Southmoore girls could contend for title next year; could mirror football team's one-season turn-around

Usually a seven-win seasons isn’t reason for a lot of excitement. But usual doesn’t describe the Southmoore girls basketball team.

The SaberCats concluded a terrific postseason run Saturday, falling in the area tournament to No. 3 Norman. Standout sophomore Sidney Cook led the SaberCats with nine points, which is nothing new as Cook  —  a Division I prospect  —  is Southmoore’s leading scorer on the season. However, Cook is far from a one-player show. Kayla Tucker had seven points and Rosa Meadows scored six, as did Kaylan Haywood. Reagan Widener chipped in with five.

Of those five players, only one, Meadows, won’t return next season. In fact, the SaberCats will bring back 11 of its top 12 players in 2011.

And that fact gives me reason to believe Southmoore’s girls basketball team could equal Southmoore’s football team in regards to unreal turn-arounds in one season. The football squad went from a 2-9 season in 2008 to an 11-2, state semifinal showing in 2009.

This SaberCats club could likely  —  actually, I’m going to say that they will  —  be a state tournament team next season. Maybe even contend for the title if the youngsters gain big-game savvy, which only comes from experience. And that’s where this surprise postseason will help. It gives them confidence that will stay throughout the offseason. The Cats will begin next year feeling as if they are already among the elite in 6A because of what they did in the playoffs. It won’t take several weeks of the season to foster that attitude.

For those who don’t know, this team had just five regular season wins, but was one of the biggest stories of the 6A postseason. The SaberCats had the biggest first-round upset, beating No. 8 Lawton. Then they eliminated defending champion Del City in the area tournament.

It all spells out a great outlook for the future. And, as said before, generally a 19-loss season does not inspire greatness. But this particular one most certainly could.