CHS girls eye return to state

The Comanche girls’ basketball team got tantalizingly close to making it to last year’s state tournament. The goal this season is to make that final step.

Even though this year’s senior class were freshmen the last time Comanche qualified for state, they never got the chance to play as the state tournament was cancelled due to COVID.

There will be some holes to fill from last year’s 22-6 squad, but the Lady Indians return a solid core that will give them an opportunity to once again make some noise in the postseason.

Megan Robbins returns for her third season as head coach, looking to continue to put her own stamp on the program that has seen great success.

Heading into the season opener at Amber-Pocasset on Tuesday, the Lady Indians faced some tough competition in pre-season scrimmages to get them ready for the upcoming season.

“We’ve challenged ourselves for sure during the off season,” Robbins said. “That’s kind of how I am. I want to push us and make us have to prepare mentally and physically for our season. We start with Am-Po, who is going to be one of the top teams in Class 2A again. In the long run, I think it’s going to make us more prepared for who we have to go against at the beginning of the season.”

Being so close to playing in the state tournament last year has been a motivator for the upcoming season.

“Competing for a state tournament berth is always the goal,” Robbins said. “We have a lot of players who have not had as a big of a role in the past that will this year. They’re going to need time to develop and find their spot. I think we have some good kids, kids that want to work hard and get after it.”

And playing several teams ranked in their class during the regular season will help with that.

“We’re going to work out kinks and stuff that we need to work on and it’s going to help us prepare for that.”

Robbins thinks it will be okay if her team takes some lumps in the early going to give players the time it will take to find their groove.

“It’s not about how you start, it is how you finish,” Robbins said. “As long as we are growing and learning every day; if we get one percent better each day, that’s how we want to be.”

Senior Gracee Miller, who recently signed with the University of Central Oklahoma, will be the unquestioned leader of the team. Miller made the 1,000-point club last year as a junior while averaging 18 points a game.

Kylie Roden, a junior, also started for the Lady Indians last year. She could be deadly from behind the arc and Robbins said she has been working hard during the off season.

“She has been continuing to grow her game,” Robbins said. “She’s becoming a better player off the dribble and becoming more aggressive on defense. I think she will be huge for us this year.”

Kamrey Rendon is another key returner who came off the bench last season and is expected to do even more this season.

“She’s a great three-point shooter and in the off-season she has been working on the things she knows she needs to work on to develop. She’s going to help us a lot this year.”

Two more seniors, Kynli Morris and Breelie Garlinger also bring some experience to the post positions.

“They’ve been in the program for quite some time,” Robbins said. “Morris has played quite a bit over the years and Breelie has played some. I think both of them are going to step up and contribute as well.”

Comanche will also be sticking to the system they know and that has brought them success, which is a fast-paced game with drives to basket and kick the ball out for three-point attempts.

“We may a few changes,” Robbins said. “We’re going to try to be more aggressive on defense and react to pressure better. You’re always growing and tweaking things as a coach and trying to do what works best for your kids. I’m not like someone who is going to do the same single thing every year.”

Robbins knows Miller will be the focus of a lot of opponents and it will give other players opportunities to have their moment.

“Gracee will see a lot of double teams and junk defenses this year,” Robbins said. “I think we have some kids that will step up and be a force for us.”