Dribbling into the 2023 season, the Marlow High School Outlaw and Lady Outlaw basketball teams attended the annual Stephens County Tournament.

The tournament, hosted this year by Velma-Alma, began on Jan. 16 and ended on Jan. 21.

The Lady Outlaws basketball team placed second in the tournament, defeating Bray-Doyle 71-5 and Velma-Alma 46-36, before dropping the final game to Comanche with a final score of  30- 37.

The boy’s team was named tournament champions after defeating Bray-Doyle with a score of 87-38, Comanche with a final score 51-29, and tournament rival Velma-Alma with a final score of 58-55.  

The Outlaws have won the Stephens County Tournament for the last three consecutive tournaments.

Junior Kentley Davis, who has played basketball for nine years and plays as a forward for the Lady Outlaws, expressed her thoughts on her performance in the annual tournament and how she can look to improve in the future..  

“I think I have played okay this season,” Davis said. “I can improve my gameplay by working hard and focusing.”

The Lady Outlaws are not the only ones looking to reflect on the tournament and find ways to make themselves better as a team.  

Assistant coach and biology teacher Brock Harris has made the most out of his first year in coaching high school basketball.

“I think we can improve by continuing to play great defense and share the ball as much as possible,” Harris explained. “The more unselfish we are as a team, the better we will be.”

All of the work by the team has not gone unnoticed, and one of their biggest supporters is the MHS cheer team.

Sophomore Mya Boyster has cheered since elementary, joining the Marlow team in seventh grade.

“My favorite part of cheering at games is when we are on defense,” Boyster said. “We have really good stomp cheers for defense making it more enjoyable.”

The MHS basketball teams will continue to improve their shots and teamwork as the season continues.

Their next game will take place on Jan. 27 against the Lindsay Leopards.