By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
The 2019-20 basketball season is on the horizon and Okarche’s girls are excited for the fresh start.
Head coach Kelli Jennings and her squad have started practice, preparing for the start of the season at the beginning of November. She is excited for what is in store this year.
“I love the start of a new season and preseason because it’s just that fresh start, a new beginning,” Jennings said. “Each player has a chance to improve over the summer and start fresh for her team. Last year, good or bad for each individual, is over and a new year with new goals is ahead.”
The team is working on different aspects before the start of the season, including their effort in stopping teams on the defensive end.
“We have spent quite a bit of time focusing on our defense during preseason this year,” Jennings said. “We want to do a few things different to fit the personality of this team and changing some of our defensive schemes is what we focused on.”
With new players and returners, the one main goal remains the same for the Warriors – outworking every opponent.
“The personality of this team is different than we’ve had before,” Jennings said.
“They’re a light-hearted group so while we maintain the goal of never getting outworked, I’ve had to change my approach in some areas to fit this group. We are also changing some things up defensively to fit this group as well.”
The Warriors missed out on the state tournament a year ago, but they are looking to regroup and return to the Big House in Oklahoma City.
“We didn’t make it last year and it was a hard pill to swallow,” Jennings said.
“However, sometimes you come out stronger when things don’t go your way. And I think after how our season ended last year it has made us stronger and given us a renewed vision to keep the state tournament tradition alive.”
The 2019-20 schedule is set to be released over the next two weeks.
