TONKAWA -- The basketball season at Northern Oklahoma College is scheduled to open on Wednesday at Foster-Piper Fieldhouse. The men and women’s team are scheduled to play nonconference rival Cowley College from Arkansas City, Kan. The women’s game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. while the men’s contest is scheduled for 7:30.

The basketball season normally begins in November at NOC, but because of COVID-19 restrictions by the National Junior College Athletic Association, action wasn’t permitted until now.

The women’s game will hold special interest for fans of Ponca City Lady Cat basketball. Two former Lady Cats, Baylee Fincher and Rylie Beard are on the Cowley roster.

MEN’S SEASON PREVIEW

The Mavericks, under 8th year head coach Donnie Jackson, were 28-4 last year earning an at-large bid to the NJCAA Tournament though the tournament was canceled due to Covid-19.

Normally, the Mavs would have opened the season in November but due to Covid-19, the NJCAA season opens Jan. 20.

“It’s been a challenge,” Jackson said. “With no games in the fall, we spent more time in the weight room and skill work than normal. The hard part for us is that we had two weeks of quarantine before we left for Thanksgiving so it’s been almost two months since we’ve had our players.”

“I know it’s going to take some time to put the pieces in place so we have to patient.” he said. “I think games could be ugly early because everyone will be trying to find some consistency. Fortunately, everyone is in the same boat.”

The Mavs lost NJCAA All-American Demaree King along with Barron Tanner and Deaveon Bankston to graduation but return seven key contributors from the 2020 team.

Returnees include guards Tyrel Morgan and JD Ray along with forwards Avante Lederer and Mark Berry. Post players Malik Crawford, Syrus Grisby, and Justin Wilson also return.

“We have such a good group of returnees,” Jackson said. “Tyrel (Morgan, who signed with Jacksonville University) is poised to have a great year but JD (Ray) and Avante (Lederer) both had great falls for us.

Jackson said that Crawford and Berry really came on as well.

“Of our bigs, they both had good falls,” Jackson said.

Jackson has freshmen Diondre Alexander, Kevin Sesberry, Nate Goodlow, Dylan McLean, and Jaylin Oliver along with sophomore transfer Camryn Dennis.

“I like our newcomers,” he said. “Nate (Goodlow), Kevin (Sesberry), Dylan (McLean), and Camyrn (Dennis) all have the opportunity to see plenty of minutes. I like to play 10-11 guys so there is playing time available. I’m excited to see how our young guys fit in. They came in this week refreshed and ready to go.”

This year’s schedule is 24 games with 18 NJCAA Region 2 games and six non-conference games.

Region 2 games include home and home series with NOC Enid, NEO, Western, Eastern, Redlands, Murray State, and Seminole. Non-conference games include a home and home series with Cowley College and Labette (KS) and single games with Collin County and OnPoint.

“Our non-conference schedule is brutal out of the gate with two games against Cowley,” he said. “But with an experienced group, I think we can weather the storm. We understand that there may be some rough patches early but by our first conference game, we hopefully will be where we need to be.”

“This is a weird year, we are just trying to adjust the best we can,” Jackson said. “I know the players are ready to go and compete.

Ravi Bhambhra is the Mavericks’ assistant coach.

LADY MAVERICKS

The Lady Mavs are under the tutelage of head coach Greg Krause entering his 39th season at NOC Tonkawa. The Lady Mavs suffered a number of injuries in 2020 finishing the year at 3-26.

In a normal year, the Lady Mavs would have opened the season in November but due to Covid-19, the National Junior College Athletic Association season opens Jan. 20.

“It’s been a big adjustment,” Krause said. “We’ve tried to keep our routines the same but it’s been a challenge. We didn’t see our players for 60 days and now we were scheduled to play in two weeks so we are going full go to get ready for our first game against Cowley. We are excited to get started and compete.”

The Lady Mavs return five letter winners from 2020 including guards Mia Brown, Celeste Moore, and Caitlin Bailey along with forwards Radina Zhivachka and Lauren Coates. Brown and Moore missed most of last year with injuries.

“We have a solid returning group,” Krause said. “Mia (Brown) has a chance to be a special player, she can shoot the ball well and has the ability to make things happen with the dribble. Radina (Zhivachka) is a post player that is very versatile, she can shoot the 3-pointer but can also post up well in the paint. Celeste (Moore) is a tremendous athlete while Lauren (Coates) and Caitlin (Bailey) are solid players.”

Krause is also counting on transfer Gavriel Myers.

“She can really shoot the ball,” he said. “She’ll help us a lot.”

Krause also has sophomore Kailynn Belcher as well as incoming freshmen Morgan Livesay, Delaney Reimer, Chloe Brinlee, Travisha Cogdill, Kaitlyn Clemons, and Morgan Romero.

“They are a good group with a lot of promise,” Krause said. “We have a good combination of shooting and playmaking. I think they call all contribute this year. This is the kind of year where everyone is going to have to be ready to go when they are needed.”

This year’s schedule is 23 games with 18 NJCAA Region 2 games and five non-conference games.

Region 2 games include home and home series with NOC Enid, NEO, Western, Eastern, Redlands, Murray State, and Seminole. Nonconference games include a home and home series with Cowley College and Labette (KS) and Southwest Christian.

The Lady Mavs assistant coach is Carey Phariss.

2021 SCHEDULE Women’s games 5:30 p.m

Women’s games 5:30 p.m

Men’s games 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20: Cowley Colley (H)

Jan. 23: Cowley College (A)

Jan. 29: Labette (A)

Feb. 1: Labette (H)

Feb. 4: NEO (A)

Feb. 8: NOC Enid (H)

Feb. 11: Connors (A)

Feb. 15: Redlands (H)

Feb. 18: Murray (H)

Feb. 22: Western (A)

Feb. 25: Eastern (H)

Feb. 27: Southwestern Christian H)

March 1: Seminole (A)

March 8: NEO (H)

March 11: NOC Enid (A)

March 15: Connors (H)

March 22: Murray (A) March 25: Western (H)

March 25: Western (H)

March 29: Eastern (A)

April 1: Seminole (H)