Stillwater NewsPress

High School Sports

November 15, 2012

Frontier girls basketball looks to repeat as state champions

By Andrew Glover aglover@stwnewspress.com

STILLWATER, Okla. — Last season the Frontier Lady Mustangs were on top of Class A, defeating Okarche 53-45 for the state championship. With most of the team returning, the Lady Mustangs are eyeing a repeat.

“We lost four seniors and we will miss them,” coach Clay Stephens said. “We have a lot of experience and hope it works out.”

They key returnees for the Lady Mustangs are point guard Jalissa Gum, leading scorer and rebounder Marissa Goodman and Sydney Pappan. Frontier plays a challenging schedule but fairly close to home.

“Fortunately the geography works out that we are close to several 2A teams,” Stephens said. “Pawnee and Ripley are very good. The schedule is challenging but when it comes time for playoffs we will be ready.”

Stephens said the key for his team is how well they shoot the ball.

“We struggled shooting last year but started hitting our shots in the playoffs,” Stephens said. “Marissa is going to get double-teams and we need to hit those wide-open shots.”

The Perkins-Tryon Lady Demons are looking to gain a couple more victories so they can hold up a gold ball as they made the 4A state semifinals last season.

“We return three solid starters and another that got hurt last season,” coach Jerry Burnett said. “We have a move-in that I think will contribute.”

The Lady Demons will look to get the ball inside to their 6-foot post Jordan Gorham. Jeri Adkism, who scored 10 points per game, and Bailey Winsler should also contribute to PT’s scoring. Burnett said he has both size and athleticism.

“We will start a couple of 6-footers who are really athletic and three guards who are also athletic,” Burnett said.

The Lady Demons dropped to 3A and Burnett is excited about their first season.

“I like our chances,” Burnett said. “If we stay healthy and hungry, we could hold get a gold ball trophy.”

The Cushing Lady Tigers enter 2013 with unfinished business as they have come within a game of advancing to the state tournament the last three seasons.

“We have a pretty good club,” coach Brad Crace said. “Nine of our top 10 (players) return this year.”

The Lady Tigers’ main weapon is 5-11 Che’Ron Collins, who averaged a double-double as a freshman. Also returning is Marial Burress, who averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds per game.

Crace said his team wants nothing less than a berth in the state tournament.

“We finished in the area tournament the last two years,” Crace said. “With this team for us to go anything less than state will be a disappointment.”

Agra and Coyle look to improve this season. Agra coach Jon Peveler said his team is looking at getting better each game. The Lady Bearcats will rely on senior Amber Austin.

Coyle coach Tom Webb said he has a young team this season but is excited.

“We will be more athletic and score more points,” Webb said. “Our freshman class has only lost two games since sixth-grade.

Coyle lost in districts last season.

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