Lady Tiger basketball seeks third consecutive Gold Ball

Wrestling enters seasonwith State Title expectations

Speed, shooting a strengthfor Boys basketball

New coach helping swimmers find their stroke, dedication

CoachMikeHughespittedhispotentialstartersagainstwhatheconsideredhissecondfive.Firstteamtosevenwasthewinner.Thetwofinalscores:7-6and7-5.Thevictoriesweresplit. Onthefloorforthefirstgroupwereallfourplayers-AysiaEvans,AlexisGauldin,DarianJacksonandJaliseSmall-wood–whostartedforlastyear’sClass6Astatechampions.Inback-to-backtitle-winningseasons,Hughesdidnothavetheluxuryofthismuchdepth. “Wefeelconfident thatwehaveeight to11players thatcangiveussomeminutesandgiveplayerssomerest,”Hughessaid.“Thatissomethingwedidn’thavelastyear.” ThosefourreturningstartersplayedthebulkoftheminuteslastyearalongwithgraduatesTaylorJonesandTierraJones.Hughes’challengewillbefindingminutesforplayersonhistalent-strickenroster. “Ifsomeonecameintowatchuspracticeonagivenday,andtheyhadnoideawhoourkidswere,theymightpickoneofeightornineplayersasthebestplayeronourteam,”Hughessaid.“That’sagoodsignastowherewe’vecomefrom.” JuniorKatlynLaughlin,a6-2juniorwhosefamilymovedtoBrokenArrowinthesummer,willprovideaninsidepresencetotheguardheavyLadyTigers. “Lastyear,wehadaforceinside(TaylorJones),butthisyearIthinkwe’llbeabletoscoremorepointsinsidewhenweareinourhalfcourtset,”Hughessaid.“That,alongwiththewayweshoottheballandcanpenetrate,isgoingtomakeushardtoguard.” Anearlyseasonevaluationbythecoachingstaffhasthisteam“20-25pointsbetterthanwewereayearagoatthistime.”Thatwasbefore(mightwanttomentionherfirstnameagain)Evans,aTulsaWashingtontransferin2014-15,waseligibleandbeforegirlsdevelopedasacohesiveunit. “Chemistryisahugething,”Hughessaid.“Thekidshavereallyboughtintothefactthatwehavetobeatightgroupandthatwecan’tbeselfish,”hesaid.“It’snotaboutoneperson.Ifwewin,weallwin.Ifwelose,wealllose.” LosingiswhatHughesandhisgirlshavedonelittleofthepasttwoseasons,going51-5duringthattime.TheLadyTigerswillbeafavoritetocaptureitsthirdconsecutivegoldball.AndthoughHughesandhisgirlsareconfident,heknowswinningtheFrontierValleyConferencecouldbeasdifficultataskaswinningthatfinaltournamentgame. “Ourconferenceisloaded,”Hughessaid.“We’regoingtohavetoplayreallywelltobeatsometeamsinourconfer-ence. “Wehavealotofconfidence,maybesometimestoomuch.ButI’dratherhavetoomuchconfidencethannotenough.” Confidence,depth,chemistry–thatisagoodrecipeforsuccess.

This free throw, by then sophomore Jalise Smallwood, broke a 67-67 tie in overtime of the last year’s state championship game against Muskogee at the ORU Mabee Center. Smallwood made both free throws and the Lady Tigers went on to a 71-67 victory and their second consecutive title.

Deep, TalentedSeveral players could contribute as Lady Tigers seek third straight title

Inseafaringdaysofyore,awoodenbattleshipwouldfireashot“acrossthebow”warninganothershipofapossibleout-gunnedconfrontation. Intornadoalley,sirensringoutdangerofanon-rushingcyclonicthreat. InClass6Agirlsbasketball,thealarmissoundingthatBrokenArrow’sdynamicguardduoofAlexisGauldenandAysiaEvanshaveimprovedonthegamethathelpedpropeltheLadyTigerstotheirsecondstraightstatetitle. “Teamsaregoingtohavetopicktheirpoison,”saidassistantcoachTiffanyJones.“Eithergirl,ifyoubackoff,canshootfromtheoutside.And,ifyoucomeoutandpressure,theycangotothebasket.Theypasstheballsowellandnotjusttoeachother.Theyhaveagreatcourtsense.Theygettheballtotherightpeopleintherightspots.” Forthesetwoteammates,theletter“A”isnotjustthebeginningoftheirfirstnames,it’sthedescriptiveletterofthegametheybringtothecourteverynight.Theyareconfidentinknowing,especiallyafterplayingnearly80AAUgamestogetherthissummer,thatifone’sgameisnotclicking,thentheotherwillpickuptheslack. SaysGaulden:“You’renotgoingtobeatyourbestev-erygame,soit’sawesomethatyouhavesomeoneyoucanrelyon.” SaysEvans:“IfIknowI’mnoton,IknowIcandishtoLex,becauseifI’mnotgoingtohitit,shewill.We’vegoteachother’sback.” It’shardtorecallanoffnightforeithergirlduringtheirjuniorseason.Soforecastingonefortheirseniorcampaignismorechallengingthanpredictingwhennextspring’sfirstOklahomawallcloudwillappearinthewest. Bothgirlsarephysicallystrongerthanayearago,add-ingnearly10-poundsofmusclesincehoistingthatsecondgoldballinMarch. Asforself-evaluation,bothsaytheyarebettershoot-ersthanayearago.Aysiahasdevelopeda“deeppull-upjumper”whileAlexisisnow“hittingwideopenjumpers.” SendouttheS.O.S. Hoistthewarningflag. AlexisandAysiaareevenbetterthanbefore.

Backcourt duopushes each other to bring their... A-GAME

Brandon Chaney,Senior,6-2,returningstartingpointguard,averaged twoassistsandonestealpergamelastseason.CoachWallace Scouting Report: Terrificon-balldefender;Offenseimprovingeveryday

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Jacob Knutson, Senior, 6-3, averagedfourpointsandmorethanthreereboundsoffthebenchaseasonago.Coach Wallace Scouting Report: OurX-factor; Can shoot, dribble;One of ourbest rebounding guards and understandshelp-sidedefense

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Caleb Huffman, Sophomore, 6-3,averaged nearly four points in 17 varsitygamesasafreshman.Coach Wallace Scouting Report: Greatscorerwithan incrediblyquickfirst step;Longdefenderontheoutside

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Coach Wallace’s Overall Team Scouting ReportIthinkweshoottheballbetterthanwedidlastyear.Wehavemultipleguyswhocanstepoutandshootthatshot.Wecanreallystretchthedefenseandmakethemguardthewholefloor.

Ourguardsaretall,sotheycanpostup.Wecanputpeopleindifferentsituationswhentheyhaveasmallerguyonthem.

We’velookedatplayingmorezonethisyearbecauseofourlength.Butalsobecauseofthewaytheyarecallingthegame.Theemphasisthisyeariscleaningupthepostplay,soitwillbeeasyforguystogetintofoultrouble.Wecanplayzonetogetpeopleoutofrhythmbecauseofourlength.

Becauseweareallaboutthesametime,wecanswitcheveryguardscreenandnotworryabouttheheightdifference.Thisgivesusalotmorefreedomtodosomethingsdefensively.

Tigers Projected Starting Five

Brandon Chaney,Senior,6-2,returningstartingpointguard,averaged twoassistsandonestealpergamelastseason.CoachWallace Scouting Report: Terrificon-balldefender;Offenseimprovingeveryday

Tony Hall, Junior, 6-5, averaged nearlyfour points and three rebounds during2014-2015season.Coach Wallace Scouting Report: Strongrebounder and a lock-down defender;Shootstheballwellandcangettotherim

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Ben Crider,Senior,6-5,leadsallreturningplayersinpointspergame(6.6),rebounds(4.0), blocked shots (13), 3-point FGpercentage(.407).CoachWallaceScoutingReport:Ourbestoutside shooter; Good rebound who canrunthefloor

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Beau KnowsCoach Wallace: shooting, speed strength of 2015-2016 squad

Tigers Projected Starting Five

SINGLET EXPECTATIONS

Championship presumptionsare the norm when wrestlersstrap on BA gear

OF

IsaiahPage(right)andreturningstatequalifiers(clockwisefromupperleft)TrentonLieurance,CalebWise,SkylerHaynes,TaJuanDaniels,andTylerLawleyall understand the expectationsofbeingaTigerwrestler.

Forthefirsttimethisdecade,BrokenArrowentersawrestlingseasonwithoutareturningstatechampion.GoldmedalistsMarcusSimmons,PaydenBailey,ChrisKaserandStevenAllengraduated.ButthisisBrokenArrowandbynomeansisthewrestlingcupboardbare. Sixotherstatequalifiers–TylerLawley,TaJuanDaniels,CalebWise,SkylarHaynes,IsaiahPageandTrentonLieurance–bringbackmorestatetournamentpointsthananyotherClass6Ateaminthestate. “Wefeelgoodaboutthisgroup.”Thislowkeystatementwasthebeginningofa10-minuteexplanationthatendedasmostconversationsaboutBAwrestlingdowithCoachShawnJones–thetalkofanothertitle. “The whole season is about preparing them for that rodeo arena down there and winning a statechampionship,”saidthecoach,eagerforthematstounrollandtheseasontobegin. The2015-16Tigerwrestlingsquadisateamofdepth. “Muchlikeotherschoolsaroundthestate,wedon’thavethosesuperstars.AmateurNewsisnotcallingwantingtodoarticlesoveranyofthekids,”Jonessaid.“Welostfivephenomenaldudes,butwe’velostthosetypeofguysbefore.Wehavesomekidswhocanmakeanameforthemselves.” On a side note about our state, an all-star team of Oklahoma wrestlers were high school national dual champions and sent more than a dozen wrestlers to NCAA Division 1 colleges. Qualifying11wrestlersforthestatetournamentisalikelyscenariofortheTigersagainthisyear.Gettingeightplacers,Jonessaid,willbringasecondstraighttitlebacktoBrokenArrowandthefifthsince2010. “Thereareexpectationswhenyouputonthatnewsinglet,andit’sgotthatbigBrokenArrowonthefrontofit,”Jonessaid.“Wehaveexpectationsonhowyouperformandhowyouconductyourself. “Thesekidshavebeenintheprogram.They’vewatchedallthekidsbeforethem.They’veseenthematstateonthetoppodium.They’veseenthemhoistthechampionshiptrophies.” ThedepartureofSimmons,AllenandDavionJeffriestoDivision1schoolsalongwiththegraduationofBaileyandKasercreatescompetitionforfivespotsinthemiddleoftheTigerlineup.The“four-weekgrind”fromthebeginningofpracticetotheearlyseasonmatcheshasproventhedepthofthisprogramisnoillusion. “Wedon’thaveanynationallyrankedpeoplebutfromheadtotoeyou’regoingtohavetobeverygoodtobeatus,”Jonessaid.“You’regoingtohavetohavebetterkidsatall14weightsthanwhatwehave.” Themixofwrestlerswhoperformed in the“bigbarn”at the fairgrounds inOklahomaCityand thoseyoungsterswhohavevisionsofcompetingtherehascreatedacompetitiveedgeinworkouts. “We’vegot thatgroupofkids thatgoin thereeverydayandwillchewnails,”Jonessaidofwrestlingworkouts.“They’lldoanythingintheworldforyou.It’sagoodgroupofkids.We’llberightbackinthemixofitwhenthestatetournamentrollsaround.”

EXPECTATIONS

New coach makes aSplash

WhennewswimcoachSamanthaEvansgreetedherteamforthefirsttimethecaptainswerealreadyinplace. InMichaelaStabler,aNationalMeritSemifinalistwithcareeraspirationsofbeingapsychiatrist,Evanssaidthechoicecouldnothavebeenbetter. “I’mexcitedsheisoneofourcaptains,”Evanssaid.“Sheknowswhatconcernsherteammateshavewithoutthemexpressingit.Sheknowsthevibeofhoweverythingis.Sheisapeerwhoisabletohelpdirectthemandmakesurethateveryoneisonthesamepage.” Fromschooltoworkandfromswimpracticetovolunteerprojects,it’samazingthatStablerisabletofindtimetokeepherownlifeinbalance.Self-describedas“determined”and“resilient,”Stablerisnotmerelyagoalsetter.Sheisagoalachiever.

“IcansaythatIhaveworkedveryhard,andIdon’tfeellikeit’sbragging,”shesaid.“I’vealwayswantedtobecaptainoftheswimteam,

nowhereIam.SinceIknewwhatNational

Merit was…well,I’masemifinalistandthat’salmostthere.” Prestigiousinstitutions such as Vanderbilt,

ColumbiaandYaletopherlistofcollegechoices.ThoughsheisamonthawayfromtakingherSAT,shehasregistereda34onherACT.Thoseresults,combinedwithher2016BAHSclassrankof18andextracurricularinvolvement,shouldgoalongwayinhelpingherfulfillhereducationaldreams.

DETERMINEDMichaela Stabler Merit Semifinalist

CAPTAIN

Putacheckmarkbytheearlyseasongoals:aTeamUnityaProudtobeaswimmer Nextup:PerformanceGoals “Wehavegiventhemaclearpictureofwhattheirgoalis,”saidSamanthaEvans,firstyearTigersswimcoach.“Wearegoingtopushthemfurtherthantheythinktheycango.” Thatpushinghaspaidpreseasondividends. JuniorChrisHelton,theboystopreturningfreestylerhascutasecondoffofhistimefromayearago.Heisaloneonthatislandofimprovement. “Withourrecenttimetrials,wehavealreadyhadswimmersbeattimesfromlastyear’sregionals,”Evanssaid.“Thatisjustincredible.Thatshouldnotbedonethisearly.Thatgetsmeexcitedtogettheseasonstarted.” ForHelton,haditnotbeenforweightliftingonMondays,hewasgoingtopassonswimming. “WhenIheardtheteamwasdoingweights,Idecidedtocomeback,”saidthejuniorwhoswimsthe50-free.“I’mgladIdid.It’sgreattobepartofthisteam.” Evanssaiditwas“minimal”changesthatledtoHeltonshavingasecondoffhis50time.Butinthatrace,asecondisthe“differencebetweenfirstplaceand12thplace,”thecoachadded.“Tinychangesmadeahugedifference.”

DETERMINEDMichaela Stabler Merit Semifinalist

CAPTAIN AccomplishmentsareapartofhowStablermeasuressuccess:hersmilebeamsalittlebrighterwhensherecallsbeingpartofastate-medalwinningrelayteamlastspring.Whentalkingaboutthose

fourareas–work,volunteering,schoolandswimming–thatinhibitherwakinghoursStabler’smaturityglistenslikemorningsunlightthroughanopenwindow. “IhavesuccessasawaitresswhenIfeelI’montopofthingsandnotjustfakingasmile,”saidthePizzaHutserver,whoputsin15hoursormoreaweek.“Tome,beingsuccessfulatworkisenjoyingthepressureofafast-pacedjob. “Also,Idon’tdefineitasmakingalotoftips.IcouldgointoworkandmaketwiceasmuchintipsasIdidthenightbefore,butifIdon’tfeellikeIwasintheswingofthingsthenIwouldn’tconsideritasuccessfulnight.”Thenthere’shervolunteertime,whichincludesSpecialOlympics,ayouthleadershiproleatherchurchandtutoringteammates. “Anytypeofvolunteerworkisasuccessinitself,”Stablersaid.“Evenifyoujustfeelobligatedtodoit,you’restilldoingsomethingthat’sbeneficialforsomeoneelse.Thatisthebonus.”Schooliswheresheusesaccomplishmentasabarometerofsuccess. “IfIseethatIhaveahighgradethenIknowthatIworkedforitandIearnedit,”Stablersaid. Swimmingshemeasuresbyeffort.And,theclock. “Gettingafastertimethanmylasttime-anewpersonalrecord-isasuccess,”saidthewavy-hairedstrawberryblondstandingbesidetheSalvationArmy

BoysandGirlsClubPool.“Honestly,ifIbeatthepersoninthelanenexttome,that’sasuccesstoo.Justachievingmorethanyoucouldaweekagoisagoodfeeling.” That“goodfeeling”isoftennowheretobefoundinthemindofStabler.Thisintelligent,hard-working,organizedandcharminglysweetyoungladyishauntedbyananxietydisorder.Sheopenlytalksaboutthatwhatothersviewasnormalday-to-dayoccurrencesareassaultsonhersensesofreasonandfear. “Simpleeverydaythingsarereally,reallydifficultforme,”Stablerexplains.“Ifreakoutabouteverythingsometimes.Itmakeseventhesmallestthingsstressfulforme.WhenI’mouttoeat,ifIneedtogouptothecounterandaskforextrasaucepacketsthatscaresthecrapoutofme.” It’sthebattlewiththebody’snaturalchemicalswhichattackherbrainthathasdrawnhertopursuingamedicalschooldegreeinpsychology. “Mypersonalstruggleshavemadethingsalotharder,butIalsofeelithasmademealotstrongerperson,”shesaid.“Iwanttogivebacktothatavenueofkidsthatexperiencementaldisorders.” Sheisprovingasahighschoolseniorthatshehasthedeterminationtobesuccessfulinherdesiredfieldofwork. “Irealizewhetheryouhavenothingtodoandyou’resittingtherestaringatthewallorwhetheryouaregoingfromplacetoplacewithoutaminutetostopandbreathe,lifeisstillaboutjusthowmuchyouwanttomovepastthisobstacleyouhave,”Stablersaid,speakinglikeadoctoralready.“Myanxietycanbeanobstacle.ShearwillisafactorinhowIhandlethatratherthanhowbusyIkeepmyself.”

Chris Helton listens to instructions from Coach Samantha Evans during swimming practice.

BrokenArrowPublicSchoolsdoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,religion,color,national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, veteranstatus,maritalstatusorageinitsemployment,programsandactivitiesandprovidesequalaccesstotheBoyScoutsandotherdesignatedyouthgroups.

A Publication of Broken Arrow Public Schools Athletic Department

Eye on the Tiger2015-2016 Winter Sports PreviewVolume 2, Issue 2

12/3/15 TBA WillardTournament Willard,Mo.12/8/15 TBA BishopKelley BshpKelleyHS12/15/15 6:30/8:00PM Jenks TigerFieldHouse12/29/15 TBA SapulpaTournament Sapulpa1/5/16 6:30/8:00PM Owasso OwassoHS1/12/16 6:30/8:00PM Muskogee TigerFieldHouse1/15/16 6:30/8:00PM Bartlesville TigerFieldHouse1/19/16 6:30/8:00PM Bixby BixbyHS1/21-23/16 TBA Jenks/UnionTournament(Girls) Jenks1/21-23/16 TBA MooreTournament(Boys) MooreHS1/26/16 6:30/8:00PM SandSprings TigerFieldHouse1/29/16 6:30/8:00PM Union TigerFieldHouse2/2/16 6:30/8:00PM Sapulpa SapulpaHS2/5/16 6:30/8:00PM BishopKelley TigerFieldHouse2/9/16 6:30/8:00PM Jenks Jenks2/12/16 6:30/8:00PM Owasso TigerFieldHouse2/16/16 6:30/8:00PM Muskoge MuskogeeHS2/19/16 6:30/8:00PM Bartlesville BartlesvilleHS2/25-27/16 TBA RegionalTournament TBA

11/14/15 9:00AM BAOpen TigerFieldHouse11/21/15 10:00AM CasciaHall(Scrimmage) CasciaHall11/25/15 9:00AM EdmondPre-Turkey EdmondMemorial12/3/15 7:00PM Muskogee TigerFieldHouse12/5/15 9:00AM GardnerEdgertonInvitational Gardner,Kansas12/11-12/15 TBA WalshJesuitIronman CuyahogaFalls,Ohio12/15/15 5:30PM Jenks Jenks1/7/16 5:00PM Choctaw Choctaw1/8-9/16 TBA GearyInvitational Geary,Ok1/14/16 6:00PM SandSprings SandSprings1/15-16/26 TBA SandSpringsInvitational SandSprings1/22/16 TBA Stillwater TigerFieldHouse1/26/16 TBA Claremore,Sapulpa,BTW Claremore1/28/16 TBA Bixby Bixby2/4/16 7:00PM Union TigerFieldHouse2/5-6/16 TBA BishopKelleyInvitational BshpKelley2/12-13/16 TBA DualState TBA2/19-20/26 TBA EastRegionals TigerFieldHouse2/26-27/16 TBA StateTournament OKCStateFairArena

10/27/15 5:30PM Black&GoldPreview BABoys&GirlsClub11/12/15 5:30PM Jenks&Stillwater JenksAquaticCenter11/14/15 12:00PM Union UnionMiddleschool11/19/15 5:30PM Owasso OwassoHS12/3/15 5:30PM BixbyInvitational BixbyM.S.12/15/15 5:30PM Bartlesville&Sapulpa BartlesvilleHS1/12/16 5:30PM ConferenceChampionship JenksAquaticCtr1/14/16 5:30PM BishopKelley BABoys&GirlsClub1/22-23/16 TBA JenksInvitational JenksAquaticCenter2/5-6/16 TBA EasternRegional JenksAquaticCenter2/19-20/16 TBA StateMeet JenksAquaticCenter

PhotoCredits:JasonKelly,RuthKellyStudiosJeremyScott,BALedgerSteveCowen,BAPSSportsInformationCoordinator

2015-2016 Winter Varsity Sports Schedules

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2015-2016 Winter Varsity Sports Schedules