GIRLS

Coach: Mark McKenzie

22-23 Record: 20-7

Two years removed from a state championship, the Pocola girls had to do some rebuilding last year but still made it to the area tournament with a young team. They are still young this year with not one senior, but they have a great pillar to build around in Allyssa Parker (6-0, Jr.) who was the Most Valuable Player at the state tournament her freshman year.

“Allyssa is a phenomenal athlete who excels at basketball but is being recruited by several major colleges for softball including OU,” said veteran coach Mark McKenzie. “I think she developed a passion for basketball the year we won state and I hope that it gets even stronger this year. She averaged 20 points a game her freshman year and 18 points a game last year. Her height, strength and athleticism give opponents problems on both ends of the floor.” Fellow juniors that will join Parker on the floor this year will be Letty Parga (5-5), Riley Jerrell (5-6), Kylee Merritt (5-5), Savinia Phillips, and Piper Warren (5-9). Playing time may be hard to come by for the youngsters with so many talented juniors on the roster but they’ll be battling hard to get out there. That sophomore group includes Kyleigh Combs (5-5), Dauslyn Brown (5-6), and Kaydence Batt (5-5) while heading up the freshmen crop will be Maleah Hardwick (5-6), Tylin Blair (5-6), Emily Nick (5-5), Ana Mills (5-4) and Allison Beesley (5-8). “The recent success has been great; but now we’ve got to look ahead and find a way to win the day, from preseason all the way to next March,” said McKenzie with expectation that this year’s team will continue Pocola’s winning ways.