Broken Arrow Team Preview

<p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <p>The calendar has flipped to November and it’s time to start talking high school basketball in Oklahoma! Over the last month, we’ve sent out questionnaires to all of the top teams across the state, to get as much information for our month-long preview series as possible to get you ready for this season. Who are the top players, who could have a break out year, who will be the top contenders when March rolls around and we’re all "gold ball chasing"? We have those answers and plenty more with our team by team previews! Stay tuned to Prep Hoops Oklahoma throughout the month for more individual team previews and more preview content that is on the way!</p> <hr /> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>BROKEN ARROW TIGERS</strong></h3> <hr /> <h4><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></h4> <p>Broken Arrow had an up and down season a year ago but the Tigers have momentum coming off an appearance in the 6A state tournament. The Tigers finished the year 14-8 and lost to Edmond Memorial in the first round of the state tournament. The Tigers will look to make another run to the state tournament this year but the road will once again be tough. They return only two starters from last year’s state tournament team. The schedule will be tougher as just about every team in Broken Arrow’s conference has gotten better. The Tigers will be scratching and clawing for playoff positioning throughout the year. However, the Tigers will feature one of the best players in Oklahoma with senior [player_tooltip player_id="958390" first="Anthony" last="Allen"]. If other players step up around the 2022 standout, the Tigers could find their way back to the state tournament in March. </p> <hr /> <h4><strong>COACH'S QUOTE</strong></h4> <p><strong><em>BA Head Coach Beau Wallace On This Year’s Team</em></strong></p> <p class="p1">"Lots of talent that didn’t see much action because of some veterans on last years team. This team is bigger, faster and stronger. It will be interesting to see how quickly the guys in waiting burst on the scene."</p> <hr /> <h4><strong>TOP RETURNING PLAYERS</strong></h4> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958390" first="Anthony" last="Allen"] - 2022 Forward </strong><br /> <em><strong>(13.2 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.6 Blocks Per Game As Junior)</strong></em></p> <p>You have to start the conversation right here with senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="958390" first="Anthony" last="Allen"]. The Broken Arrow standout had an outstanding offseason and continued to grow his game and should give the Tigers a dominating presence on both sides of the ball as some of the younger players get used to playing at the level needed for the Tigers to make another trip to the state tournament. Allen should be BA’s leading scorer and will have a chance to average a double double this season. It’ll be interesting to see how the Tigers utilize Allen as he can be just as dominant in the post as he is on the perimeter. He will certainly carry the Tigers early on while the get their rotation the way they want it.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1049323" first="Aaron" last="Johnson"] - 2022 Guard</strong></p> <p>Joining Allen and giving him some experience in the backcourt will be senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1049323" first="Aaron" last="Johnson"]. The 6’3 guard wasn’t asked to do a lot last season but put up some numbers in his limited playing time. The Tigers were very senior-heavy last year but Johnson did see plenty of action throughout the season and will help Allen in the early start to the year. And standing 6’3, he gives the Tigers more size in their backcourt. </p> <p><strong>Connor Dow - 2023 Guard</strong></p> <p>A junior guard that Broken Arrow is excited about is Connor Dow as he was listed as one of their top returning juniors coming into this season. Last year, Dow averaged five points per game but more than that, he ended the season shooting 41% from beyond the arc. The Tigers are certainly excited about his potential to give them some firepower from the perimeter and at 6’5, he gives the Tigers even more size in the backcourt. That’s a growing theme here and it continues with our final returning player. </p> <p><strong>Ethan Ellison - 2023 Forward</strong></p> <p>Another junior standout that the Tigers are excited about returning is Ethan Ellison. Standing 6’6, Ellison will be used in the paint while the Tigers have skill all over the perimeter. He’s going to be able to clean things up on the glass with slashing players like Allen and Johnson making plays to the rim. They’re going to bring the defense to them and that’s going to allow Ellison to have his way in the paint. Once again, the Tiger coaches are excited about the return of Ellison coming off last year where he did get some experience, but they’re expecting much more from the big man this season.</p> <hr /> <h4><strong>NEWCOMERS TO KNOW</strong></h4> <p><strong>- [player_tooltip player_id="1049329" first="Brayden" last="Johnson"]</strong><br /> <strong>- [player_tooltip player_id="1049322" first="Caleb" last="Nibbelink"]</strong><br /> <strong>- Dason Cook</strong><br /> <strong>- DJ Howell</strong><br /> <strong>- Justice Sutton</strong></p> <hr /> <h4><strong>NOTABLE</strong></h4> <p>Broken Arrow’s young but talented team will certainly be tested early on during the season, even before the calendar flips to January. They host one of the best scrimmage showcases in November on November 6th with top teams from all over Oklahoma. They open up the season on December 6th against Webster, a 4A state tournament team from a year ago. They also play two conference games against Muskogee and Bartlesville before a massive road trip over the holiday break. The Tigers will be participating in the Vista Mesa Challenge in Phoenix, Arizona from December 20-23. Broken Arrow will also be partiicpating in the Shawnee Invitational in January.</p> <hr /> <h4><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong></h4> <p>1997 - Beat Memorial 48-46</p>