Rangers look to return to State Tournament

Three starters are back for the Roland High School boys’ basketball team as the Rangers of longtime head coach Ed Lewis look to return to the Class 3A state tournament this season.

“Coming off last year and making a super run there and making it to the state tournament we’re looking for- ward to trying to repeat a season like that where we make the state tournament and maybe make a round or two in it,” Lewis said. “Game experience would be probably one of the things that we’re lacking for as far as highschool experience but I know a lot of those boys have played a lot of summer ball so hopefully that will contribute and not be a big problem for us, which I don’t think it will be, so I’m hoping that we’ll move right on.”

The seventh-ranked Rangers were 16-9 last season after falling 52-43 to fourth-ranked Marlow in their state tournament quarterfinal contest.

Roland won the Choctaw Nation Invitational Tournament and placed second in the Sequoyah County Tournament and after receiving a district bye the Rangers finished first in their regional tournament at Henryetta. Top-ranked Oklahoma Christian handed Roland its first playoff loss in the area tournament but a victory over No. 15 Crooked Oak sent the Rangers to the state tournament.

Lewis’ assistant coaches this season are Michael Webb and Nick Mooney.

“The good thing about both of those guys is if I’m not at practice, if I ever have to miss, I’ve got all the confidence in the world with those guys taking over practice. Last year I had a family emergency happen and missed the county tournament finals and those boys took the team and didn’t miss a beat. I really appreciate those guys and the things that they’ve done for me and working with me. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in either one of those guys. They’re very good coaches.”

Team Leadership

“With Carson (Wiggins) playing the point guard I think he’ll be able to step in there and be one of our team leaders along with Kyeree Hall,” Lewis said. “He seems like he’s got some leadership abilities about him and I’ve enjoyed watching him practice and play in intra-squad scrimmages and he’s been doing a good job of talking, and plays hard. That’s one of the things I’ve noticed, it seems like that these guys are willing to get up and play a little more of a full-court game. To me that looks like something that might be a plus for us if we can get up and play people full court and get after it a little bit more.”

Returning Starters

The Rangers’ returning starters are forward Carson Wiggins (6-5 jr.), forward Peyton Whisenant (6-0 sr.) and forward Ashton Peters (5-10 jr.).

“We’ve got about three returning starters,” said Lewis. “Carson Wiggins, a junior forward, is about 6-6 and is very athletic. We’re looking for him to be more of a utility player this year. He was a point guard last year so we’re going to move him probably to a forward position so he’ll play both inside and outside this year.

“Peyton Whisenant, a 6-foot senior, is a forward, and he’ll play around the basket and he can step out and shoot the 3. He’s a good allpurpose player also.

“We’re going to consider him a forward but Ashton’s a utility player. Last year Ashton, who is 5-10, guarded a 6-6 kid from OCS (Oklahoma Christian School), who was very athletic. He’ll just stick his nose in there and he’ll give you everything he’s got. It doesn’t matter who he guards or what position he plays as long as he can help the team and that’s what I like about Ashton.

“Carson started every game and the other boys started several games.”

Seniors

Roland’s seniors are Peyton Whisenant, guard/forward Kyeree Hall (6-3) and forward Desean Cruse (6-2).

“Kyeree Hall came in late last year, I think he came from Southside (Fort Smith, Ark.) and moved here in April, and he’s going to be a senior this year,” said Lewis. “He’ll be a guard/ forward-type player. Athletic, quick. I haven’t seen him in game-action yet but in practice and a couple of scrimmages he’s really done well. I think he came from “Desean Cruse has really slimmed up a lot this year and in the few practices we’ve had it looks like he’s faster and quicker. As long as he can get on the court he’s willing to play anywhere. He’s that type of player and he can play inside or outside.”

Carson Wiggins, Ashton Peters and guard Kejuan Youngblood (5-10) are Roland’s juniors.

“Kejuan Youngblood has potential and is very quick,” said Lewis. “He’s a 5-10 guard.”

Sophomores Roland’s sophomores are guard Raesean Perryman (511), forward Nate Criswell (5-11), forward Jalen Armer (5-10), guard Jordan Royce (5-9) and guard Landon Keller (5-7).

“Raesean Perryman played a little bit and came off the bench last year some,” Lewis said.

Freshmen Roland’s freshmen are guard Davohn Hall (5-11), guard Buck Triplett (5-9), guard Paul Johnson (5-10), forward Cason Perryman (6-0), forward Mason Kemp (6-0), forward Tyson Williams (5-11), guard Avory Moya (5-6) and guard Spencer Sevenstar (5-7).

“Davohn Hall is a freshman and it looks like he’s going to take over and play point guard for us,” said Lewis. “Real heady, good player, very athletic. He played some summer ball with us and did really well and we’re looking for big things out of Davohn.

“Paul Johnson, a 5-10 guard, is pretty quick.

“Cason Perryman is a 6-foot forward. What I’ve seen from Cason he has a real good feel of the game it seems like. He’s willing to help other people and being a freshman and being out there talking and saying do this or do that is a pretty good sign for him. Davohn and Cason came from Moffett.

“Buck Triplett, a 5-9 guard, is a freshman.

“Mason Kemp is a freshman move-in from Charleston, Ark.

“Tyson Williams, a 5-11 forward, is a freshman and he actually came from Moffett. We were very fortunate that those kids that graduated from Moffett came to Roland because they all can play a little bit.

“Those first 12 guys that I called out I think there’s a possibility that any of those guys will give us some time. The experience level may not be there for those freshmen players but I know they’ve played a lot of AAU ball and organized ball during the summer so I feel like they’ll be ready.”

Schedule

Sequoyah-Tahlequah has replaced Idabel on Roland’s nondistrict schedule this season.

“Every year I’ve been here at Roland, and that’s been several, everybody’s tough,” said Lewis. “That’s one thing about our conference (Northeastern Oklahoma Athletic Association), if you don’t bring it every night somebody’s going to get you, so you better be ready to play every night. It could be anybody’s ballgame, everybody’s tough this year it seems like or got people coming back that are going to be good.

“Stilwell will be up there in the top. They’re probably returning the most players I figure from last year. To me they may have the upper edge on everybody and everybody else may be fighting (for second). Like I said earlier though anybody on your schedule can beat you. Stilwell may have a little bit of an edge but I’d say that anybody in the conference can play with them.

“Sallisaw ought to be good. They’ve got about four or five starters back. Muldrow is like us, they lost some good players but they’ve got a good freshman team too so I’m sure they’ll fill in for them with some sophomores and freshmen and juniors.

“We’re going to the Choctaw Tournament at Talihina and we’re down for the NEO Tournament. We like that tournament. We like the hospitality of it and we get to see different teams usually up there so that’s one reason we’ve kind of stayed with it. The last two years we haven’t got to play it but we’re hoping this year we can definitely go to the tournament and get to play in it.

“We’ll also go to the county tournament, and oh man, you talk about a tough tournament, that’s a tough tournament. It’s a big-time tournament and it seems like it goes over pretty good with the fans and everything so it’s a good tournament.”

The Rangers started their season on Nov. 29 at Checotah before playing at Muldrow on Dec. 2.