Edmond Santa Fe girls basketball is this week's winner of the Oklahoma Team of the Week, presented by the Oklahoma National Guard.
Courtesy photo
It’s simple really, says
Edmond Santa Fe girls basketball coach Paul Bass.
A bitter 72-70 loss in the state semifinals last year to eventual champion Washington probably cost the Wolves a third straight Oklahoma 6A state title.
No problem, said Bass. Just get back to the drawing board and basketball court.
Tamara Lee, Edmond Santa Fe
File photo by Jim Williams
"Our goal every year is to win a state championship," he said. "A lot of our players have been a part of those state titles and understand what it takes to win. All you can do as a player is prepare."
Evidently, the Wolves have done it well.
They’ve had another stellar regular season, going 16-1 as of Feb. 8 and a No. 2 state ranking. The team’s only loss was to top-ranked Broken Arrow, 42-35, on Jan. 11.
Since then, Edmond Santa Fe has won seven straight.
"It was a tough loss," Bass said. "In the locker room after the game we committed to refocusing in practice and working harder, but most of all working harder on defense."
Since that loss, the Wolves have allowed more than 40 only three times.
For their resilience and ability to bounce back from a tough loss, the Wolves are the MaxPreps Oklahoma Team of the Week, presented by the Oklahoma National Guard.
They are led offensively by senior
Tamara Lee (15.2 points per game) and 5-11 sophomore
Aahliyah Jackson (9.8 ppg and 7.7 rebounds per outing).
"(Lee) is a great offensive player," Bass said. "When we need points, she will be the one to get them for us. She is very focused and determined to win."
They’ve sure won a lot lately, going 24-2, 28-0, 27-1 and 23-5 the last four seasons.
Another 20-win season and strong state-title run appear imminent.
MaxPreps editorial assistant Kirstin Beal contributed to this report.Do you know a team that deserves
consideration for Oklahoma Team of the Week? Email us with your
nominations at OKteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.
