FORT GIBSON LADY TIGERS
Coach: Scott Lowe
23-24 Record: 21-7
#BackToTheBigHouse…After coming up short of reaching the Class 4A state tournament for the first time in 20 years, the Lady Tigers have the talent and determination to play their way into the final eight teams next March and chase another gold ball on Championship Saturday in the final year of play at the historic State Fair Arena.
The momentum is building as the Lady Tigers everyday slap the sign on the locker room door “Tradition NEVER Graduates” anchored by the game changing talents of repeat VYPE Top 100 picks Laynee Stanley (6-0, Sr.) who recently signed to play at North Texas State University and Addy Whiteley (5-5, Sr.) who inked a letter of intent with Northeastern State University. Both averaged 13 points per game last season as well as Stanley grabbing 8.1 rebounds plus 2.5 blocksand Whiteley dishing out 5-plus assists and 2.0 steals per game.
“Together, they are the foundation of our team this season,” said head coach Scott Lowe. “Laynee is a proven mismatch for opposing teams and Addy, a 3-time Verdigris Valley Conference MVP, is all energy, all the time.”
Great expectations surround the impact of Lia Peters (5-9, So.) who added 4.1 points and 4.0 rebounds as a freshman will deliver versatility and basketball IQ and enforces play on the defensive end of the court as well as being an inside/outside threat with the ball in her hands. After averaging 5.2 points per contest in 23-24, Miley Wafford (5-6, Jr.) has the confidence of a returning starter and will join forces with Brenlee Moore (5-8, So.) who burst onto the season during the playoffs with her “all-out” style of play on both ends of the floor.
Adding depth to the 2024-25 roster will be Ali Peters (5-8, Jr.), who Lowe describes as a starter who comes off the bench, as well as Alexa Ragsdale (5-3, So.), Sage Benson (5-6, So.) and Amelia Price (5-8, Fr.) in Lowe’s 8-player rotation to keep energy at a high level for four quarters while Avery Abbott (5-5, So.), Madi Barrett (5-5, So.), Emma Spears (5-5, Sr.), Katie Smith (5-9, Sr.) and Trista Moore (6-0, So.) stand ready to become playmakers.
“We return four starters from last year’s squad and should hopefully be more prepared for the challenges that await in Class 4A,” said Lowe.
