It’s hoop time. The long-awaited Luther High School basketball season starts on the home hardwoods on Tuesday.
Both the girls and boys varsity teams are ranked, and have some great pre-season looks. Both teams had tournament appearances last March, and both the boys and girls coaches expect similar winning seasons led by the new seniors.
Top scorer Syrus Grisby leads this team for his senior year. And Head Coach Matt Jones says Grigsby is getting some good college looks.
“(Syrus) has been a model kid since I got here,” Jones said. “He’s as solid as they come.”
Junior Tyler Becker, healthy after an injury sidelined him much of the Lions football season, was second in points last year and number one in assists. Both Becker and Grigsby were ranked in VYPE.
Coach Jones said Cole Mills, Nick Hines, Gerald McCauley, Jake Lombard and senior Luke Mohr will also help out the team quite a bit. Peyton Wilson and Reed Wilson are still recovering from injuries sustained during football. Coach Jones said Reed Wilson will be cleared by Christmas, and Peyton Wilson won’t be far behind.
The Lions face some tough competition in tournaments. At the CNIT tournament in Talihina, the team will meet 4A schools including Roland and Broken Bow. The Altus and Stroud tournaments will be similarly stacked with teams like Mannford and Stroud.
Coach Jones said his strategy is for his team to play up and not just go for the good win record. It’s an exciting time for the Jones family with a baby expected in January.
For the Lady Lions, it’s senior year for Caitlin Bailey and Lauren Coates. “It’s their turn to lead,” said Coach Johnny Vick. The pair leads their nine member team and is the only high school girls team on the courts this season. Among the seniors who graduated last year were Lexi Allen and Maia Wright who are both playing college basketball.
Vick said the girls are hungry and ready to get out there and win some games. Even though the team includes three freshmen plus a sophomore and a junior, they understand the expectations of them on the court as the girls make a run to the tournament.
The Lady Lions will also be pushing for another Academic Championship. They’ve won four in the last five years.
The Lions will play their first games Tuesday December 4 at home against Meeker. The junior varsity boys will play at 5 pm, followed by the varsity girls at 6:30 pm and the varsity boys at 8 pm.
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