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December 3rd, 2010
New kid arrives
A fresh face will be on the Del City boys basketball bench this season as Tim Stogsdill has replaced 27-year veteran coach Allen Dukes.
Stogsdill is coming off of a blistering season with Putnam West, as the Patriots rumbled all the way into the Class 6A state semifinals, falling to Midwest City 50-47. It was the first state tournament appearance for Putnam West since 1977 and just the second time the Patriots qualified for state in the school's 42-year existence.
Del City is coming off of a 13-11 season, with six seniors coming back.
"We have a lot of talent coming back from last year that got a ton of minutes last year," Stogsdill said. "They're learning my system and what we want to do offensively and defensively."
The six seniors hitting the hardwood are Corey and Brian Lulko, Chris Stevenson, Andre Runnels, Drew Smith and football standout 6-4, 310-pound Jamelle Naff, who sat out basketball the past two seasons, but does have playing experience. Naff has orally committed to play football for Texas Christian.
"He's got good hands and good feet and has played a lot of basketball believe it or not. He's being a leader for us and that's what we need right now," he said of Naff.
In all, Stogsdill has a lot of experience coming back, as juniors A.J. Holland, Jamal Moseley and Steffon Herd also logged several playing minutes.
The surprise is 5-10 freshman Brett Cannon, who will start at point guard and also play some two guard. The 6-foot Holland will interchange positions with Cannon.
"For a freshman, he is really head smart," Stogsdill said. "He understands the game; I like his court sense."
Del City opened Nov. 30 at Norman North and will compete at Westmoore Friday before hosting Norman Dec. 7.
"I'm very comfortable with a good group of young men," Stogsdill said. "We came off a really good scrimmage right before Thanksgiving versus Jenks and Putnam North and won seven of eight quarters. They really played hard and have always played hard and that is a tribute to Allen (Dukes)."
SIXTH SENSE
There are only eight teams in the rigorous Mid-State Conference.
And, of the eight, the Del City Lady Eagles are ranked sixth in the preseason, a motivator no doubt for the team, just two seasons ago plunked rival Midwest City for the state championship.
"The girls aren't worried about it," Head Coach Karri Sears said. "They know where they're going to be. We're going to beat a lot of good teams."
Del City finished 12-14 last season after getting upset by Southmoore in the area consolation but was without 6-2 Jakeyma Williams at full strength. Williams, who played a big part in holding down Midwest City's Kaylon Williams in the state championship in her sophomore season, came back after Christmas but was limited after tearing her ACL in the 2009 summer Amateur Athletic Union competition.
"That really hurt us a lot last year," Sears said. "She just dominates inside physically."
The Lady Eagles have four returning starters in seniors Rukiya Turner, 5-10 Teaira Rich, Kayla Rogers and Shafaun Jones. A pair of 6-foot juniors in Toni Smith and Mariah Jackson will add to the size in handing Sears her biggest team she's had at Del City. In Smith's very first game as a freshman on varsity, Smith totaled 17 points against Putnam West.
MAT MATTERS
On the mat, Ronnie James' Eagles are coming off of a 5-5 dual season, one of the very few times his troops did not qualify for dual state.
Del City has two-time state finalist Tray Dorrell returning for his senior year. Dorrell fell 3-1 in the 112-pound championship to Tulsa Union's Josh Walker. Dorrell will compete at 119 this season in duals and try to qualify for state again in the 112-pound slot.
The Eagles open the season at home today with Moore, a team that upended Del City for the first time in 23 attempts in '09.
"They (Moore) have a much improved program and I've got a great staff and a great middle school staff," James said. "Wrestling is becoming like anything else. It is year-round if you want to be any good at it. We got a bunch of newcomers in the room this year and we'll see what happens."
A pair of up and coming sophomores include Devin Green and John McBride. McBride's father was a state champion in 1979 at Del City and wrestled on the same team as James.
Jamie Shawver was a match away from making the state tournament last year and wound up 29-7. In this year's preseason, Shawver won the Yukon open on Nov. 13 and fell in the championship on Nov. 6 in the Carl Albert Open. Senior Orlando Ricalbe, who will compete at 140-145, placed second at both Carl Albert and Yukon. Junior Josh McNaughton (215) placed third at Carl Albert in just his second year in wrestling.
"He's (McNaughton) a pretty big kid and is really hungry and interested in the sport," James said.
top Rukiya Turner (24) and Mariah Jackson (44) play during the 2009-10 playoffs. Photo/Mark Hancock
bottom Del City's Tray Dorrell (front) placed second in the 2010 Class 6A wrestling state championships. Photo/Mark Hancock
Stogsdill is coming off of a blistering season with Putnam West, as the Patriots rumbled all the way into the Class 6A state semifinals, falling to Midwest City 50-47. It was the first state tournament appearance for Putnam West since 1977 and just the second time the Patriots qualified for state in the school's 42-year existence.
Del City is coming off of a 13-11 season, with six seniors coming back.
"We have a lot of talent coming back from last year that got a ton of minutes last year," Stogsdill said. "They're learning my system and what we want to do offensively and defensively."
The six seniors hitting the hardwood are Corey and Brian Lulko, Chris Stevenson, Andre Runnels, Drew Smith and football standout 6-4, 310-pound Jamelle Naff, who sat out basketball the past two seasons, but does have playing experience. Naff has orally committed to play football for Texas Christian.
"He's got good hands and good feet and has played a lot of basketball believe it or not. He's being a leader for us and that's what we need right now," he said of Naff.
In all, Stogsdill has a lot of experience coming back, as juniors A.J. Holland, Jamal Moseley and Steffon Herd also logged several playing minutes.
The surprise is 5-10 freshman Brett Cannon, who will start at point guard and also play some two guard. The 6-foot Holland will interchange positions with Cannon.
"For a freshman, he is really head smart," Stogsdill said. "He understands the game; I like his court sense."
Del City opened Nov. 30 at Norman North and will compete at Westmoore Friday before hosting Norman Dec. 7.
"I'm very comfortable with a good group of young men," Stogsdill said. "We came off a really good scrimmage right before Thanksgiving versus Jenks and Putnam North and won seven of eight quarters. They really played hard and have always played hard and that is a tribute to Allen (Dukes)."
SIXTH SENSE
There are only eight teams in the rigorous Mid-State Conference.
And, of the eight, the Del City Lady Eagles are ranked sixth in the preseason, a motivator no doubt for the team, just two seasons ago plunked rival Midwest City for the state championship.
"The girls aren't worried about it," Head Coach Karri Sears said. "They know where they're going to be. We're going to beat a lot of good teams."
Del City finished 12-14 last season after getting upset by Southmoore in the area consolation but was without 6-2 Jakeyma Williams at full strength. Williams, who played a big part in holding down Midwest City's Kaylon Williams in the state championship in her sophomore season, came back after Christmas but was limited after tearing her ACL in the 2009 summer Amateur Athletic Union competition.
"That really hurt us a lot last year," Sears said. "She just dominates inside physically."
The Lady Eagles have four returning starters in seniors Rukiya Turner, 5-10 Teaira Rich, Kayla Rogers and Shafaun Jones. A pair of 6-foot juniors in Toni Smith and Mariah Jackson will add to the size in handing Sears her biggest team she's had at Del City. In Smith's very first game as a freshman on varsity, Smith totaled 17 points against Putnam West.
MAT MATTERS
On the mat, Ronnie James' Eagles are coming off of a 5-5 dual season, one of the very few times his troops did not qualify for dual state.
Del City has two-time state finalist Tray Dorrell returning for his senior year. Dorrell fell 3-1 in the 112-pound championship to Tulsa Union's Josh Walker. Dorrell will compete at 119 this season in duals and try to qualify for state again in the 112-pound slot.
The Eagles open the season at home today with Moore, a team that upended Del City for the first time in 23 attempts in '09.
"They (Moore) have a much improved program and I've got a great staff and a great middle school staff," James said. "Wrestling is becoming like anything else. It is year-round if you want to be any good at it. We got a bunch of newcomers in the room this year and we'll see what happens."
A pair of up and coming sophomores include Devin Green and John McBride. McBride's father was a state champion in 1979 at Del City and wrestled on the same team as James.
Jamie Shawver was a match away from making the state tournament last year and wound up 29-7. In this year's preseason, Shawver won the Yukon open on Nov. 13 and fell in the championship on Nov. 6 in the Carl Albert Open. Senior Orlando Ricalbe, who will compete at 140-145, placed second at both Carl Albert and Yukon. Junior Josh McNaughton (215) placed third at Carl Albert in just his second year in wrestling.
"He's (McNaughton) a pretty big kid and is really hungry and interested in the sport," James said.
top Rukiya Turner (24) and Mariah Jackson (44) play during the 2009-10 playoffs. Photo/Mark Hancock
bottom Del City's Tray Dorrell (front) placed second in the 2010 Class 6A wrestling state championships. Photo/Mark Hancock
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