OKEMAH PANTHERS

BOYS

Coach: Beau Custar

22-23 Record: 7-18

The Okemah Panthers were young last year and took their lumps with a 7-18 record. But all five starters are back with a valuable year of experience under their belt and hungry to improve on last year’s mark. Beau Custer is the new head coach for the Panthers this year and is anxious to see this team get better fast this year. “We have a team that gained a lot of experience last year but is still very young with just two seniors. We’re pretty well balanced with competitive depth and should improve form last year and throughout the season.”

There are seven players on the active roster that averaged at least three points a game last season and another handful including some freshmen who clocked playing time in 2022. The three returning juniors account for the bulk of the offensive firepower led by P.J. Franks (6-1) who averaged 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last season followed by Owen Dunmire (6-1) who put in 11.8 points a game in 2022 and Nash Smith the Panthers point guard who averaged just under 10 points a game. “Nash is a pass-first point guard and is the best defender on the team,” said Custar. Senior Andrew Swayze (6-1) returns to patrol the lane for Okemah where he averaged 3.4 points and 4.5 rebounds a game while the other senior on the team us Uriah Christer (5-9). The rest of the roster consists of sophomores, most of whom saw at least some playing time last year, including Brandon Butler (5-9), Camron Swayze (5-10), Vincent Reilly (5-10), Trae Lugrand (5-11) and Kyran Berryhill (5-11) who was a starter last year as a freshman and averaged 5 points a game. “Kyran is a versatile offensive player who works extremely hard to improve every part of his game,” said Custar. Freshman Cole Dodson (5-11) will also be battling for playing time as the season progresses.