Kingfisher Practice Report

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kingfisher Yellowjackets have been at the top of Class 4A for years and this year is no different. While the Yellowjackets have dropped from the top spot in Class 4A for the first time in a while, make no mistake, Class 4A still runs through Kingfisher until further notice. Earlier this week, Kingfisher knocked off Blanchard 39-23 on Tuesday night to win their 75th consecutive game at home. 4A's #3 Weatherford, 4A's #10 Bethany and 5A's #4 El Reno are all on the upcoming home schedule. And Kingfisher's upcoming tournament also features Weatherford and we could get a preview of that February 3rd meeting next week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before the season began, the expectation was that Class 4A would be the deepest and most competitive class in the state and so far, it's played out as that. The race to the Big House in Oklahoma City is only going to continue heating up as we get closer to the playoffs beginning in February. The Yellowjackets dropped two games to finish the Tournament Of Champions with losses to 5A's Memorial and then a loss to 4A's new #1 Crossings Christian. They have won five in a row since the TOC, including three straight wins in the Wheat Capital tournament, where their closest game was a 50-25 win over 3A's #7 Alva.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellowjackets also have impressive wins over 4A top ten teams in Newcastle and Tuttle from December. But we're really going to find out just how serious Kingfisher is as a state championship contender over the next three weeks. This is arguably the most important stretch of their regular season as things gear up towards the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, we take a look at three of Kingfisher's top performers from the first half of the regular season. These three seniors have been important to not only their season this year, but part of the last few seasons where the Yellowjackets have had plenty of success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1719289"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We got a good chance to see Kingfisher up close for three straight days when they played in the TOC in downtown Tulsa. Arguably the most consistent player over the three day stretch in the BOK Center was senior [player_tooltip player_id='1719289' first='Caden' last='Kitchens']. The senior averaged in double figures last season as a junior and was outstanding for the Yellowjackets throughout the three days in Tulsa. While he might be known mostly as a shooter, he begins a trend that we'll talk about with every player on this spotlight. Kitchens doesn't fit into one role within the Yellowjackets. He does multiple things because all of their players do multiple things and they do them at a high level. That's become the expectation within this Kingfisher program. Kitchens can heat up in an instant and he can also turn around and play in the paint and help out the Yellowjackets on the boards and on defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1211251"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"We really like what senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1211251' first='Maddox' last='Mecklenburg'] brings to the table for the Yellowjackets. As one of the bigger guards on the team, Mecklenburg finds himself having to play in the paint quite a bit but to the surprise of absolutely nobody, the senior has embraced his role and has played well this season. Last year and throughout the summer, Mecklenburg showcased his ability to impact the game as a scorer. So it's great to see him have success in several different roles. He's another example of a traditional Kingfisher player that brings versatility. And while he might be playing in a role that is different from what he is as a college prospect, Mecklenburg doesn't take any plays off and he puts the team success ahead of his own. That's the common theme with players that have come out of Kingfisher and they are a big reason for the overall success.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1211253"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another senior that averaged in double figures last season and came into this season with high expectations is guard [player_tooltip player_id='1211253' first='Xavier' last='Ridenour']. We mentioned Kitchens as being the most consistent player at the TOC. In their third place game showdown with Crossings Christian, Ridenour would be the star for the Yellowjackets. Both teams struggled offensively in that one but Ridenour was the bright spot and he was a big part of them staying in the game throughout. Ridenour definitely has the label of being the shooter on this year's Kingfisher team and when he starts heating up from the perimeter, he's tough to slow down. If the Yellowjackets end up making another run to the state tournament, we anticipate Ridenour to have a really strong showing throughout the next six weeks. He certainly has shown the potential to be Kingfisher's top scoring threat.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c097f2de919"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->