OKAY MUSTANGS
The Okay Mustangs have been to the state tournament the last three years and twice to the championship game only to come away empty. So can senior Chase Clark, who will play college ball at Northeastern State next year, get his team there one more time for a chance at glory? That will be the question for Clark and his dad Chad, the head coach.
“Chase (6-3, Sr.) is an offensive threat with a goal to help lead his team one more year,” said coach/dad. “He’s got some help from seniors Trapper Walker (6-1), Austyn Allen (6-2, Sr.) who is a great shooter and Kobe Nunez (6-0, Jr.) who is a great addition to our team this year.
The Mustangs have undoubtedly captured the market on players with colorful first names. Think about Diesel Davis and Duckie Swimmer. Other players for the Mustangs that Clark hopes will help get the job done this year include juniors David Brunson (6-1), Logan Shook (5-11), sophomores Braiden Fleetwood (6-2), Gaven King (5-11), Jaxen Milligan (6-1), Maddox Steele (6-0), Ryder Davison (5-8), and Rylan Austin (6-1) as well as a handful of freshmen in Keevin Murphy (5-5), Kanyon Longshore (6-4), Gage King (5-6), Jayce Henson (6-0), Bentley Meeks (6-2) and Brock Clay (6-2).
But depth is a problem for the Lady Mustangs. In fact, it’s a lack of numbers that is the concern of head coach Charles McMahan, who has coached the boys and girls and different times in the past at Okay.
“Right now, I’ve just got nine players out and so I’m having to bring p two good junior high players just so we have enough to scrimmage,” said McMahan. “I love to go fast with my teams to make it interesting but with these numbers that might be hard this year especially if we get in foul trouble. I’m an old dog so changing my playing style might be a hard adjustment. Isn’t that what they say about teaching an old dog new tricks,” laughed the veteran coach. On top of that, his best player, senior Teagan James, is lost for most of the season after undergoing surgery for an ankle injury suffered during volleyball. Rounding out the Lady Mustangs roster are juniors Jayden Berry who averaged 8.4 points and five rebounds a game last year, Zoey Fulton who also averaged about eight points a game, Addie Randell who contributed six points a game and Khloe Echols who has had two knee surgeries in the last two years and is just getting released to play again. A group of sophomores will also be looking for playing time in Syanne McBath, Laila Parris who saw limited action last year, Cailey Blackwell and Jesslyn Beshirs.
“I push them and they take it and though we’re shorthanded I’ve been really pleased with them so far,” said McMahan.
