Several experienced players return for Mays’ Wolverines
Because of the return of several experienced players Vian boys’ head coach John Mays has a positive outlook for the upcoming high school basketball season.
Because of the return of several experienced players Vian boys’ head coach John Mays has a positive outlook for the upcoming high school basketball season.
“Last year we didn’t have very much experience at all except for having Xavin Lackey and Diego (Ramos) so we were just coming in as a team trying to find our way with Xavin and Diego trying to pull most of the load,” said Mays, who is beginning his second season as the head coach of the Wolverines . “We were 9-14 last year and competitive with a bunch of kids trying to find their way and this year we have a bunch of experience. It was a struggle at times last year and this year we come back with a bunch of kids with a lot of experience. The only person we lost last year was Xavin Lackey, and he was a big part of what we had, but I thing we have a bunch of cats coming back that gained a lot of experience.
“We go from last year being 2A to going back to 3A this year. Will that be a challenge, yes, that will be a challenge, but I think we’ll be up for it as far as the kids that we have.
“I expect a lot from us. Our outlook is good. I think we have six seniors and I expect them to be competitive and be able to lead and do a lot of good things. Same as last year, I think we’ll really be competitive and I think we’ll hold our own.”
The Wolverines placed sixth in the tournament at Mansfield, Ark., third in the Sequoyah County Tournament and fourth in the Pottawatomie County Tournament at North Rock Creek High School near Shawnee.
Playoff losses to Oktaha (district) and Chelsea (regional) ended the Wolverines’ season.
Assistant Coach
Lance Winans will again assist Mays this season.
Team Leadership
“It’s probably going to be as a group because this bunch of seniors is so competitive and so want to win, it’s just what they are. It comes from football and baseball. To me Diego Ramos is that guy. He is probably the most vocal and kids listen to him. He’s everybody’s friend but he’s also that guy that’s going to tell you how to do things the right way. Desean (Mays), he’s that way, and so is K’Den Richardson. Those three for sure are really vocal. We have a few younger kids coming up that I think need that and they’re going to have to bring them on because we lose a bunch for next year. I think those three for sure are team leaders and they can play.”
The Wolverines’ returning starters are Diego Ramos, Desean Mays, K’Den Richardson and Yonsi Grass.
Seniors
Vian’s seniors are forward Diego Ramos (6-2), guard K’Den Richardson (5-10), forward Desean Mays (6-0), forward Elijah Stewart (6-1), guard Blake Donaldson (5-8 and center Marshal Ross (6-2).
“Diego is such a coachable kid and wants to do well and he is that guy,” Mays said. “Everybody kind of looks up to him. He’s probably 6-2 and he’ll play a little bit inside but he’s probably one of our better shooters so he’s an inside-out guy. I expect big things from him because this is it for him.
“K’Den Richardson doesn’t do anything else but play basketball. K’Den is probably 5-10, point guard, shooting guard, and he’s our 1 and 2. He works at basketball more than anything, that’s his favorite thing in the world to do. We need him to help lead us defensively, offensively, on both ends.
“Desean Mays is probably more of our defensive stopper, probably a specialist in that way I guess. He’s probably 6-foot but the most athletic kid by far out there and he can do a lot of good things defensively and make offense out of defense.
“Elijah Stewart came off the bench and was our sixth man last year and I think in the end he ended up having to start the last two or three games for us. The most coachable kid, will do anything we need him to do. That’s what he does, he doesn’t do anything else but basketball and he’s that guy that will do anything you ask.
“Blake Donaldson is a four-year player too. He’ll be coming off the bench some for us. He’s just a good kid, a good hard worker and is going to do whatever he needs to do for the team.
“Marshal Ross is going to play this year and he’s going to help us a lot. He’s 6-3, 6-4 and probably weighs 292 right now for football so he can help us at times by being a defensive presence with his size. I expect him to come out and do some stuff for us and help us.”
Junior
Guard Yonsi Grass (5-10) is Vian’s only junior this season.
“Yonsi came on for me at times last year,” said Mays. “He works so hard at this game. He’s in the gym every day somewhere whether it be in Vian or somewhere else playing pickup, it’s what he does. He’s a gym rat that you talk about. He’s playing somewhere on weekends. His game’s come along and he’s gotten a lot better. Offensively he’s a good shooter and he’s gotten a lot better defensively and that’s what’s going to help us. He is going to help us a bunch this year. He learned a lot last year so he’ll pick us up.
Sophomores
The Wolverines’ sophomores are forwards Ethan Pollock (5-10), Kyle King (6-0) and Dante Glass (6-2) and guard Marcus Armstrong (5-9).
“Ethan Pollock could help us at times and he could come off the bench and be a contributor because he’s an all-around player,” Mays said. “Offensively and defensively he could contribute off the bench some for us.”
Freshmen
Vian’s freshmen are guard Masyn Wright (6-0), forwards Trace Sanders (6-0) and Draighton Fletcher (5-10) and guard Michael Polecat (5-9).
“I expect Masyn to come in and contribute because he can play all five spots if we need him to,” said Mays.
“Our other freshmen are Trace Sanders, Draighton Fletcher and Michael Polecat.”
Schedul Vian is scheduled to start its new season at home on Dec. 9 against Eufaula.
“ Tournament-wise we are going back to the Mansfield (Ark.) Tournament, and it’s a Christmas tournament, so we’re going there,” remarked Mays. “We’ll have the county tournament and this year we’re going to the Kellyville Tournament for the third one.
“ Our conference (Big 8) is us, Oktaha, Keys, Westville, Central and then we’ve added Howe to it this year,” said Mays. “Our conference is super tough. Westville was a top 10 team last year in 3A, Oktaha was a top 10 or 15 team in 2A, Keys has gotten better and Howe has been a perennial top 10 team in 2A. All of a sudden our conference has gotten super tough so every game for us is going to be tough. Central is going to be better.
“From the boys’ side it will be a battle every night that we play and then you turn around and go to the Mansfield Tournament, which will help us prepare because we have a late start from football. Then we go to the county tournament, which is a battle every time you go out there and it’s all your friends, family and cousins watching and everybody wants to win. The Kellyville Tournament will be a good one because it’s got 2A and 3A teams in it I think like Bristow and Kellyville, people we haven’t seen before so it will be good for us.
“One of our non-conference games is Eufaula and we picked up Henryetta and dropped Pocola and Haskell.”