Coach Standridge guides the Lady Rams Basketball Team to victory in the Skiatook Tournament
By Isaac Krueger
In the world of sports, being a first year head coach is an infamously difficult job. The adversity lies in the pressure to perform and implement a successful system in such a short time frame. But for the Lady Rams Basketball team, first year head coach Kendall Standridge was up to the task.
Photo of Coach Standridge Taken by Isaac Krueger
After a disappointing 2021-22 campaign full of setbacks and hardships, the Lady Rams were met with yet another blow: their head coach would not be returning for the 2022-23 season. A disheartened team was left with no head leadership role, but former assistant coach Kendall Standridge was prepared to fill that role. She saw a fire to be lit in the downhearted Lady Rams. She saw a team of girls who stayed together through all of this, and she knew she could find something special there.
“This team has done such a good job of embracing each other. We are on a much better playing field with each other as a team, as a unit than we’ve been in probably a few years.” Standridge remarks “And that’s been, culturally speaking, the biggest mark I wanted this team to leave; Is that in one year it was possible to change that dynamic.”
Such a drastic turnaround, as the team would find out, was going to take time and effort from everyone involved: players and coaches. Though their record through the first 7 regular season games was merely 3-4, the Lady Rams lost a few close battles with Sand Springs and Broken Arrow, they soon found success in the Bishop Kelly Tournament in early December, making it all the way to the championship. They then were able to find a rhythm and win at Skiatook. Though they weren’t playing perfectly, they were certainly showing dedication to improve as a unit, especially from the losses, something Standridge was proud to see.
“We are not playing our best basketball right now, but we want to be playing our best basketball the last week of February.” Standridge mentions, “ It’s keeping that goal in mind that all of these close games are lessons that we are learning for everyone.”
Photo of Coach Standridge and team taken by Isaac Krueger
It’s through these close games that Standridge is able to learn more about the players, as they learn even more about each other. These connections proved strong as they shined through at the Skiatook Tournament. Standridge was able to see a shift in the play of the team, where they could rally around each other. One player in particular, McKenna Yokley, earned Tournament MVP and as the Lady Rams leading scorer across the entire competition.
“I think as opposed to early in the season, when McKenna [Yokley] was our main scorer in the Skiatook tournament, we saw more people get into the action of that.” Standridge compliments.
Not only did Standridge bring a new culture to the team, she also brought new schemes and ideas. Behind those ideas were assistant coaches and former Owasso Lady Rams Rachel Skalnik, Jasmine Crisp, and Maya (last name), who Standridge accredits the technical improvements to. All three played at the collegiate level, and were able to bring not just more “Basketball IQ” but also a new voice and perspective for the players.
“It’s cool too when you’ve got coaches that have been to the next level and that’s where you want to go.” Standridge admits, “It’s been great to see them have young voices, people who relate to them and have been where they want to be.”
The Lady Rams now look to continue improving until they can “play their best basketball” in February when the postseason begins. Led by the experienced minds and passionate hearts of Standridge and her coaching staff, the team is well on their way to completing an inspiring turnaround.