6a District 2 Mid-Season Report (January Grind)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>January in Oklahoma is known as the January grind. It is the month that you can make or break your playoff seedings head into February. In Class 6a it can come down to who wins their home games and steals couple on the road. Let's look at District 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edmond North 4-0 District 8-1 Overall</strong> Edmond North looked like a state tournament contender this past weekend at Bank 7 Mustang Classic. Well balanced team that has nice guards play and strong inside game at the post. Lady Huskies have a big home game on Jan 13 that could give them sole possession of first place in district. Edmond North will be battle tested towards end of January with a tough tournament schedule. <strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='578026' first='Johari' last='Hall'] is a key player on both ends of the floor for the Lady Huskies. Hall has committed to Lafayette College. Gracie Jackson outstanding shooting guard that can handle the ball. Signed with University of Kearney Nebraska. [player_tooltip player_id='936038' first='Alex' last='Bednar'] that is having a breakout season with scoring and playing the PG position [player_tooltip player_id='935136' first='Kinzie' last='Hazzard'] at the forward spot gives them a nice 4-5 punch inside. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1235405' first='Karyss' last='Williams'] has been a great surprise at the guard position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates</strong>: Jan 13 Sapulpa Jan 16 Deer Creek Jan 27 @ Piedmont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sapulpa 3-0 District 7-2 Overall</strong> Sapulpa has 2 big districts games back-to-back with a tough Lincoln Christian Tournament squeezed in-between. Home wins on Jan 6th against Deer Creek will keep them in that running for the top spot with them hitting the road on Jan 13 for a game against Edmond North. They close out in January with a home game that could solidify their position in the standings. <strong><strong>Players to Watch</strong></strong> [player_tooltip player_id='574232' first='Riki' last='Mcquarters'] is a shooting guard that competes on a high level on both ends of the floor. Tough downhill driver that gets to the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='909642' first='Kianna' last='Littlebear'] is a must find shooter on defensive or she can get hot. Lou Chaney is another combo guard that makes things happen on the defensive end of the floor. Kailynne Disaya Parker lefty guard that can handle the ball but also gives Sapulpa another outside shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates: </strong>Jan 6 Deer Creek Jan 13 @ Edmond North Jan 30 Yukon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Piedmont 3-1 District 6-5 Overall</strong> Piedmont looks to get back on track after a tough holiday tournament schedule. Lady Wildcats have 3 important dates in a row that must win to stay among the Top 3 in district play. If they can survive those games, they could make some noise as Edmond North and Sapulpa come to Piedmont in late January and early February. <strong><strong>Players to Watch</strong> </strong>Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='944129' first='Najya' last='Wilson'] is having a breakout type season. Outstanding ball handler that pushes the tempo for Piedmont. Multiple games with big time numbers already this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1267805' first='Kenley' last='Crawford'] is one of those shooters that scare coaches to play a zone against Piedmont. Long range that can start her own runs with the jumper. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='957693' first='Ava' last='Watkins'] gives Piedmont a tall shooting guard that can also score mid-range like a small forward. Watkins signed with Southern Nazarene. Seniors Maci Bird and [player_tooltip player_id='762035' first='Destiny' last='Duffy'] add great experience as well. Destiny combo guard that can shoot the deep 3 ball as well. Sophomore Megan Watkins at 6-1 gives Piedmont some height coming off the bench as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates: </strong> Jan 6 @ Yukon Jan 27 Edmond North </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Deer Creek 2-2 District 4-3 Overall</strong> Tough district draw on the schedule has the Lady Antlers on the road at Sapulpa and Edmond North, Those road game make Jan 20 home against Norman an must win to stay in the top 4 of district. <strong><strong>Players to Watch</strong></strong> <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ok/edmond/deer-creek-antlers/athletes/adriana-radinovic/?careerid=0jt1c7ouvv766">[player_tooltip player_id='751175' first='Adriana' last='Radinovic']</a> is having a great season putting up big numbers in the points and rebounds column. <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ok/edmond/deer-creek-antlers/athletes/darien-johnson/?careerid=cqet4dc02fk00">[player_tooltip player_id='751183' first='Darien' last='Johnson']</a> combo guard that is an consistent scorer as well as a tough defender. Johnson has received offers from D2 program. [player_tooltip player_id='1180428' first='Paityn' last='Jones'] a promising freshman guard that jumped out to an early start scoring 25 points while shooting 58% Jones that gives Lady Antlers another guard that can push the tempo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates:</strong> Jan 6 @ Sapulpa Jan 16 @ Edmond North </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Yukon 2-3 District 6-4 Overall</strong> Yukon could have the best schedule as far as moving up the standings. They already played the top two teams in district meaning every game played could move them up a spot. A good run in January could set up some exciting games in upcoming months when Sapulpa and Edmond North come to Yukon <strong><strong>Players to Watch</strong> </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896872' first='Amira' last='Harrison'] a freshman guard that has quick handles and PG level vision. Tough defender can create turnovers with lockdown on the ball defense. Taylor Brakefield is an athletic Combo guard that makes things happen on offense and defense with her all-out hustle. [player_tooltip player_id='918266' first='Paige' last='Fulmer'] is a tall guard that can knock down the outside shot but has a strong mid-range game. [player_tooltip player_id='846994' first='Kenlea' last='Jefferson'] senior shooting guard that has deep range. A type of shooter that can get hot making a difference in defensive coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates: </strong>Jan 6 Piedmont Jan 13 @ Norman Jan 30 @ Sapulpa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norman 1-2 District 1-6 Overall</strong> Lady Tigers have a favorable early January district schedule to make a move in the standings before facing Sapulpa and Edmond North closing out in January. Young Norman team will be battled tested as well with 2 tough tournaments in January as well. New coach, new system let's see what Lady Tigers look like after the break. <strong><strong>Players to Watch</strong> </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483160' first='Ady' last='Hybl'] has returned from injury giving the Lady Tigers experience at the point guard spot as well as a outstanding shooter. Marcela Attar forward that saw action last season as a freshman is an athletic player that does lot off the ball stuff. Excellent rebounder that can give you a double double any night. Taliyah Reed forward that gives Lady Tigers an inside rebounder. Patience Embery freshman has put together some solid games this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates:</strong> Jan 13 Yukon Jan 16 Piedmont Jan 20 @ Deer Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southmoore 1-4 District 3-5 Overall</strong> Southmoore has a tough stretch in January that set the tone of where they may land come district standings regarding playoffs. They retu4rn with Edmond North at home and after that they have 3 straight road games against teams above them. If they can steal couple of road games, they could set themselves up good come February.<strong>Players to Watch </strong>Lexi Tompkins and Sabrina Hernandez earned all-tournament honors in an early December tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='1215169' first='Amanda' last='Rodriguez'] and Kenci Brown are other players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates:</strong> Jan 13 @ Deer Creek Jan 20 @ Yukon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>US Grant 0-4 District 2-6 Overall </strong>US Grant has a brutal schedule in the month of January overall. They have only one home regular season game in the month of January and it is a district game against Sapulpa. Lady Generals could pick up some wins with tournaments and several non-district games, giving them confidence. <strong><strong>Players to Watch</strong></strong> Senior Abby Combs, a very athletic combo guard that could possibly lead the team in 3-pointers and block shots. Riah McDow athletic player that is a hustler on the defensive end, Mo'na Wright is another player that stood out on film</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Dates:</strong> Jan 6 @ Norman Jan 30 @ Southmoore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->