Looking Back, Looking Ahead: 2021 Class A Championship

<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Looking Back, Looking Ahead</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2021 Class A Championship Game - Hydro-Eakly 69, Vanoss 48</strong></span> As we begin to look back at the championship games from last season and what this season could hold for the two championship game participants, we have to discuss the phenomenal Vanoss squad that had a 38-game winning streak ended by a stellar performance from Hydro-Eakly on the biggest stage. Vanoss was unable to win a championship the previous season win the playoffs were canceled due to Covid and - after dropping down to Class A for the 2020-21 season - seemed to be unbeatable heading into the championship game. Instead of taking home the gold ball, Vanoss had one of their worst days of the season while the soon-to-be champion Bobcats seemingly could not miss anything. In the first half, Hydro-Eakly made 14 shots from the field and 11 of them were from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Vanoss saw their top two scorers basically nullified from the outset due to ineffectiveness and foul trouble. In the end, Hydro-Eakly took home their second championship in a row in Class A and Vanoss will have only memories of a phenomenal team who most definitely would have had one, if not two, gold balls if things had only gone right for them. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2021 Runner-Up Outlook: Vanoss Wolves (2020-21 Record: 26-1)</strong></span> The biggest change for the Wolves from the outset will be a gaping hole in the line-up where All-State star [player_tooltip player_id="30546" first="Emrie" last="Ellis"] once stood. The No. 3-ranked player in the class of 2021 is off to Fayetteville where she joins fellow Oklahoma freshman [player_tooltip player_id="30554" first="Ashlyn" last="Sage"] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="30484" first="Rylee" last="Langerman"] on head coach Mike Neighbors’ roster. The 6’3" forward was a phenomenal hybrid player for Vanoss who could play inside and outside at a very high level on both ends of the floor. Forward [player_tooltip player_id="151317" first="Lizzy" last="Simpson"], who had 12 points and seven rebounds in the championship game, is playing at NOC-Enid where she joins eight other Oklahoma freshmen playing for head coach Kelli Jennings. Another player for Vanoss who could spread the floor with her ability to play inside and outside, she too will be very hard to replace. Luckily for Vanoss there is another Ellis waiting in the wings. [player_tooltip player_id="318166" first="Avery" last="Ellis"] is our No. 37-ranked player in the class of 2024. As a 6’0" freshman she showed good rebounding instincts and was a good scorer inside. If her ability to shoot from outside comes around a little more and she develops that distinctive inside/outside game that it appears that Vanoss is teaching players to utilize, I would fully expect her to end up in the top-20 in the rankings by the time 2024 rolls around. Vanoss most definitely could take a step back after a once-in-a-lifetime undefeated run. Class A basketball is not hurting for talent and we could see a shuffle near the top of the pack pretty soon. <strong>2021 Champion Outlook: Hydro-Eakly Bobcats (2020-21 Record: 26-3)</strong> Of the top-74 players in the state in 2021, the back-to-back champion Bobcats didn’t lose any of them as seniors last year. That kind of tells you a lot about the team as a whole and the coaching that they have there. Of all of the players ranked in the state, only two from any class are from Hydro-Eakly and they both are going to be seniors this year - looking for their third gold ball in a row. No. 50-ranked [player_tooltip player_id="327630" first="Rees" last="Berkey"] had a double-double in the 2021 championship game with 18 points and 10 rebounds. As part of the Bobcats’ three-point barrage, she contributed three long-range bombs and also had three steals. Rees is a very good all-around player and should definitely be on some coaching radars. She is a leader in every sense of the word and clearly, she is a winner. The other Bobcat in the 2022 rankings is No. 63-ranked [player_tooltip player_id="211885" first="Kira" last="Berkey"], yes, you read that right... another Berkey. The duo both dropped double digits in the championship and just like Rees, Kira has an advanced arsenal of offensive moves. She can score from the inside and outside and is an absolute beast on the defensive end. Her quick hands lead to A LOT of steals and she is tenacious when it comes to hounding the opposing ball handler. With Hydro-Eakly not really losing much from a team who has been in the State Finals for the last three years - including back-to-back championships - I would have to say that the Bobcats are the clear favorite to ’threepeat’ this season. I look forward to getting out to Hydro and checking them out!