Despite graduation losses ‘high expectations’ remain for Collins’ Bulldogs

Muldrow must replace four starters and other experienced players from last season’s 18-9 squad but Bulldogs’ head coach Terry Collins remains optimistic about the upcoming campaign.

“We always have high expectations as far as goals that we try to set,” Collins said. “ The Sequoyah County Tournament, playoffs, winning titles, we always have high expectations and we just try to play our best to meet those goals.”

The Class 4A Bulldogs won the Cleveland and Sequoyah County tournaments last season and were third in the Checotah Tournament.

Muldrow defeated Wagoner to win its district tournament and in its regional tournament the Bulldogs lost to fourth-ranked Crossings Christian before downing Sallisaw and No. 16 Fort Gibson. Seventh-ranked Classen SAS ended Muldrow’s season in the area consolation quarterfinals.

Assistant Coach

Luke Folkerts will again serve as Collins’ assistant coach.

Team Leadership

“I’m expecting Trenden (Collins) and Drew (Luttrell), being seniors, to lead the team and keep us motivated to play hard and try to win,” Collins said.

Seniors

Muldrow’s seniors this season are guard/forward Trenden Collins (6-2) and guard/forward Andrew (Drew) Luttrell (6-3). Collins was a full-time starter last season and Luttrell started part-time.

“ Trenden is a ballhandler, a shooter, and he’s definitely going to be a good defender for us,” said Collins. “He’s going to be a utility tool and he’s going to do all the things we need to do on the offensive and defensive ends. “He’s going to have to be a big impact player this year for us and he’s going to have to carry some stuff and maybe put up more points for us this year.

“Drew is going to have to pick up a lot of slack. We had five seniors that we lost and so he’s going to have to pick up the slack as far as scoring and playing defense. He’s capable of being out on the perimeter as well as playing our 4 spot so he definitely has some versatility with being able to do that so he’s got to look to take advantage of those things.”

Juniors

The Bulldogs juniors are guard Nick Rhodes (5-8), forward Drew Prewett (6-0) and guards/forwards Gibson Price (5-8), Colton Pulliam (5-9), Maliki Albertson (5-9), Trenton Irvan (510), Kashan Buhkari (5-11) and Chris Hetherington (5-11).

“We’re looking for Nick Rhodes to be a ball handler and definitely be capable of knocking shots down,” Collins said.

“Drew Prewett also has got some versatility. He plays the 4 and also plays outside and definitely has some skill to be able to face the basket and shoot and is also able to post up a little bit. We definitely need him to rebound for us and play good solid defense. He’s more of a power forward.

“Gibson Price is like a forward who plays a little bit outside, a little bit inside. He looks to get to the basket and score and is a solid defensive player. He’s a small forward-type.

“Colton Pulliam is going to be a guard and kind of a small-forward type. He should be able to handle the ball and we’re looking for him to be an outside threat, be willing to attack the basket and play good solid defense.

“Maliki Albertson is a small forward who handles the ball a little bit. Definitely aggressive attacking the basket like a slasher-type and will play some solid defense.

“ Trenton Irvan had some minutes last year. We’re looking for him to come in and be a small-forward type and handle the ball and be a slashertype capable of knocking down 15foot jump shots and possible 3s and be a good solid defender.

“Kashan Buhkari handles the ball and is a small forward but he may be more of a shooting guard. We look for him to be a threat from outside and capable of getting to the basket, finishing strong, and then just being a good solid defensive player.

“Chris Hetherington came from Heavener and he’s definitely a small forward and slasher-type. Looking for him to be a good solid defender. He’s got some athleticism and so we look for that athleticism to help him to be able to defend. He’s capable of knocking down the 3.”

Muldrow’s sophomores are forward/ center Kenoy Releford (6-2), guard/ forward Reece Francis (6-3), guard Hayden Bullock (5-7), forward Jaden Thibodeaux (5-11) and guard Jaxson Anstine (5-11).

“Kenoy Releford is going to play power forward for us,” Collins remarked. “Capable, long, athletic, capable of defending. Has got a good 15-foot jump shot.

“Reece Francis is a small forward and very athletic. He’s capable of scoring from the outside as well as getting to the basket. Expecting him to be a good defender.

“Hayden Bullock is a guard. He’s a good ball handler and a capable shooter from 3.

“Jaden Thibodeaux is a power forward. Has a decent 15-foot jump shot and we’re looking for him to contribute rebounding the basketball for us.

“Jaxson Anstine is a guard. Very athletic, capable of getting to the basket and scoring, capable of knocking down the 15-foot shot and capable of shooting the 3. Should be a good defender for us.”

Freshmen

The Bulldogs’ freshmen are center Parker Sevenstar (6-6), guard Josten Henson (5-5) and guard/forward Teaguen Collins (6-0).

“Parker Stevenson is a post,” Collins said. “Capable 3-point threat and hopefully will help us with defending some big men inside and blocking shots and rebounding for us.

“Josten Henson is going to be a guard. He handles the ball well, sees the floor very well, has got good vision on the pick-and-rolls and is capable of knocking down the 3 so he’s going to help us as far as that.

“ Teaguen Collins is a guard/forward type. Capable of handling the ball and can go attack the basket and finish. Capable of shooting the 3 and capable of being a good defender.”

Schedule

The Bulldogs have a new non-conference opponent and a new tournament on this year’s schedule.

Eufaula has replaced Howe and Muldrow has replaced the Cleveland Tournament with the Sequoyah-Tahlequah Tournament.

“ The NOAA conference is always tough,” said Collins. “Stilwell, Roland and you’ve got Poteau, Checotah, everybody continues to get better, Spiro, and Sallisaw’s got a bunch of seniors coming back and so it’s going to be tough. Roland I think has a good squad, Sallisaw has the four or five seniors coming back and Stilwell usually always has a good team and has won it the last couple of years I believe.

“ Then you add Eufaula to the mix and we’ve competed against them in the past and they’ve always been coached well and one of the top teams so it’s a tough schedule, it’s a tough schedule this year.

“We went to Cleveland (tournament) last year but Sequoyah is closer and it’s definitely more of a convenience to be able to go there and not have to worry about going and getting a hotel and staying overnight and that kind of thing. It’s a good tournament usually and we’re looking to forward to playing in it.”