GIRLS
Coach: Chris Brown
23-24 Record: 27-6
The Lady Lions begin this year in search of their 10th consecutive trip to the state tournament with the determination to hear their names called next March on Championship Saturday at the Big House. Veteran mentor Chris Brown welcomes four starters back to the court including VYPE Top 100 nominee Kadynce Delt (5-10, Jr.), who not only led the team in rebounds last year but can step back and hit the 3-point shot consistently. “She’s a gamer, whose strong presence around the basket is a real plus,” said Brown.
Slatey Jo Free (5-6, Jr.) and Josey Peterson (5-7, Jr.) will reunite their contributions along with Jazzy Harrison (5-9, Sr.) to solidify the foundation for winning basketball in the Howe tradition. Among the other players with game time experience from last season who Brown expects to make a bigger impact this year are Brenna Wann (5-10, Jr.), Karley Duvall (5-7, Jr.), Mariah Smith (5-4, Jr.) and Jozlyn Johnson (5-5, Sr.) as well as the impact performances from of a pair of transfers from McCurtain, Brilee (5-6, Sro) and Lexi Scarberry (6-0, Fr.).
Depth is another trait for Howe where players including the efforts of Preslee Jackson (5-7, Sr.), Kylie Mundy (5-5, Jr.), Jeanne Bourdon (5-7, Jr.), Marely Jiminez (5-4, Jr.) and Mariah Smith (5-4, Jr.) to challenge their teammates to improve their performance.
Winning basketball at Howe remains solid as the Lions also have young and talented players ready for their chance when their names are called from a solid group of sophomores including Charis Wright (5-5, So.), Lillie Branscum (5-6, So.), and Logan Leatherwood compete for minutes on the floor along with freshmen Grace Cockburn (5-7, Fr.) and Payton Green ((5-8, Fr.)
The powerhouse program out of LeFlore County remains solid but the coach knows it’s a long road to make it back to Oklahoma City at season’s end.
“It’s never easy, or something we take for granted,” Brown said in reference to this year’s team earning another state tournament ticket. “Our schedule is challenging that will give us the opportunity to get better every night and hopefully gets us ready for another deep playoff run.”
