The Stillwater girl’s basketball program has undergone some changes over the summer. Going into the season, there is a new coaching staff in the office that hopes to develop the girl’s program and take it to the next level.
Head Coach Scott Morris has moved over from the boys basketball team to be the head coach of the Lady Pioneer basketball team. He said the key to success for the program is doing the best they are capable of, having humility and being a team player.
“If you get that kind of culture in your program, then the winning will take care of itself,” said Morris, who coached women’s basketball at Northern Oklahoma College for 19 years before moving to Stillwater as the boys head coach.
Morris is joined by Assistant Coach Nataly Murray, an SHS graduate and former Lady Pioneer basketball player, and Assistant Coach Ashlyn Briegge, who is originally from Perry and played for Coach Morris at NOC.
The Lady Pioneers have a schedule that includes Ponca City, Tulsa Union and Bixby. Morris said he’s looking forward to playing Bixby in particular because one of his former All-American players who he coached at NOC is now the head coach for the Spartans.
“They’re a top-ranked team, and so I’m not looking forward to that side of it, but looking forward to just getting to coach a game against her is really kind of an honor,” Morris said. “I’m really looking forward to that opportunity.”
Junior Baylor Citizen has enjoyed the new coach and has one goal in mind for the upcoming season.
“I want to see us go to State [this year],” she said.
Sophomore Reagan Bell, who started every game last year, said she enjoys playing for the high school.
“I get to play with all of my friends,” Bell said.
Sophomore Chloe Henderson is also excited to play against Bixby in the upcoming season.
“[I’m most excited to play Bixby because] I think we have a good chance of beating them this season,” she said.
Coach Morris’ goals for this season are part of a bigger picture to improve the basketball programs from the bottom up.
He said they have implemented new and groundbreaking ideas for the program, including a junior high development system. They also plan to continue reaching down to the elementary ages and start developing players earlier.
“That’s kind of what I’m most excited about, is watching that plan develop and then reaping the fruits of our labor in the years to come from that,” Morris said.