Friend us on Facebook
December 3rd, 2010
Hoops teams aim for state tourney
Richa Jackson is off to Duke and sharp shooting Tarrington Oakes also graduated, but the Midwest City Lady Bombers are just reloading the cannon, coming off a state championship season. Midwest City ran roughshod over state competition, finishing 26-0. Its two losses were to out-of-state teams.
Against Norman in the state final in Tulsa last March, the Lady Bombers squeaked out a 12-11 advantage after the first quarter and tallied the second period' s first eight points to pull away for good. Midwest City trekked to a convincing 46-32 championship win.
With 4:43 remaining before half, Midwest City's Ashley Clark dribbled around, backed away from the goal, paused, and then shot for the score. On the ensuing offensive trip, she charged to the goal to end the 8-0 run, putting the Bombers on top 20-11.
Kaylon Williams, who recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Oklahoma, heads up Midwest City' s post play. Also clearing 6 feet are Marisha Wallace and Carolee Dillard. Wallace missed the state championship run with a torn ACL, but has plenty of power to go with a soft shooting touch.
"Carolee Dillard, watch out," Lady Bombers coach Art Bode said. "She' s going to surprise some people this year. She really has matured over the past year."
Defensive stopper Adrianna White is a returning starter at guard and Bode sees high potential in freshman Jausan Beard. Jasmine Gaddis moved in from Carl Albert and Reagan Widener is a move-in from Southmoore.
"Kaylon Williams is playing outstanding, especially defensively in all of our scrimmages," Bode said. "Returning starter Ashley Clark has come on to fill some of that scoring role left from Richa (Jackson). She' s taking the ball to the basket and will really step up this year I believe."
Midwest City hosts Norman North Friday in the season opener.
HEAVY SEASONING
A lot of times, a solid basketball team has to wait for the football players to blend back into the program.
Again this season, the state runner-up Midwest City Bombers cagers are waiting for last year' s starters Cortez and Cortrael Colbert and Greg Austin to get in top basketball form, coming late out of football.
"It will be difficult early in the season because of the schedule," Midwest City boys coach Dewayne Bradley said. "I'll actually have more time with them than last year because the football team got upset (14-13 in the first round of playoffs versus Westmoore)."
On the gridiron in 2009, Midwest City went deep into the postseason and the Bombers' hoop team really never put it together until January, finishing at a smoking 11-1 clip. The lone loss was to Putnam City in the state finals at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. The Bombers wound up with the silver ball and a 23-6 record.
In the state championship, Midwest City' s energy zoomed out to 5-zip and 9-3 leads, but Putnam City produced longer and more frequently. Putnam City came out on top of the never-quit Bombers, 68-59.
The Bombers, who employed an inexorable defense, had the nod early when Austin blocked a Putnam City shot on the initial offensive possession of the contest. Teammate Cortrael Colbert then obliged with a steal that he turned into a bucket and brother Contrez popped a 3-point shot from the left wing for a 5-0 cushion.
Midwest City' s largest scoring advantage of the game came with 4:27 left in the opening frame when Trael Colbert got an assist from Xavier McClish, who had intercepted a Pirate pass, for the 9-3 lead.
Prior to that play, McClish had an amazing move to the goal. Being left-handed, he cut into the lane from the left side, took two long steps while scooping low and pump-faking a defender. At the end of his move, he softly laid the ball off of the backboard that went in for the score. McClish, one of three seniors for the Bombers along with Kendall Parks and 6-6 Billy Moore, ended the game with a pair of steals and 13 points.
Midwest City will need to fill the void left by ball-stealer Parks and clutch scorer McClish, both of whom graduated in May.
"Our practices have to get better, so we' re in a good position a couple of months from now," Bradley said.
The Bombers are also counting on 6-4 football player Chris Shannon to contribute along with 6-4 Del City transfer Devin Bockhaus.
SURPRISE PACKAGES
The Bombers had just one state placer last season in Karlton Tallbear (bronze) and are still in the rebuilding phase of the program. Midwest City will first compete today at 1 p.m. at Harrah in a quad meet with Choctaw and Putnam North.
"We' re actually kind of young this year," Bomber coach Cory Wilson said. "I have a couple of seniors that might do well this year. It' s just one of those years to see what happens."
Those seniors include Andre Wilson (135 pounds), James Ward (145), Conner Wilmeth (152) and Thee Hill. Andre Wilson did not compete much last season, but Wilson expects success from him this year and expects Ward to carry over his momentum into the state tournament this season.
Wilmeth will be backed by his younger brother Chance at 125, and Hill is noted as being a hard worker.
As a sophomore last season, Carlos Freeman battled at heavyweight before dislocating his shoulder. He returns at a full-bodied 270 pounds at 6-2.
top Kaylon Williams. Photo/Kevin Bishop
bottom Greg Austin (in white). Photo/Kevin Bishop
Against Norman in the state final in Tulsa last March, the Lady Bombers squeaked out a 12-11 advantage after the first quarter and tallied the second period' s first eight points to pull away for good. Midwest City trekked to a convincing 46-32 championship win.
With 4:43 remaining before half, Midwest City's Ashley Clark dribbled around, backed away from the goal, paused, and then shot for the score. On the ensuing offensive trip, she charged to the goal to end the 8-0 run, putting the Bombers on top 20-11.
Kaylon Williams, who recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Oklahoma, heads up Midwest City' s post play. Also clearing 6 feet are Marisha Wallace and Carolee Dillard. Wallace missed the state championship run with a torn ACL, but has plenty of power to go with a soft shooting touch.
"Carolee Dillard, watch out," Lady Bombers coach Art Bode said. "She' s going to surprise some people this year. She really has matured over the past year."
Defensive stopper Adrianna White is a returning starter at guard and Bode sees high potential in freshman Jausan Beard. Jasmine Gaddis moved in from Carl Albert and Reagan Widener is a move-in from Southmoore.
"Kaylon Williams is playing outstanding, especially defensively in all of our scrimmages," Bode said. "Returning starter Ashley Clark has come on to fill some of that scoring role left from Richa (Jackson). She' s taking the ball to the basket and will really step up this year I believe."
Midwest City hosts Norman North Friday in the season opener.
HEAVY SEASONING
A lot of times, a solid basketball team has to wait for the football players to blend back into the program.
Again this season, the state runner-up Midwest City Bombers cagers are waiting for last year' s starters Cortez and Cortrael Colbert and Greg Austin to get in top basketball form, coming late out of football.
"It will be difficult early in the season because of the schedule," Midwest City boys coach Dewayne Bradley said. "I'll actually have more time with them than last year because the football team got upset (14-13 in the first round of playoffs versus Westmoore)."
On the gridiron in 2009, Midwest City went deep into the postseason and the Bombers' hoop team really never put it together until January, finishing at a smoking 11-1 clip. The lone loss was to Putnam City in the state finals at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. The Bombers wound up with the silver ball and a 23-6 record.
In the state championship, Midwest City' s energy zoomed out to 5-zip and 9-3 leads, but Putnam City produced longer and more frequently. Putnam City came out on top of the never-quit Bombers, 68-59.
The Bombers, who employed an inexorable defense, had the nod early when Austin blocked a Putnam City shot on the initial offensive possession of the contest. Teammate Cortrael Colbert then obliged with a steal that he turned into a bucket and brother Contrez popped a 3-point shot from the left wing for a 5-0 cushion.
Midwest City' s largest scoring advantage of the game came with 4:27 left in the opening frame when Trael Colbert got an assist from Xavier McClish, who had intercepted a Pirate pass, for the 9-3 lead.
Prior to that play, McClish had an amazing move to the goal. Being left-handed, he cut into the lane from the left side, took two long steps while scooping low and pump-faking a defender. At the end of his move, he softly laid the ball off of the backboard that went in for the score. McClish, one of three seniors for the Bombers along with Kendall Parks and 6-6 Billy Moore, ended the game with a pair of steals and 13 points.
Midwest City will need to fill the void left by ball-stealer Parks and clutch scorer McClish, both of whom graduated in May.
"Our practices have to get better, so we' re in a good position a couple of months from now," Bradley said.
The Bombers are also counting on 6-4 football player Chris Shannon to contribute along with 6-4 Del City transfer Devin Bockhaus.
SURPRISE PACKAGES
The Bombers had just one state placer last season in Karlton Tallbear (bronze) and are still in the rebuilding phase of the program. Midwest City will first compete today at 1 p.m. at Harrah in a quad meet with Choctaw and Putnam North.
"We' re actually kind of young this year," Bomber coach Cory Wilson said. "I have a couple of seniors that might do well this year. It' s just one of those years to see what happens."
Those seniors include Andre Wilson (135 pounds), James Ward (145), Conner Wilmeth (152) and Thee Hill. Andre Wilson did not compete much last season, but Wilson expects success from him this year and expects Ward to carry over his momentum into the state tournament this season.
Wilmeth will be backed by his younger brother Chance at 125, and Hill is noted as being a hard worker.
As a sophomore last season, Carlos Freeman battled at heavyweight before dislocating his shoulder. He returns at a full-bodied 270 pounds at 6-2.
top Kaylon Williams. Photo/Kevin Bishop
bottom Greg Austin (in white). Photo/Kevin Bishop
Copyright ©2012 Eastword News. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission is prohibited. To obtain permission, contact us.