Connect with us

News

Veteran Lady Spartans Open Basketball Season at Bartlesville – Presented by Discount Tire

Bixby Seniors Gentry Baldwin, Meredith Mayes, Alyssa Nielsen and Gracy Wernli are all smiles after signing college letters of intent recently. (Photo provided)

By Ron Holt

Despite falling short of its season long goal – the state championship – during the past two years, Bixby’s veteran girls’ basketball team remains committed to the process for another gold ball opportunity.

Coach Tina Thomas’ Lady Spartans reached the championship game of the Class 6A State Girls Tournament in 2020 and 2021, falling to unbeaten Norman (48-37) in 2020. Last season once-beaten Edmond North edged Bixby (59-57 in overtime) in the title game.

All five starters from last year’s 24-4 team, including four four-year starters return. The experience should boost the Lady Spartans’ chances of making a return appearance in the championship game. The journey begins Tuesday, Dec. 6, when Bixby opens the 2022-23 season in a Frontier Valley Conference game at Bartlesville. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

“It’s a driving force,” Coach Thomas said of the Lady Spartans close calls in the past two title games. “The girls have this sense of resolve this season and I think that’s been translated in our practices and translated in our scrimmages. They’ve done a good job of holding the standard regardless of the level of play.”

Bixby faces a unique situation opening the season. Four Lady Spartans – Gentry Baldwin, Gracy Wernli, Meredith Mayes and Alyssa Nielsen – have been in the starting lineup since they were freshman. Four freshmen starters are rare, especially in the state’s largest classifications.

“I don’t recall ever having that many freshmen starters. Maddie Bittle started for us as a freshman,” Thomas said of the 2018 BHS graduate who is currently playing at the University of Tulsa. “That’s huge having four senior starters along with seniors Kassidy Blankenship and Sadie Beltran … the seniors are stepping forward and handling various leadership roles. “They’ve all improved a lot,” coach Thomas said. “They may work harder than any kids I’ve ever coached. Besides our two-hour practices, they spend a lot of time working on their shots. Their strengths are different, which I think makes us hard to plan against. We have various tools in our arsenal and have more depth this year.”

Wernli, a 5-10 guard, led the balanced Lady Spartan attack last season, averaging 13.8 points per game. She hit 61 three-pointers and finished with 43 assists and 30 steals. Mayes, a 6-3 post player, averaged 12.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game last season while blocking 32 shots.

Nielsen, a 6-0 forward, averaged 10.5 points a game last season, hitting 55.3 percent from the field and Baldwin, a 5-7-point guard, averaged 1.2 points per game while leading the team in assists with 118. She also had 41 steals. Brynn Daniel, a talented 5-8 junior guard, is the other returning starter last season while the 5-2 Blankenship and 5-8 Beltran were key reserves.

Wernli, Mayes, Nielsen and Baldwin recently signed letters-of-intent to play college basketball. Wernli and Mayes signed with Abilene Christian, Nielsen signed with Drury University of Springfield, Missouri and Baldwin inked with Oral Roberts University.

“With those girls already signing, I think they feel like the pressure is off. All they’ve got to do now is play for their team,” noted Thomas, who is assisted this season by Shannon Hoffman and Corbin Burchett.

Also expected to contribute off the bench for the Lady Spartans this season are three sophomores – 5-2 guard Sarah Beltran, 5-10 guard Ama Musick and 5-10 forward Bailey Wilson – and 5-9 freshman guard Kate Wernli.

Following the Bartlesville opener, Bixby hosts the annual Bixby Invitational Tournament at Whitey Ford Field House, Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 8-10). It’s the start of a busy December for the Lady Spartans. Following the tourney, Bixby plays conference games at Sand Springs (Dec. 13) and Owasso (Dec. 16).

The Lady Spartans will play in the Nike national tournament of champions Dec. 18-22 in Phoenix, Arizona. Following Christmas, Bixby defends its title in the annual Girls Tournament of Champions at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Dec. 28-30.

“December is heavy with three conference games and three tournaments,” Thomas said. “We did fund raising for the Nike Tournament, a trip I think these kids have earned. After we return, we’ll play in the Oklahoma Tournament of Champions, which we clearly want to repeat.”

Lady Spartans Schedule

DECEMBER:
6 – at Bartlesville; 8-10 – Bixby Invitational Tournament, 13 – at Sand Springs, 16 – at Owasso, 18-22 – Nike Tournament, Phoenix, Arizona, 28-30 – Tournament of Champions, BOK Center.
JANUARY:
10 – Sapulpa, 13 – Booker T. Washington, 17 – Union, 24 – at Broken Arrow, 27 – Muskogee, 31 – at Jenks.
FEBRUARY:
3 – Bartlesville, 7 – Sand Springs, 10 – Owasso, 14 – at Sapulpa, 17 – at Booker T. Washington, 23-25 – Girls Regional Tournament.
MARCH:
2-4 – at Girls Area Tournament, 9-11 – Girls State Tournament.

Lady Spartans Varsity Roster
SENIORS: 2 Gentry Baldwin, 5-7 guard; 21 Kassidy Blankenship, 5-2 guard; 22 Gracy Wernli, 5-10 guard; 23 Meredith Mayes, 6-3 forward/center; 33 Alyssa Nielsen, 6-0, forward/center; 43 Sadie Beltran, 5-8 forward. JUNIORS:14 Brynn Daniel, 5-8 guard/forward. SOPHOMORES: 12 Ama Musick, 5-10 guard; 15 Bailey Wilson, 5-10 forward; 34 Sarah Beltran, 5-2 guard. FRESHMAN: 11 Kate Wernli, 5-9 guard.

Loading

More in News

Upcoming Events

March 30, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Cascia Hill
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 1, 2024 8:00 am
VS Union
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 1, 2024 8:00 am
VS Ponca City Invite
Away
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 1, 2024 8:00 am
VS Ponca City Invite
Away
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 1, 2024 9:00 am
VS Owasso
Away
Girls Golf JV - Golf (Girls)
April 1, 2024 9:00 am
VS Owasso
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 1, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Broken Arrow JV
Away
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 1, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 1, 2024 7:00 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 2, 2024 8:00 am
VS Bishop Kelley
Away
Boys Golf JV Blue - Golf (Boys)
April 2, 2024 8:00 am
VS Edmond Memorial
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 2, 2024 3:30 pm
VS Southmoore
Away
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 2, 2024 4:30 pm
VS Southmoore
Away
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 2, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 2, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Muskogee
Away
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 2, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Southmoore
Away
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 2, 2024 7:00 pm
VS Bisho Kelley
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 2, 2024 8:00 pm
VS Southmoore
Away
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 3, 2024 9:00 am
VS Sapulpa (Rock Creek)
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 4, 2024 12:00 am
VS Bixby Meet
Home
April 4, 2024 12:00 am
VS Victory Tournament
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 4, 2024 12:00 am
VS Bixby
Away
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
April 4, 2024 12:00 am
VS Haskell Tourn
Away
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 5, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 5, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Sapulpa
HOme
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 5, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 5, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 5, 2024 8:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 6, 2024 8:00 am
VS Owasso
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 8, 2024 8:00 am
VS Norman
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 8, 2024 9:00 am
VS Ponca
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 8, 2024 10:00 am
VS Bixby Festival
Home
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 8, 2024 5:30 pm
VS Holland Hall JV
Home
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 8, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Piedmont
HOme
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 8, 2024 7:00 pm
VS Holland Hall
Home
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 9, 2024 8:00 am
VS Spartan Classic
Home
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 9, 2024 9:00 am
VS Union
Away
Girls Golf JV - Golf (Girls)
April 9, 2024 9:00 am
VS Union
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 9, 2024 4:30 pm
VS Broken Arrow
Home
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 9, 2024 4:30 pm
VS Sand Springs
Away
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 9, 2024 5:30 pm
VS Coweta
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 9, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Sand Springs
Away
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 9, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Piedmont
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 9, 2024 8:00 pm
VS Sand Springs
Away
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 10, 2024 8:00 am
VS Sapulpa (Rock Creek)
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 10, 2024 8:00 am
VS Bixby Spartan Classic
Home
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 11, 2024 12:00 am
VS Jenks Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 11, 2024 12:00 am
VS Bixby/BA Turg War
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 11, 2024 4:30 pm
VS Haskell
Away
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 12, 2024 12:00 am
VS Yukon
Away
April 12, 2024 12:00 am
VS Broken Bow Festival
Away
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 12, 2024 12:00 am
VS Yukon
Away
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
April 12, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Jenks
Away
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 12, 2024 4:30 pm
VS Jenks
Away
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 12, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Jenks
Away
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 12, 2024 8:00 pm
VS Jenks
Away
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 13, 2024 8:00 am
VS Union Team Tournament
Away
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 13, 2024 8:00 am
VS Union Team Tournament
Away
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 15, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Owasso/Pryor
Home
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 15, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Union
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 15, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 16, 2024 8:00 am
VS Broken Arrow
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 16, 2024 8:00 am
VS Edmond North Tournament
Away
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 16, 2024 4:40 pm
VS Union/Claremore
Away
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 16, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 16, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Northwest Classen
Away
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 16, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Union
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 16, 2024 7:00 pm
VS Northwest Classen
TBD
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 17, 2024 8:00 am
VS Skiatook
Away
Boys Golf JV Blue - Golf (Boys)
April 17, 2024 8:00 am
VS Edmond North Tournament
Away
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 17, 2024 8:00 am
VS Skiatook
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 18, 2024 9:00 am
VS Pryor
Away
Girls Golf JV - Golf (Girls)
April 18, 2024 9:00 am
VS Pryor
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 18, 2024 4:30 pm
VS Sand Springs
Away
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 18, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Oktaha
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 19, 2024 12:00 am
VS Broken Arrow
Away
April 19, 2024 12:00 am
VS Broken Arrow
Away
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
April 19, 2024 8:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Tournament
Away
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 19, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 19, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 19, 2024 5:30 pm
VS Booker T Washington
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 19, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 19, 2024 8:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 20, 2024 8:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Tournament
Away
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 22, 2024 8:00 am
VS Union Tournament
Away
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 22, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Owasso JV
Away
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 22, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Owasso JV
Away
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 22, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Cushing/Muskogee
Home
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 22, 2024 6:30 pm
VS Enid
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 22, 2024 6:30 pm
VS Enid
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 23, 2024 8:00 am
VS Union Tournament
Away
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 23, 2024 8:00 am
VS Conference
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 23, 2024 4:00 pm
VS Piedmont
Home
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 23, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Piedmont
Home
Boys Soccer JV Blue - Soccer (Boys)
April 23, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Piedmont
Home
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 23, 2024 6:30 pm
VS Enid
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 23, 2024 8:00 pm
VS Piedmont
Home
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 24, 2024 8:00 am
VS Regionals
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 24, 2024 3:30 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
Home
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 25, 2024 12:00 am
VS Conference
Home
April 25, 2024 12:00 am
VS Conference
Away
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
April 25, 2024 12:00 am
VS Regionals
Home
Slowpitch Softball Varsity - Softball
April 25, 2024 8:00 am
VS Guthrie
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 26, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Sand Springs
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 26, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Sand Springs
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 27, 2024 8:00 am
VS Bixby
Home
Boys Golf JV Blue - Golf (Boys)
April 27, 2024 8:00 am
VS Bixby
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 29, 2024 12:00 am
VS Regionals
Home
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 29, 2024 9:00 am
VS State
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)
April 29, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Victory Christian
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 1, 2024 8:00 am
VS Regionals
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
May 2, 2024 12:00 am
VS OSSAA Regionals
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 3, 2024 12:00 am
VS State
Away
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
May 4, 2024 12:00 am
VS Regionals
TBD
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
May 4, 2024 12:00 am
VS Regionals
TBA
May 6, 2024 12:00 am
VS Regionals
Home
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
May 6, 2024 12:00 am
VS First round of Playoffs
TBD
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
May 6, 2024 12:00 am
VS First Round of Playoffs
Home
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
May 6, 2024 8:00 am
VS State
Away
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
May 9, 2024 12:00 am
VS OSSAA State
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 10, 2024 12:00 am
VS State
Away
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
May 10, 2024 12:00 am
VS State
Away
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
May 10, 2024 12:00 am
VS Second Round of Playoffs
tbd
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
May 10, 2024 12:00 am
VS Second Round of Playoffs
Home
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
May 10, 2024 12:00 am
VS State
Away
May 11, 2024 12:00 am
VS State
Away
8th Track and Field (Girls) - Track and Field (Girls)
May 11, 2024 12:00 am
VS State
Away
October 2, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Owasso White
Owasso High School
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
October 4, 2024 6:00 pm
VS BA White
Spartan Stadium
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
October 9, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Muskogee @ Indian bowl
Muskogee High School
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
October 11, 2024 6:00 pm
VS BA Gold
Broken Arrow High School
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
October 16, 2024 6:00 pm
VS BA Gold (track field)
Soccer/Track Complex
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
October 18, 2024 6:00 pm
VS Union White
Soccer/Track Complex
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
October 25, 2024 5:00 pm
VS Jenks White
Jenks High School
Football - Football 8th Grade Red
March 25, 2025 8:00 am
VS Forest Ridge
Away
Girls Golf Varsity - Golf (Girls)