Season Previews 2023-24: Catoosa

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The calendar has turned to November, scrimmages have begun, and the season is here for small school programs and right around the corner for the rest of the state. The PrepHoops Oklahoma preview series will continue all month long with team capsules, preseason All State Teams and more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CATOOSA INDIANS: CLASS 4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2022-23 Record: 20-7, Class 4A Area</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning Starters: 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their first year under their new head coach, Catoosa was arguably the fastest paced team in the state. They led the state in scoring at 75 points a game. They reached Area in a loaded Class 4A last season and will now be looking to make their return to Oklahoma City for the State Tournament for the first time since 2018. Recent Truman State (Missouri) commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1295662' first='Titus' last='Miller'] is a big reason for the high expectations for Catoosa this winter. Miller will be one of the top scorers in Class 4A and the State this season. He will form a formidable one-two punch with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1293578' first='Sutton' last='Woods']. One new face for Catoosa to keep an eye on is 6 foot 8 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2337858' first='Ethan' last='Bowen']. While he's inexperienced at the high school level, Bowen's size represents a chance for the Indians to improve their rim protection and potentially have a counter punch in the half court when opposing teams try to slow the game to a snail's pace. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CIRCLE THE CALENDAR FOR: </strong>The Port City Classic January 18th-20th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year will be the 58th Port City Classic. Last season, the Indians made the title game for the first time since 1996 and suffered a narrow loss to Bishop Kelley. That defeat means that Catoosa is still searching for their first ever Port City Classic Championship. The field remains deep with quality 5A programs Bishop Kelley, Edison and East Central. And has Victory Christian, one of the favorites in 3A. It won't be a cake walk, but this Indians squad will have the talent to compete with those programs and will have a real chance to become the first Catoosa team to win their own tournament. All while ramping up for the playoff run they'll be aiming to make the following month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1295662"],"_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":"One of the state's top seniors is looking to take his game to another level after already averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds as a junior. He's a strong and explosive athlete, always a threat to punch it in transition or when given an open in the lane in the half court. That paired with his range from deep will make him a monstrous mismatch all winter long in 4A. To go along with the scoring this year, expect his defensive production to sky rocket this year after a strong spring and summer. With the pace Catoosa plays at and the athletic gifts Miller has, games with 5 stocks (steals and blocks) should be a common occurrence.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1293578"],"_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":"The hopes of a deep playoff run likely lies with the leap that Woods could make as a junior. He's a quality off the dribble shooter from deep, which will be needed after Catoosa replaces one of the top shooters in the state, Greyson Lewallen. The shooting ability of Woods will be crucial as he builds off his 8 points a game scoring average from last year. But he's more than just a floor spacer, the junior has a good mix of a strong frame and a developing handle to be a quality playmaker off the dribble for himself and his teammates.  Keeping an eye on how he continues to improve at creating for others and helps keep the free flowing Catoosa offense running will be a barometer for if the Indians are ready to make a State Tournament run.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-654bbfa6114c5"} /-->