Hilldale under radar and doesn't mind a bit

By Kenton Brooks

Area basketball teams figure prominently throughout the preseason rankings and recognition going into this season – except for two.

Hilldale’s boys and girls are not getting much attention and that’s fine with the coaches and players for both teams.

On the boys side, the Hornets are lightly regarded after losing four starters off their 15-10 Class 4A consolation regional finalist team from last year. Not being in any kind of spotlight isn’t a problem for Jeremy Rogers, going into his second season as the boys coach.

“We’ll definitely be under the radar, which is a good spot,” he said. “If you’re Muskogee and No. 1, you’re going to get everyone’s best game and the pressure’s on you every game.”

Rogers said the attention on Hilldale will come soon enough.

“Eight to ten games into the season, people will be watching out for us,” he said.

The Hornets might not have their leading scorers and rebounders back, but Rogers considers something just as important returns. His team’s top defensive players — Corey Hill, a 6-foot-4 center, and 6-foot guard Hunter Johnson — suit up for their senior seasons.

“Our defense got better last year,” Rogers said. “They shut down (Paul) Golden from Wagoner and when it came to defending (Fort Gibson’s Dewayne) Foster, it wasn’t (the graduated) Cameron (Sikes) or Nick (Cowan). It was either Corey or Hunter.”

Hill said the Hornets are going to take pride in their defense this season.

“We’re going to try to stop people and force bad shots,” he said. “We’ll be playing at a high tempo and the shots we get will come from our defense and the press.”

Other returnees include Trey Kirkpatrick, Mike Green and Dylan Cherry.

The Hornets, though, still have their detractors going into this season and some of them are Hill’s friends on other teams.

“They’re always ribbing me and joking that we’re not going to be any good,” he said. “I tell them with a smile on my face, ‘We’ll be decent.’ They ask me why I’m smiling and I tell them, ‘You’ll see.’”

Kirkpatrick is a little more blunt in his thoughts about this team.

“We’re going to be underdogs and I like that,” he said. “I am confident and why shouldn’t I be. We haven’t gained any height, but we’ve gained speed and we’re playing together. We’re going to be good.”

Hilldale’s girls, coached by Lachelle Brown, are in a similar boat, but with more head space. They don’t have any players taller than 5-7 senior Jamie Dotson.

“We have speed and hustle,” Dotson said. “That wins a lot of games.”

Brown, also entering her second season, isn’t overly concerned about having a short roster. She sees the program getting better, finishing 4-19 after beating Checotah in a playoff game last year. The Lady Hornets won three games two seasons ago.

“We may surprise some people,” she said. “I think the program’s coming together. We’re headed in the right direction. It’s baby steps. The players are buying into the program.”

Brown has most of her players returning, losing only Regan Oaks, who is now at Northeastern A&M.; Others who are back include Becky Anderson, Danielle Riddle, Kali Romine, Kelsey Morse and Jordan Stinson.

The Hilldale coach also sees better things on the court.

“We’re making better decisions and shooting higher percentage shots,” Brown said. “I’ve put in a full court press and that also gives us different opportunities we didn’t have last year.”

At least one player is confident about the opportunities of this season because Brown is back as coach.

“I’ve had a different coach every year since the sixth grade,” Stinson, a senior guard, said. “She’s the only one I’ve had two years in a row. She’s already done well with this program. We’re working more as a team.

“We’ve worked on our shooting. Our defense has been a lot better than last year. We’re confident about winning.”

Hilldale opens the season on Tuesday at Chouteau.

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