Outlaws wrap up season at area playoffs
Bouncing off yet another successful season, the Marlow High School Lady Outlaw basketball team kept their stride all the way into the area playoffs.
Having little experience with losing throughout the regular season, the Lady Outlaws advanced all the way to the area playoffs and one step away from the state competition.
As all good things must come to an end, the #16 ranked Lady Outlaws fell short to #8 ranked Washington in a nail-biter area consolation finals match-up.
Despite the loss, the Lady Outlaws’ competitiveness and competence from this season will be a stepping stone into the future of the basketball program.
Sophomore Judeah Valenzuela believes that the Lady Outlaws stepped up their game and played with all their hearts.
“I personally think that the team did a great job,” Valenzuela said. “We worked all year to get there and we pushed in every practice. We gave it our all.”
Along with Valenzuela, senior Devyn Dennison looks back on the season with optimism and pride knowing all of the team’s hard work paid off.
“We knew that the area playoffs were going to be tough, especially going in with a loss, but we overcame a lot through it,” Dennison said. “We always tried to push ourselves to do the little things right, like moving our feet on defense, blocking out and making easy lay-ups.”
Through the area playoffs, the team gained more fundamentals and mental strength that will help them improve in the off-season.
Senior Lauren Wade, along with her teammates, grew stronger and measured up to their success throughout the three games at area.
“Through each game we played and won at area, we gained confidence, which in turn helped us play smarter and smoother,” Wade said. “We always made sure to high-five everyone on the team and give encouraging words to build team chemistry and to boost everyone’s mood, which worked to our benefit.”
With the confidence the Lady Outlaws grasped onto in some of the biggest games they have ever played, the team earned the title of area runner-up and finished the season with a winning record of 20-8.
Head coach Terri Reimer has seen the team flourish and use the talent they each have that led them to making school history.
“Our season was extremely successful,” Reimer described. “We set the same two goals every season which are to make the area tournament and have single-digit losses. This was our third-straight season to make the area tournament, but this is the first year we have had single-digit losses.”
As the Lady Outlaws reminisce on the season behind them, they eagerly prepare and practice for the season ahead.
Sophomore Jenna Wade anticipates next season to be just as great and classic as this past one.
“I think we’re very capable of success next season,” Wade said. “We are very talented, and I expect all of us to use our talents for a greater purpose.”
As the team awaits next season, the Lady Outlaws will spend the off-season preparing and becoming better.
Written by Chloe Brooks
