Looking Forward

Hello SofaKing dedicated readers, this is my first post on the blog. My name is Dunks LeBronski, full name Dunks ON LeBronski II. Huge basketball fan, primarily of the Larry Bird era Boston Celtics which was the best NBA team to do it with 4.5 white guys. Hombre Lobo asked me to join in and help provide some of my thoughts on basketball in the Kingfisher area. Didn't have to look far to see where the cream of the crop was as far as talent and tradition.

The boys Kingfisher Yellowjackets squad wow you by their résumé alone. Four time State Champions ('17, '19, '21, '22) runner up in 2018 and can argue that a championship would've been won in 2020 if it weren't for what history will call The Great Overreaction aka Covid. A record of 163-6 over the last 6 years, best in Oklahoma state history and I could go on and on quoting incredible statistics that coaches Reese, Green and Combs have accumulated over the years. This is unheard of and quite frankly I haven't seen a community more excited for the season to begin since the 1979-80 Boston crowd were on the edges of their seats in anticipation of watching one Larry Joe Bird lead the beloved Celtics to the best turnaround in NBA history.

I had an opportunity to sit down with Maddox, Cash, Judson, Xavier, Caden and Drake recently and just talk a little bit about the upcoming season.

Dunks: Guys I appreciate you letting me visit with you today. This is a big year for you. What goals do you have going into the season?

Caden: Going undefeated

Judson: Win the Tournament of Champions and State again.

Cash: Win another State Championship

Drake: Go undefeated since no team has done that.

Xavier : Win the TOC and State

Dunks: Heavy is the head that wears the crown gentlemen. How does it feel knowing that every team you play will have your game circled on the schedule?

Maddox: It's nothing but motivation for us, we want the target on our backs.

Drake: Having the target on our backs pushes us to perform to the best of our abilities night in and night out. Plus, it makes the wins that much sweeter knowing they had us in their sights.

Dunks: You guys really didn't substitute last year, it was more of a reload than anything else. You were able to frustrate and wear teams down with defense and pressure. You lost Chase Davis to graduation, who do you see as filling that role, if anyone?

Judson: It's a toss up right now.

Maddox: I think we are still unsure of who will take that 8th spot. We might just run with 7, nobody is really sure.

Xavier: Whoever wants to work the hardest and earn their spot to take part of the success we've been having.

Drake: I think the 7 guys we've got can make up for him because of how we've all improved.

Dunks: What games do y'all have circled on the schedule?

Judson: El Reno

Maddox: We have a lot of big home games this year.

Caden: Tournament of Champions

Cash: Every game is a big game for us. We are going to be challenged to bring it each and every night because everyone wants to be the one to take us down. But in particular, El Reno and Newcastle

Drake: Newcastle game will be good one. It's our first home game and they should be legit.

Dunks: I've been watching some of your tape and y'all can get up and down with the best of them. Any chance you will speed it up even more? Start flirting with 100/game? How do you think teams will try to slow you down and combat your ability to sub quality players throughout the game?

Cash: Our strength is going fast on defense and getting turnovers and then killing teams with sets.

Drake: Yeah that's a style of play I really like so if we can do that (speed it up) it (100 points) can happen.

Maddox: It will depend on our matchup to see if we will speed it up or slow it down.

Cash: Full court pressure with solid half court defense, we will run in transitions but rely on sets if needed.

Drake: I think that teams will try to throw a lot of different defenses at us to try to slow us down.

Xavier: They will probably throw a lot of defenses at us and try to defend all of us.

Dunks: And that will play into your hands since I've seen a lot of tape on y'all working on the 1-on-1 game. I'm excited. So this will be it for y'all as far as high school goes. How does that feel?

Cash: Sad that the end is near but excited about the legacy we will leave and hopefully this season will add on to it.

Maddox: It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Kingfisher basketball, obviously this year for us but I hope that our group of Seniors have left enough of a mark on the younger players and they can carry on our work ethic and tradition.

Drake: It's still unreal that our time is almost over here but hopefully the coaches can continue their legacy of being the best in Oklahoma.

Dunks: The coaches really work well as a team don't they? I've been told that they adopted that technique from a Hall of Fame trio of coaches that had success in OK Kids baseball a few years ago. Now that you guys have been in Coach Reese's system for a while now, how do you think he will treat you as Seniors?

Xavier: He still treats me like a sophomore at best.

Cash: Still like freshman, if you do stupid crap you'll be on the bench until you decide to get smart.

Caden: Right now it's pretty lax and we are having fun but the closer season gets he gets more serious and there's less room for error.

Dunks: Who will be the first to dunk in a game this year?

Drake: Me

Maddox: Me, obviously

Xavier: Drake

Caden: Drake

Dunks: Guys I really appreciate your time just have one more for you. Where do you go for pre game meals?

Cash: City Cafe. Kiddie Chicken

Xavier: The Shed, located at 1505 S Main in Kingfisher. Great food, great friends, great times.

Caden: The Shed chicken wrap but Angelita (Ridenhour) goes crazy getting the pre game meals so shout out to her.

Drake: Facts

Dunks: Yeah I've heard about those peanut butter bombs.

Caden: That's the secret to our success.

Drake: Yeah those are great.

Dunks: Just don't eat them when it's 115 degrees outside with 89% humidity.

Maddox: Yeah we learned that the hard way.

Dunks: Guys thanks again for the time. I know that I am certainly excited for the season and I'm sure your family and friends are as well. Good luck to you all.

Group: Thanks

Stay tuned SofaKing ravenous sports fans for more from the basketball team as we follow them on their journey to another great season.