It’s February, yet it will have been two weeks on Saturday since the Ardmore Tigers last played a game.
The last time they played, Class 3A power Millwood edged them 55-52 to end Ardmore’s 1-2 run at the Carl Albert Titan Classic. Ardmore had won nine of 10 prior to the tournament and was ranked as high as No. 3 in 5A.
Now No. 7, Ardmore (12-6) originally was to have played at Duncan a week ago today, but that game was moved back twice due to a power outage there. It’s now set for Monday, two days after the Tigers’ next outing at MacArthur in Lawton.
Ardmore coach Mark Wilson said he hasn’t lost patience to have his team play again.
“We needed a little break after (the tourney at) Carl Albert,” the eighth-year head Tiger said. Ardmore had played six games in nine days after the Titan Classic.
“We didn’t need this long of a break,” Wilson said. “You never really know how you’ll react. Lawton (MacArthur) played one game in the last two weeks, and they play a game (tonight at home against Duncan). So, they may get to knock some rust off before we do.”
MacArthur (9-6) likely has been chomping at the bit for its rematch with Duncan after a 10-day break. The Highlanders lost at Duncan 62-61 on Jan. 26.
On Saturday, MacArthur will try to avenge a 63-61 loss at Ardmore on Jan. 15.
While Wilson’s been patient, his backcourt duo of junior Trey Cohee and sophomore Nino Jackson said they’ve been the opposite. There’s only one way they’ve dealt with the longer-than-expected break:
“Practicing hard, just working hard in practice,” Cohee said.
The Tigers have thrived on the leadership of 6-foot-2 Cohee, a long-range shooting threat, and the explosive 6-3 Jackson in the scoring category. Ardmore’s known for its balanced scoring, but Wilson said he’s looking for a little more consistency from the team with five games left in the regular season.
“It usually takes contributions from two or three more players or one really big contributor,” Wilson said.
Since Jackson, a transfer from Northwest Classen, began playing for Ardmore on Dec. 18, opponents have had their hands full against Ardmore’s guards instead of being able to key on one guy.
“We’ve been playing every summer about seven or eight years, so we know what we’re going to do,” Jackson said of his backcourt tandem with Cohee.
Come Saturday at MacArthur, patience will be a thing of the past with the Tigers.
I.C. Murrell
221-6527
