Team Preview: Broken Arrow (6A)

<p>Coach Beau Wallace is looking to lead the Broken Arrow Tigers to a State Tournament berth for the first time since 2018.</p> <p>"We probably have seven guys that have started for us, and they’re all returning," Wallace said, "so it’s nice to have a lot of leadership and they understand what I want from them, and I don’t have to say very much to them."</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958390" first="Anthony" last="Allen"], a junior forward, pairs with senior [player_tooltip player_id="1015831" first="Jaiell" last="Talley"], who is occupied with the Tigers’ run for a football title, to combine for a powerful one-two punch in the interior.</p> <p>"Allen and Talley just rebound the ball for us," Wallace said, "I mean, I think Talley had almost 200 rebounds last year, and Anthony was second with about 98."</p> [caption id="attachment_1085283" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/George-McCurdy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085283" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/George-McCurdy-300x194.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="194" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"] (Joshua Cleary/Prep Hoops).[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1015836" first="Ian" last="Golden"], meanwhile, also returns for a senior season with the Tigers in a facilitatory role.</p> <p>"Ian is just that guy who makes plays for everybody," Wallace said. "Ian’s gonna create offense for a lot of people.</p> <p>Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"] and [player_tooltip player_id="745361" first="Tyler" last="Pinder"], a pair of versatile scoring guards, round out the starting rotation for Broken Arrow. Wallace said both have made great improvements.</p> <p>"Pinder’s really shooting it well, George is becoming one of those floor leaders and understanding how to pick his spots," Wallace said.</p> <p>Another key returning piece is center [player_tooltip player_id="1015795" first="Jared" last="Barnes"], an explosive and humble forward.</p> <p>"Jared does all the dirty stuff," Wallace said, "so he’s always gonna be in the right position, blocking out, jumping on loose balls, getting on the floor."</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1039764" first="Simon" last="Blair"], who also played significant minutes at the five, will return for a senior season at Broken Arrow, as well.</p> <p>"[Blair] is another big kid inside that just does a good job of kinda clogging up the middle a little bit," Wallace said.</p> [caption id="attachment_1085286" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Aaron-Johnson-Tyler-Pinder.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085286" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Aaron-Johnson-Tyler-Pinder-300x177.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="177" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="745361" first="Tyler" last="Pinder"] (left) and [player_tooltip player_id="1049323" first="Aaron" last="Johnson"] (Joshua Cleary/Prep Hoops).[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1049323" first="Aaron" last="Johnson"], a junior guard with remarkable versatility, can play and defend the one-through-four, Wallace said. He saw limited minutes in his sophomore season, but will be a mainstay in the rotation, Wallace said.</p> <p>"Aaron has really grown up," Wallace said. "He’s got a kinda chip on his shoulder ’cause he probably felt like he should’ve played more last year, and I felt like I should have played him a little more.</p> <p>Ethan Ellison, an impressive and sizable forward, and Connor Dow, a talented sharpshooter with high expectations, are both talented young players who will provide depth for the Tigers as the season progresses, Wallace said.</p> <p>Wallace said rebounding will be a major factor in the Tigers’ success.</p> <p>"I think that’s the biggest thing," Wallace said, "defensive rebounding as a group with our guards is really our focal point."</p> <p>Wallace also cited staying in the plus-margin in turnovers as a primary focus to the Tigers.</p> <p>"I think every team is gonna tell you they gotta take care of the ball," Wallace said, "not turning the ball over in crucial situations."</p>