Tiger basketball back in action

By Everett Brazil, III

The Newkirk Herald Journal

NEWKIRK — The school year may have just ended, but Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball players are already looking forward to the 2020-2021 season to not only improve their skills, but also prepare for more wins in the new basketball gym.

Summer Pride has already started for both teams, with workouts in the gym to maintain their strength.

The Tigers are also preparing for an upcoming basketball camp to work with other teams across northern and eastern Oklahoma, some of whom Newkirk doesn’t normally play.

The camp will be held June 15 – 16 at Cleveland High School, and will allow the teams to be able to compete against one another while also focusing on their own individual skills.

“There’ll be a lot of schools, Tulsa schools, we don’t typically get to see,” said Head Coach Derek Bishop. “We’re going to work on ourselves, learn our offense system, defense, learn how we can be better, and not worry about the other towns.”
The athletes will not have to pay for the camp, as it is funded through the Tiger basketball program.

“We cover it through our activities funds. We make sure they don’t have to pay out of pocket; they just have to be there,” he said.

There are also plans for youth camp later in the month, but the coaches are waiting to hear from OSSAA about regulations and restrictions, he said.

Coach Bishop is looking forward to a successful season for 2020-2021, and sees the camp as a step to get there.

“I think we’re going to have a successful season. I think we can be quite competitive and win a few games. Just playing together, we will improve, and know where we can improve as a team,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to opening the gymnasiums and having opportunities to work with our guys.”