The Checotah Wildcats enter the season with their lone senior Ryeun Johnson injured and a starter from last season Konnor Collins out after tearing his ACL in football. Head coach Jason Dowdy and assistant Malcolm Warrior are leading the Wildcats in what should be a very exciting and successful season. Several sophomores will help lead the team including Maddox Bridges, Elijah Thomas, Dylan Robinson, Tyler Corn and R.J. Womack.Thomas and Bridges are two very tal-

ented athletes that have great athleticism, speed, toughness and capable of scoring anywhere on the court. In the paint opponents will struggle, trying defend players like Corn and Orman. Dowdy has some key players for key areas such as the paint. That’s when we see athletes like Kamden Miller, Dylan Robinson and R.J. Womack. Each are great rebounders and very physical under the basket and have great short jump shots to add to Dowdy’s arsenal.

With the loss of Collins, Checotah will have to depend on their bench for help and they have plenty of players to pull from in Hudson Pollard, Weston Brown, Cooper Culbrith, Baylor Carter, Keagan Pratter and Waylon Brasfield.

“We’re a young team. Can’t get around that fact but this team plays hard and is getting better. We know losing Konnor was going to leave a big void but we have some guys that are stepping in and contributing in a big way. This team has some talent and have becoming more and more the type of team that a coach loves coaching. They want to win and know it takes more than just one or two guys to make a team. It takes everyone and we have some really special kids representing Checotah and I am proud of that.

“We have a tough schedule and a tough district but I believe we can play with anybody but we have a lot of guys that has had limited real game experience but they’re hungry and ready to prove themselves.”

“This is a tough game but we are up for the challenge and welcome the opportunity,” Checotah head coach Jason Dowdy said.