learned after a few practices had him made optimistic for what is to come.
"I thought after they lost the two seniors from last year, I thought we'd be down a little bit," Vann said. "But I didn't realize we had so many good athletes."
Those athletes were on full display in the Highlanders' season opener, as Mac won a 70-68 thriller over Riverside Indian on Tuesday night. Four players scored in double figures, led by McKenzie Washington, who finished with 22 points on 11-of-17 shooting.
Along with Washington, Erin Henry, Tamera Thomas and Victoria Lewis will be major players for the Highlanders this season. Also look for Sydney Gunter to light up opposing defenses from beyond the arc.
The team showed great chemistry in the win over the Braves, which is something Vann said he has working toward with the girls. He said playing as a team and having respect for one another is an important part of the desired success.
"I'm interested in getting all of my girls the ball," Vann said. "My old girls and my young girls are divided, so I'm working on the bonding thing. We need to learn how to be a team, so I'm trying to add in the little things. Discipline is the key for me. That is what I brought in, and the girls are learning how to be young ladies in the school and on the court.
"I think I have a good rapport with the girls, and that's a good thing to have. That's the vibe I get, overall. All 14 of my girls, including my JV and my freshman, have respect for me. There's no get, overall. All 14 of my girls, including my JV and my freshman, have respect for me. There's no back talk. I have control of the program, and that sums it up right there."
Although Vann and the girls are still learning about each other, they will learn a lot about themselves in the next week.
Mac travels to Duncan on Tuesday, followed by an always deep and competitive Altus Invitational from Dec. 7-Dec. 9. In that tournament, the Highlanders will face off with Altus, Eisenhower and Putnam City North.
Lawton High
The Wolverines are learning.
Thanks in large part to a young and experienced roster, Lawton High's girls' basketball team was plagued by youthful mistakes in the 2016-17 season. The Wolverines stumbled to an 8-14 record, falling to No. 1 Choctaw in the first round of the regional tournament.
However, the Wolverines are now a team filled with seasoned veterans, and they are determined to atone for their miscues last season by making a run at not only a winning record, but also the state tournament.
LHS coach Otis Gentry said he likes what this version of the Wolverines has to offer in terms of athleticism and experience.
"We were really young last year," LHS coach Otis Gentry said. "I started three freshmen, and we weren't as strong as I would've liked us to be. Coming into this year, I'm really looking forward to it because I've got a few seasoned players and a mixture of seniors, juniors and sophomores. I'm really looking forward to this season coming up.
"I'm really looking forward to being a lot strong than last year, due to the fact we have more experience in the game now. I'm really looking forward to us doing better this year."
Four key returners for the Wolverines are Tyeshia Anderson, Shakyra Sadler, Tamara Toles and Shilyn Freeman. Freeman suffered an injury last season that kept her sidelined for the most part, but the shooting guard is sure to make her presence known to all her opponents.
Anderson is filling in as the starting point guard for Sharonica Hartsfield, who moved to Oklahoma City after last season.
Of course, players can't advance their skills and playing ability without putting in the necessary work during the offseason. Fortunately for the Wolverines, the summer months involved plenty of basketball and learning opportunities.
Gentry said the gym and the weight room were often filled with adamant young athletes with unshakable resolves looking to improve themselves and grow for the upcoming season.
"Most of the girls came in on their own to shoot and work," Gentry said. "They'd call in on the weekend and say, 'Hey coach, can we come shoot?' I think the hard work they put in this summer should show during the season."
LHS's focal point of the preseason has been its defense and decision-making skills, and Gentry said his team's ability to improve in those areas will be the determining factor in the success it will enjoy.
The Wolverines gave up more than 50 points per game last season, and bad decisions on offense led to turnovers that cost them several close games.
LHS lost at least four games decided by 10 points or less in 2016-17.
"Last year, one of the biggest problems was that we were a young team and we had a lot of turnovers in games that we were in but lost," Gentry said. "I just think the little more experience that we're going to have this year will help our defense improve -- that's the main thing -- and our decision-making on offense."
The Wolverines have a chance to put their newfound experience and drive into action with a series of big matchups with No. 14 Midwest City and No. 1 Choctaw to kick off the season. LHS then travels to east for the Duncan Invitational from Dec. 7-9.
The first intercity matchup for the Wolverines is against MacArthur on Dec. 15.
"Those games right there we're looking forward to," Gentry said. "We want to use the tournament to get more games under our belt to boost us into the beginning of the season."
Eisenhower
For the Eisenhower girls, looking at last year's record can be misleading.
The Eagles finished 10 games under .500 at 9-19, but they got hot toward the end of the season, earning a surprise berth to the state tournament for the first time in 12 years. Even Lawton Constitution writer Seth Olson labeled the team as the "Cinderella" of Class 5A basketball.
The unprecedented run ended in the first round against eventual runner-up Tulsa East Central, but that was only the beginning for Ike.
The Eagles return every player from the 2016-17 squad, earning them a No. 7 ranking in the initial coaches' poll, which came out prior to opening night. Ike moved up to No. 6 in the poll released Monday after dismantling Del City 67-45 in the season opener on Friday night.
Ginger Reece and Mikaela Hall led the way in that contest -- the pair finishing with 14 points apiece. Gene Rogers and Jaeda Reed also scored in double figures, adding 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Ike coach Daniel Wall said he likes what he has seen thus far from his talented group of players.
"Jaeda Reed is a senior, she's about 6-1, and she's our big person inside," Wall said. "She's one of our leaders, and she's as dominant a post player as there is. She's going to carry our scoring and rebounding load.
"Ginger Reece is our scoring leader from last year, and she's a prolific shooter who does a very good job of attacking. She's just a great scorer of the basketball. Gena Rogers is a defensive specialist and hustle player extraordinaire."
Delicia Brown is another returner who Wall expects to have an impact for the squad. Brown suffered an ACL tear in the summer of 2016 but returned toward the end of the season, playing a major role in the state tournament run with her shooting skills.
Hallie Horton is a key addition to the already loaded Eagles, transferring from Anadarko to take over the point guard position. Wall said Horton can not only shoot effectively, but she can also protect the ball.
Despite the team seemingly being set for great success in 2017-18, it won't be easy.
Ike plays in one of toughest conferences in the state, the Big 10, and with so many talented and ranked teams on the schedule, every night will be a challenge.
Of the 16 non-tournament regular season games, 10 opponents are currently ranked, including the top two teams in Class 6A, Choctaw and Putnam City West.
"We play very competitive and very quality teams," Wall said. "We play 6A No. 1 Choctaw next Friday at home, and we play MacArthur several times throughout the year -- they are a solid team. We play Putnam City West toward the end of the year. If you look at our schedule on the OSSAA Rankings website, we play ranked teams night in and night out."