Redskins are ready to tear up the court

Basketball is in the air at KHS. Yes, even though football is still being played, Athletic director and Boys Head Coach Taylor Weibner and Girls Head Coach Chad Rumer are ready to get it started. With 2020 winding down, both coaches are anxious to see this season start with no school closures, quarantines , or positive tests. The summer of 2020 was a summer where no one was al lowed to have camps; team or individual. So, the rust from not playing is a little deeper than normal.

For the Lady Redskins: Coach Rumer has a senior laden squad for this season. Led by Avri Weeks who just last week signed a letter of intent to play at Southeastern Oklahoma State University next season. She is completely recovered from knee surgery, and will be joined by Emi O’Steen, Britany O’Steen, Chole Cargal, Kira Price and Ryan Herndon.

Weeks will anchor the middle and rebounding. She will need to have teammates hit open shots as she will attract double teams underneath. For Coach Rumer, everything starts on the defensive end of the court, also known as “full court.” Rumer is known as full court press across the state, and said he has no plans of changing.

Only one junior will be on the squad this year and that is Reagan Davis. The sophomores are talented and numerous with six girls in this class – Kaya Weibner, who is completely healed and returning from knee surgery, Ethel Stewart, Laney French, Emma Waite, Kamrey Bohannon, and Tylee Shown.

The freshman class has Jayda Foster, Tabitha Arnold, Emily Bellettini and Payton Dougherty.

Rumer said the Lady Redskins will be successful if, “we complete our defensive goals and score open buckets”. On the flip side, he said the Lady Redskins will not be successful if, “we have injuries and we don’t develop leadership”.

The Redskins: Coach Weibner and his Redskins will most likely be starting the season without several players still involved in the playoff football season. This includes seniors, Jase Hayes at point guard and Jesse Rose at center. They will depend on fellow seniors Drew Capps, and Marshall Ludrick to carry the load. Also, the seniors include Tanner Carr and Price Shore.

The junior class is talented and deep. Brady Brister is athletic and very fast up and down the court, Dakota Weibner is a threat from behind the threepoint arc, and Tucker Rumer is recovered now, having his season cut short after having surgery on a broken finger. Braden Matchen, Bryson Ellisor, Cole Morgan all will join after football wraps up. Gill Gage, Hayden McKinney, and Texas transplant Chandler Hensley and Mississippi transplant Jahiem Nash round out the junior class.

Only one sophomore will be on this squad and he is Andrew Backenstoes.

The freshman class has, Reid Cason, Drew Anderson, Raffe Patterson and Aiden Donnell.

Coach Weibner said the Redskins will be successful if, “we can really lock people down on defense,” and the Redskins will not be successful if, “we have injuries and don’t by in on what we are trying to do”.

Games to circle on the calendar: Dec. 4, season opener at home with Sulphur. Dec. 8 at Madill against the Wildcats, Jan. 7 through Jan. 9 will be the New Years Classic on the home court. Homecoming and Senior night will be on Feb. 16 at the KMAC with Madill Wildcats coming in.

Some changes have been made to the tournament schedule. New this year is the Dale Tournament which looks to be very competitive with the likes of Elgin, Dale, Mount. St. Mary’s from the Oklahoma City area, OCS and OCA and Santa Fe South. This will be Dec. 10 through Dec. 12. Gone is the Mid-America Tourney (canceled early due to covid-19). Both teams will again play the Atoka Tourney Jan. 21 through Jan. 23. The playoffs will start with district play on Feb. 19.

Many Redskin fans look forward to supporting both the Redskins and Lady Redskins this season. Good luck to them both.

Note: Don’t forget to social distance. Superintendent Brian Brister and his staff will have the guidelines out soon. Their number one goal will be the health of the student body and the community. Every precaution will be made to accomplish this. The past school year, and this one, has been a challenge for those folks who are trying to schedule these activities, as well as the parents and students. When you see these folks encourage them and tell them how much we appreciate their hard work. Go Redskins.